71 Results in the "A Weave of Ambition" category
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Chapter
Chapter 53 – A Good Daughter
The sewing shop was in a quiet side street, a dignified store with carefully arranged fabrics in the window. As Valentina entered, a small brass bell rang above the door. A friendly-looking woman with blonde hair tied into a convenient knot behind her head looked up from her work. "Ah, you must be Valentina." She smiled warmly. "I am Gretta. Madame Dolorosa told me you were coming." Valentina nodded nervously. "Yes, I..." "Don't worry," Gretta rose from thebeautiful sewing work she was doingand…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 34 – Healing and Learning The time after her birthday was characterized by great busyness. Her days consisted of court duties, research work and a lot of time with the duke. He was particularly attentive and affectionate, as if to compensate for the harshness of that night. His touches were gentler, their conversations more profound, his gifts thoughtful – small gifts, rare books, or exquisite hair clips that he had brought to her bed in the morning. "He's really trying," Vyxara remarked…
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374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 63 – The Old Gardener…
It wasn't that she was ignoring the noise outside, it was more that she was distracted. Because suddenly she remembered. Remembered the ritual gone wrong that had bound her and Vyxara together. The crucial words of the ritual echoed through her head, crystal clear, as if she had just spoken them yesterday: "You must not communicate with hell." The commotion outside grew louder – excited voices, hurried footsteps on the cobblestones – but Valentina stood frozen in the middle of her room as the…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 15 – The Banquet Incident When Valentina returned to her chambers, she felt physically and mentally exhausted. The day at the hospital had taken more out of her than she had expected. But Jenny, who was already waiting for her excitedly, gave her no time to rest. "My lady! The banquet starts in two hours!" The young maid hobbled busily around the room. "The bath is already in. With rose oil, as you like it." "How thoughtful," Vyxara scoffed. "Almost as if someone had given instructions…
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374.8 K • Ongoing
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They were in the middle of breakfast when a sudden commotion at the entrance interrupted them. The conversations in the dining room fell silent as heads turned towards the door. The normal breakfast chatter died away and was replaced by an unnatural silence. The large door opened with deliberate slowness, the old hinges groaning in protest. Six figures stepped through – four Emberwardens in their characteristic burgundy robes and armor, moving with military precision and flanking a tall, gaunt man.…
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374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 25 – Open Hearts
Chapter 25 – Open Hearts "If you patch up the arteries like that, they'll rupture again later and the patient will bleed to death on the way home," growled Master Wilford. "Concentrate on the Greystone Cascade, feel the flow." Valentina corrected her Essence pattern and immediately felt the healing deepen. The fisherman on the treatment table, who had rammed a fishhook deep into his hand, visibly relaxed. "The old curmudgeon is getting tame," Vyxara commented with amusement. "A few days ago, he…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 54 – Masks and Faces
Over the next few weeks, Valentina was constantly amazed at how quickly one got used to new circumstances – a deeply human trait, as Vyxara assured her. Her days had settled into a new routine despite the oppression of normal university life by the Illuminator and his people. In the mornings she attended her lectures, in the afternoons she assisted Professor Whitehall with her healings and tried to learn what she could from her. On Monday and Thursday evenings she slipped through the back entrance of…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 35 – Deals and Illusions
Chapter 35 – Deals and Illusions In the evening, the inner circle had gathered as usual. Valentina leaned relaxed in the duke's arms while he gently played with a strand of her hair. They had found their way back to a new, cautious familiarity over the last few weeks. The rest of the inner circle also lounged abouton the divans – Baron Sebastian shared a couch with Lady Vivienne, while Lady Celestine snuggled close to Master Bloomfield. Master Amadou and Countess Rosamere were engrossed in a…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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A black… thing… shot out of the shadows, so fast that it was barely more than a dark streak in the air. Valentina felt the back of her neck tense – she knew thiscat, but not like this. Not in this form. It was still a normal-sized cat, but any natural movement had given way to an abnormal smoothness. Its eyes glowed with an inner, hellish fire, and as it snarled with a hair-raising howl, it revealed several rows of needle-sharp teeth dripping with a corrosive venom. The first Emberwarden didn't…
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374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 16 – A Day in the City
Chapter 16 – A Day in the City Valentina woke up from Jenny's excited chatter before Vyxara could wake her. "Oh, my lady, what an exciting day for you!" The young maid limped herself quite excited through the roomand drew open the heavy curtains. "His Grace wants to accompany you to the city in person! I've heard he wants to take you to Master Silkhand – the best tailor in all ofDusktown!" She clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Even the Duchess has her dresses made by him." "Jenny,"…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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