71 Results in the "A Weave of Ambition" category
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The faint morning light gave a hint of the worn Sunday clothes that Valentina's mother had carefully laid out for her daughters. The kitchen was already bustling with activity. Her father had already taken care of the animals and Colm had been woken up first, as he took a particularly long time in the morning and didn't see the point in being quiet when he was thrown out of bed at the crack of dawn. "Get up, girls!" their mother called out to them. "The Ember won't wait!" "Ah, the weekly circus begins,"…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 69 – Summer is Coming
The mood was excited among the second-year students as they gathered for the grading ceremony. The main hall of Bridgewater University filled up quickly. Valentina stood between Innogen and Crispin, their hands clasped tightly together. "I think I wasn't this nervous even before the Greystone competition," thought Valentina. "Oh, you have a very short memory," Vyxara mocked in her head. "You were a bundle of nerves." The Decan Valemont stepped up to the podium, followed by a number of…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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In her chambers she found Jenny asleep in an armchair. The young maid had obviously been waiting for her. A fire was still burning dimly in the fireplace and there was a carafe of now cold herbal tea on the small table. "Jenny," Valentina said gently and touched her shoulder. "Go to bed. It's late." The maid was startled. "Oh, my lady! I just wanted to... I thought you might need..." "You're very attentive," smiled Valentina. "But now go to sleep. Tomorrow is another day." After Jenny had said goodbye…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 5 – Old Friends
Netta made her way through the crowd, one hand placed protectively on her pregnant belly. "What a contrast," said Vyxara. "The poor peasant girl who stayed at home while you went out into the big wide world." "Val," Netta said with an uncertain smile. "You look... different." "You too," Valentina replied gently and pointed to Netta's stomach. "When is it time?" "In about a month." Netta stroked her curved body. "Tom's so excited, he doesn't talk about anything else." She laughed, but it sounded forced.…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Master Lucian led Valentina to a secluded alcove in the garden, half hidden behind a lushly flowering wisteria. The sweet scent of the purple flowers mingled with the spicy aroma of wild thyme growing between the paving stones. "I've received disturbing news from Bridgewater," he said quietly, after making sure that no one was within earshot. His usually relaxed posture was noticeably tense. "What news?" Valentina felt her stomach tighten. "The Illumination seems to take a special interest in the…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 6 – Blossom
On one of the last afternoons she probably had left with her family, Valentina suggested a walk to her sister. "Let's go to the old pear tree," she said, "like we used to." Adeline was beaming. She had been waiting patiently all week to have her big sister to herself. She had patiently kept all her burning questions to herself. Valentina and Vyxara had noticed that. The two sisters set off past the familiar fields of their childhood. The narrow path meandered through tall grass that waved in the summer…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chamberlain Morris was already waiting for Valentina just outside the duke's study. "If you will follow me, my lady." His measured steps led her first to a wide marble staircase. "The palace was built over several generations of Greystones. Each duke added his own wing, resulting in a fascinating mix of architectural styles. The remaining remnants of the original building are still in the Norothalan style, while the later buildings are in the early and modern Malandrine style." "And everyone wanted to…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 40 – Burying the Past
Valentina lit the simple oil lamp with a casually woven small Viur pattern. Warm, flickering light illuminated the room. "What a... humble abode it is after all," Vyxara commented with ironically feigned politeness. "Your little maid Jenny would have a heart attack if she could see where her fine lady lives now." Valentina couldn't help but let out a short laugh. Jenny, who had always been careful to keep Valentina's room in the palace in immaculate condition, would have been horrified by what she found…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 7 – Goodbye
Valentina lay awake in bed, unable to delay the moment she both longed for and dreaded. Dawn was already creeping in. In a few hours, the Duke's carriage would pick her up. "You're nervous, little Weaver," Vyxara stated softly. "A little," Valentina admitted in her thoughts. "What if I'm not ready? What if I make a complete fool of myself at the Duke's court?" "You summoned a demon, seduced a professor, robbed Bridgewater University's Distilled Essence storage, won the Greystone Competition and put…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 21 – Taking the Leap
Valentina stood in the dark corridor outside the duke's chambers. The moonlight that fell through the high windows did not penetrate the shadows that Valentina had drawn around herself. "The door is locked," Vyxara whispered in her head. "You remember the right pattern?" With her eyes closed, Valentina wove the right Essence pattern and let Luvt and Ard's searching feelers wander into the lock. The lock was secured by a protective pattern, but it did not even respond to her opening pattern. The mechanics…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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