Chapter One: The Town of Strasbourg's
'Twas the night of July 12th, in the year of our Lord 1518—nine o'clock, and all was still, save for the distant clopping of horse hooves and the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth. Within the grand abode of a wealthy family toiled a servant named Emily Victoria. With long tresses of golden hue and eyes as blue as the summer sky, she possessed a quiet beauty—lovely yet humble. As she swept the floor, a sweet melody escaped her lips.
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Suddenly, a shout pierced the tranquility: "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" A resounding crash followed, accompanied by the panicked neighing of a horse as it collided with a man traversing the cobblestone path. Emily dropped her straw broom and hastened outside. The rider struggled to maintain his seat, clutching the reins with urgency while the horse reared in terror.
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The master of the house, Kinder Walker, rushed to the side of the injured man, who lay upon the cold, uneven stones. Though of considerable wealth, Kinder was revered in the town as a healer. He knelt beside the man, who was so grievously wounded that few could survive such injuries. "What is thy name, young man?" Kinder inquired gently.
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"William," the man whispered through clenched teeth, his pain evident. Meanwhile, Emily, with tenderness and calm, soothed the frightened horse, whispering soothing words while stroking its neck. "Art thou well, sir?" she asked the rider, who sat tall in the saddle, his silhouette stark against the moonlight. His raven-black hair fell in soft waves past his shoulders, tousled by the winds of his ride. A shadow of stubble adorned his strong jaw, framing lips that rarely graced the world with a smile yet hinted at unspoken depths—something poetic, perhaps. His eyes, a striking gray akin to storm clouds over the sea, bore a quiet intensity, as if he carried both sorrow and secrets. His riding cloak, deep burgundy, billowed behind him like blood spilled upon velvet, fastened at the shoulder with a silver brooch shaped like a hawk in mid-flight. Though dust clung to his boots and spurs, his movements were elegant—measured, noble, deliberate—as though even the horse sensed it carried one worthy of remembrance. He now dismounted.
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"Yes, thank you," he replied, removing his hat and casting a curious glance her way. "And how doth a fine lady such as thee know how to calm a horse?"
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"I have been tending to them all my life, sir, for I am but a humble servant of the Walker family," she said, dipping her head respectfully. The man smiled faintly. "John Hitcher, of the House of Hitcher," he declared, offering a polite nod.
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"And thou art?"
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"Merely Emily Victoria," she answered softly. Just as John prepared to respond, Kinder called out sharply from behind them. "Emily! Go fetch Katherine and bid her clear the table!"
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"At once, Mr. Walker," Emily said swiftly, turning and making her way back into the house. Above, Katherine was roused from her slumber upon her red velvet bed by sharp knocks upon her door, followed closely by Emily's urgent call: "Mrs. Walker! Get up—hurry! A man is wounded, and the table must be cleared!"
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Katherine sprang from her bed, hastening downstairs still clad in her soft white silk nightgown. As she busied herself clearing the table, she turned to Emily and instructed, "Go retrieve Mr. Walker's medical bag from his office—make haste!"
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"Yes, ma'am!" Emily replied, already halfway down the hall. When she returned to the kitchen, she beheld John Hitcher aiding Kinder in carrying William indoors. Together, they laid the injured man upon the now-cleared table in the Walkers' grand and polished kitchen—copper pots gleaming brightly, the tiled floor immaculate.
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The tempest of the night had only just begun. While Kinder labored, Katherine lent her assistance, and Emily attended to John, settling him in a guest room. John glanced about the chamber, adorned in rustic spruce wood with deep blue silk bedding. The bed was draped with deep blue curtains over its four posts, bestowing a regal ambiance upon the room. John turned to Emily and remarked, "I thank thee; it is truly lovely."
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Emily bowed her head gently and then departed to conclude her duties for the night.
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