Sisters and Orphans

This is the third novella in the "Herbia: Other Lands" series. They are prequel novels to the "Tales of Herbia" series (Stone Skippers, Ranger Ruse, Weaver Woe, Piper Ploy), and explore the lands thirty years before. The first novella (RANGERS!) reveals the Rangers in the Counties of Th'enn. The second novella describes the travels of one Th'ennite ranger, two people he befriends and their journey to the Empire of Ivy. This third part describes the life of a house of women raising orphans in the capital of the Duchy, Whitmur. A young, new woman joins the house (Sardonyx) and soon her innocent adventures embroils her in the tension between the Guilds and the Nobles in the City. The secret of the Merchants is revealed, and the issue of who is allowed to import spices divides the factions in the Capital. A ranger appears just as nobles assert their privilege - will disorder ensue, or will the Duke master the nobles? Will Sardonyx flee the City, or will she embrace the life of the Sisters?