Thrice Burdened

By Talee

Thrice Burdened is classic fantasy, set in a meticulously realized world of traveling witches, powerful sorcerers, warring kingdoms and scheming duchies.

Like most farm girls in Arl, Olga once dreamed of becoming a witch and joining the guild. But she's grown now, busy with planting crops and caring for her younger siblings. Her life traverses a predictable path--until she is selected for the Duke's traditional bloodline exchange.

Olga is sent to live with Earl Francous. There's more to him than she suspects... and there's more to Olga than anyone knows. Soon, she begins her magical education. But the earl seems to be teaching her more than just the protective spells she would need to deal with minor border skirmishes, and Olga is beginning to think he isn't telling her everything...

The Darth Chronicles is an epic fantasy series perfect for fans of Patrick Rothfuss, Sarah J. Maas and Ursula K. Le Guin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Talee
• Release date: Oct 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463997765

Talee

A dedicated reader and writer, I have always loved a good character. Heroic magicians, iconic warriors, and everyday people who overcome adversity are what I seek in both my reading and my writing. Some of my favorite books are Andre Norton's Witch World series, Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders, and Christopher Stasheff's Warlock series. I like to take characters that are believable and show how they overcome long odds to succeed, or simply adapt to their environment to accomplish happiness for themselves and others.For me, writing is just like reading, I may know how the story is going to eventually end, but the joy is in the journey that unfolds day by day.

Book preview

Thrice Burdened

A Darth Chronicles Novel

Talee

Talee

Thrice Burdened

(A Darth Chronicles Novel)

Talee

This is a work of fiction.  All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously

Copyright 2019 by Talee

First Edition: October 2019

Second Edition March 2023

Third Edition June 2023

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all who have encouraged me to write.  Especially those who have helped me to improve as a writer.

This book is dedicated to my wonderful wife Olga.  I am constantly amazed that she chose me to share her life with.  She is far more amazing than any book could depict.  I pray that I can be worthy of her as we enjoy many more years together exploring all the wonders life has to offer.

Chapter 1: Bloodline Exchange

Olga absently used her wrist to push back a braid that had slipped over her shoulder. Today, she was planting the seed potatoes that would help feed her family through the winter months. Her younger sister and three cousins came running past the garden, laughing and playing. Her sister was pretending to be a witch from the guild as her cousins acted out the Great War with sticks for swords and shields, they had made from scraps of firewood. It was not so long ago that she had been the witch in that scene, in fact. She still dreamed of meeting a real witch and somehow gaining the opportunity to join the guild.

Witches from the guild were not subject to the rules applied to other girls. They were respected, even feared, by the men who ran the villages. Even great warriors were careful not to anger the women of the guild. Every child learned the stories of the Great War, when the armies of the North surged down into the dukedom of Hallas, killing, pillaging and enslaving the women and children of the villages they conquered on the way. It wasn’t until the witches came out of the desert and joined the battle that the armies of the North were pushed back. It had been generations since that deal was struck, and while the witches of the guild still wandered the kingdom of Arl freely, Olga had never seen one herself. She had been told that a witch named Lia had shown up when her mother was having difficulty delivering Olga and had helped with the birth, performing healing spells on Olga and her mother before disappearing once more. But there were similar stories in every village in the land.

Olga shook her head and went back to the planting. There would be trouble if she did not get all the seed potatoes planted before dark today. Her father and two of her brothers were out in the fields planting the commercial crops, while her oldest brother, Jer, had gone to the hills to hunt. They had lost too many swine in the harsh winter this year.

It would not be long before the call for men to supplement the soldiers on the northern border would come, and they all feared that Jarod, her second oldest brother, would go north with the detail this year. That meant more work for the rest of them, and her father would not tolerate anyone failing to pull their share of the load.

Olga focused on the task at hand and began singing the planting song. In the ground the seedling goes. With the blessings of the mother, it grows. Abundance of sun and water too, nature provides and gives to you. Early crops to feed the young, later crops to can and brew. Blessings of the earth the whole year through… She glanced up, and the sun was low on the horizon. Across the garden, small hills marked her planted rows, all neat and even. The other bags were also empty; the potato crop was well and fully planted.

She got to her feet feeling the strained muscles complain and the weakness that always followed. But she also felt the peace that came from singing to the earth. She dusted off her skirt, gathered the bags, and headed for the house. She would have to hurry to get cleaned up and help serve dinner when the men came in.

Olga entered the house and had to dodge to avoid being struck by the stick-sword of her cousin Harol. He giggled and raced forward, chasing another of her cousins who was wielding a broken stick in defense as he backed away. She smiled at them and then gathered her little sister, Maya, who was still throwing fake magic spells at the retreating boy and telling him to leave Hallas…

Time to clean up and help serve, little one, the enemy has been vanquished.

Aw, can’t I play just a little longer, Olga? The boys get to.

Soon enough they will be going to the fields with the men and spending their spare time training with real swords. Don’t envy them their time of joy now. Come along, you know your duty.

Okay.

Olga saw the sadness on her sister’s face and felt for her. She had always felt it was unfair that the boys got to play while the girls had to set the table and fold the clothes. But it was true that during their early teen years, girls had more free time than boys, who had to work hard all day in the fields and then train to be warriors afterward. It had been that way since the Great War, and as a result, Hallas had some of the most respected warriors in the kingdom. Most of those sent north to help with the border returned, while the same could not be said for many of the other dukedoms.

Just be thankful you were not born a boy with the obligation to go north and fight and kill others to protect us.

But I want to fight. I want to be a great witch from the guild and beat the enemy back with my spells.

Olga’s heart sank. That had been her dream as well, although she had not really dreamed of going to war. Olga wanted to be free to walk the land and help others as the witches of the guild did. She knew that they worked hard to learn their trade and lived a hard life going from village to village, never belonging to any of them. But they helped others and were respected by all. What she would not do to have that life.

We all wish for that, little one, she told her sister, but we must all do what is demanded so the house can remain strong. Let’s wash up.

Maya sighed but came along without further resistance. They went to the wash closet and washed quickly, changed into clean clothes and headed for the kitchen, where their mother and older sisters would be finishing off the dinner preparations. As they entered, her mother looked up and smiled at them.

Ah, there you are. I was about to send Jule to find you two. Get the dishes set out on the table; we are having stew today, so only bowls—no plates this time. Olga, get the wine out and the drinking glasses; we will need to set two extra places. A couple of the duke’s men will be joining us this evening. Jule, did you get the rooms prepared?

Yes, Mama. Sade and I are already settled in with the other girls, and our room has been prepared along with Jarod’s.

Excellent, I will go look them over shortly. All right, everyone back to work, the men will be coming in from the fields any time now.

Olga rushed out to the barn and down into the wine cellar to gather the guest wine, wondering why the duke’s men would be here so early in the season. The war must be going badly for them to be seeking warriors during planting season.

She picked up four bottles, two of the expensive guest wine and two suitable for lesser nobles, and rushed back to the house, setting them in the appropriate cubbies in the wine cabinet. Her father would decide which to serve based on the rank of the guests. She gathered the special wine glasses and set them out on the table, taking care to wipe them clean of any spots. She watched as Maya set the bowls and silverware in the places where important guests were normally seated. Olga took the time to shine the silverware and repositioned them so they were properly spaced.

Isn’t this early in the season for the duke’s men, Olga?

Yes, they usually wait until after the planting season, Maya.

I wonder who he sent. Do you suppose he sent one of his sons? The young cute one maybe?

Olga laughed out loud. Maya had a child’s crush on the duke’s son, Fral, who was a year older than she. She did not understand that nobles were not allowed to marry common farmers and would be very heartbroken when she learned. But Olga would not dash her hopes this day.

Maybe, but probably not at this time of year. He is most likely deep in his studies.

I’ll take maybe.

She smiled and dashed back to the kitchen to gather more dishes. Olga smiled, too, at the exuberance of youth. Soon enough Maya would be working in the garden and waiting for the inevitable announcement of which farmer or farmer’s son she would be married off to. Sade and Jule had already been told. Sade would become the second wife of Jacks, who owned the largest farm in this part of the dukedom. Jule would be the first wife of a man who had just inherited his father’s farm at the far edge of the dukedom. Sade would be leaving right after planting season, and Jule was to move after harvest. This winter Olga would start working in the kitchen full time, and Maya would begin feeding the animals, then come next spring, Maya would learn the planting songs and begin doing the garden planting. It would be sad to see her older sisters, who had mostly raised her, leave. And being just two years younger than Jule, it was a clear sign that her own days of dreaming of other futures were nearing an end.

Olga headed for the kitchen and prepared her mind for the task at hand. There was already a large stack of pans by the main washing bin, so she headed straight for the sink.

Olga, leave that. Jule will start the pans today; you need to begin learning to serve without embarrassing your father. Today you will follow Sade around and help her carry the food in. She will place it on the table and serve when asked, but I want you to watch how she does it, particularly with the guests. Understood?

Yes, Mama.

Good, Jun you will cover Jule’s serving duties today. We are going to be too short on help come fall for you to just pamper him.

Olga saw the grimace on Jun’s face and wondered if she would be corrected later for that. She was a wife, but to Olga’s mother, she was still a child. To her credit, Jun did not argue, she simply moved over to ask Sade what needed to be done.

Just then the men came in from the field. Olga heard her father and Jer, her oldest brother arguing about something as they came in.

Jun! Get me a clean set of clothes. Can’t host the duke’s men with a day’s work on me.

Jun jumped, but her response was calm.

Already on the bed, husband. And there is hot water in the wash bin in case you care to rinse the dust off.

Okay, I saw the duke’s men on the downslope. They will be here shortly. Cil, dinner is ready I presume?

Yes, husband. Everything is ready as usual.

Everyone is to be on their best behavior; we don’t know what would bring the duke’s men this time of year.

Her father’s nervousness quickly spread to the women. If he was nervous, there was likely reason to be.

All right girls, back to your tasks. The duke’s men don’t hike, they ride, and they will be here shortly.

Olga realized Sade was speaking to her and shook herself, then asked Sade to repeat what she said.

Sade started over.

I said the duke’s men tend to be pretty handsy, so keep your distance. Always keep me between you and them and watch how I handle them. There is a fine art to saying no without offending these men. Next year you will be on your own, so pay close attention. You don’t want to end up forcing father or one of the boys to defend your honor with a duke’s man. This is very important.

Olga nodded, then refocused on the preparations that remained.

Minutes later, Jer came into the kitchen.

Everyone ready? All smiles and graciousness no matter what they ask. Let Father and I handle them.

Everyone is ready on our side, boy. But you might want to speak to your brothers and cousins.

Jer smiled at their mother and nodded, then ducked back out of the kitchen. Clearly he had overstepped coming into the kitchen where his mother ruled and giving instructions.

Minutes later Olga heard her father and Jer greet the duke’s men. She recognized the voice of one of the men as the duke’s oldest son. He was Sade’s age and walked with a bit of a limp from an injury he had taken in the wars up north.

Okay girls, it is time. They will be entering shortly, and your father will take them directly to the dining room. Jun, Sade, Olga, on my signal we will bring out the meal, remember to place bread platters in easy reach for the duke’s men as you do for your father.

Shortly after that the dining room was filled with voices, and Olga was following Sade back and forth carrying platters and jugs for refilling drinks. She watched closely as Sade stepped forward to fill the cup of the duke’s son and saw the soldier next to him run a hand up her leg. She stepped back swatting the hand gently and shaking her head as she offered the man a refill of his drink. He smiled and declined, then looked directly at Olga, and she stepped back behind Sade once more.

The duke’s son was a perfect gentleman, spending his time passing news to Olga’s father and pretty much ignoring the rest of them as he ate gracefully. The soldier next to him was not interested in the conversation, though, and kept winking at Jun, Sade, and even Olga. But he did grimace when he saw Olga’s mother giving him one of her looks.

Eventually, they were clearing away the dishes, and the younger boys were sent away. There was still no indication of why the men had ridden all that way to speak to their father.

Okay girls, Jun and I will handle the drinks from here. Sit down and eat a bite, then start cleaning up and preparing the bread for tomorrow.

With that, her mother took Jun and went back into the dining room, closing the door behind her and leaving them all wondering what the visit was all about. Olga’s sisters and her aunt settled in at the kitchen table, and Olga served them before sitting herself and eating. They finished their meal and started cleaning, and Olga got caught up in the effort. You could almost forget that the duke’s son was here for something important. Almost…

They finished the cleaning and got the bread loaves all ready and put away for early morning baking, and still the men were in the dining room talking. Occasionally they would catch a word or two as someone raised their voice but never enough to learn what the conversation was about. Sade spoke up.

Okay, the morning baking will come early, you had best call it a night. Mom and Jun will let us know what it is all about tomorrow. I will stay to help with the glasses and mugs when they finish for the night. The rest of you get to your rooms and get some sleep.

There was some moaning and groaning but no one wanted to risk Sade’s ire, so they all headed upstairs to their room. With the guests present, Olga was pushed back to a pad on the floor, and Jule took her bed, while Sade would sleep in Maya’s bed. Maya came over and pushed her pad up next to Olga’s and snuggled up close as Olga lay down. She smiled and put an arm around Maya’s shoulders, recognizing the nervousness she felt.

Sing to me, Olga, please? I’m scared.

There’s no reason to be scared, but I will sing to you if you wish. What song do you want to hear?

Sing the planting song. When you sing it I feel calm.

The planting song? Really? Not one of the bedtime songs?

No, the planting song, please.

All right little one, the planting song it is.

She began singing and stroking Maya’s shoulders and soon lost herself in the song as though she were planting. Before long, she felt Maya’s breathing settle into a normal sleeping pattern and was surprised to realize that she was calm and relaxed too. She closed her eyes and felt the sleep come over her…

Olga, wake up. We need to talk, come with me.

Olga awoke at the sound of her mother’s voice. She gently pulled her arm free of Maya’s grasp and got up to follow her mother out of the room, feeling the sudden certainty that her life was about to change.

When they got outside the room Olga stopped, expecting her mother to do so. But she continued down the hall toward the stairs. Olga hurried to follow, her tension growing by the step. When her mother bypassed the kitchen and headed outside, she nearly turned back, wanting nothing more than to climb back into her bed and the safety of her covers. But she stepped outside with her mother and followed her to her sitting table, where there were two cups of hot caf.

Sit down, sweetheart, I have some heavy news.

Olga sat gingerly on the chair opposite her mother and folded her hands on the table.

Drink some caf; it will warm you up.

Olga wanted to scream Just tell me what’s wrong! But she held her tongue and took a sip of the caf. She tasted the alcohol as she sipped and her nerves screamed as she felt the warmth flow down her throat.

Olga, my love. The duke’s son came to tell us that you have been selected for the Bloodline Exchange. On Monday, he will collect you, along with two other girls from this area, and take you north. You will be settled in Wren Village with the family of a girl who is being sent here to be Jer’s wife. Because you are not yet seventeen, you will not be married off when you arrive but will be expected to contribute to the family as you do here.

She paused and looked Olga in the eyes, but Olga was in shock. She had heard of the Bloodline Exchange, of course, but had never heard of someone from this village being selected—until now.

Olga would never be able to say later how long she sat there in shock, but eventually she felt the tears running down her face. She had no great desire to be married off to any of the men she knew here, but to be sent off like a breeding cow to another village? Especially one in another dukedom? She felt all her hopes and dreams come crashing down around her in an instant.

Sweetheart, I know you are scared. I am too. I wish I could share something that would help you, but I know nothing about this Wren Village you are being sent to. According to the duke’s son, it is an inland village where they farm and mine. The family you will be staying with is most likely a farming family like ours. That’s about all I was able to learn, but I will try to answer your questions if you have any.

Monday?

Yes, the duke’s son is traveling to another girl’s house, tomorrow, to inform her father. Then he will go and pick up the third girl who has already been informed. He said he would be back Monday morning to collect you.

And we have no choice?

None. Your father argued and pleaded, but the duke’s son stood firm, saying it was his father’s decision, and it would be carried out.

What if the family doesn’t want me?

They will take good care of you; their duke will demand it as ours has demanded the same of us.

Am I allowed to bring my things?

He said that you could bring what you could carry on a horse with you, nothing more.

What horse? Am I to take old Ned?

No, he will bring horses with him from the duke’s stable. But you should not plan to take more than you would if Ned were going to carry you.

Olga felt the tears flowing down her cheeks again and lowered her head in shame. She should be stronger than this for her mother.

Chapter 2: Castle Llywelyn

Olga awoke from a restless sleep filled with dreams of disaster on the road and unknown evil beings chasing her around Wren Village. She climbed out of her bed and walked quietly to the wash closet to wash her face with cold water before dressing and gathering the small bundle of clothing and personal items she hoped to be taking with her when the duke’s son returned this morning. She kissed Maya’s head carefully so as not to awaken her and slipped past her two cousins who slept on the two sides of the door. She made her way down to the kitchen wiping tears from her face once again. This would be her last morning at home before being dragged off to another dukedom and a life that might or might not resemble her life here. She needed to stay busy to avoid being a complete wreck and embarrassing her parents before the duke’s son.

She dropped her bundle just outside the kitchen and slipped in quietly, stoking the fire by the ovens. Then she gathered the loaves of bread dough and spread butter over the top in preparation for baking. While the fire burned and warmed the oven, she took out the last of the loaves and pulled it apart, rolling it flat and slicing it into triangles, which she filled with fruit and rolled up. This morning there would be a treat for those who remained to remember her by.

When she finished rolling the last of the croissants, the oven was warm enough, and she put the little rolls in to bake first. Next, she started preparing the grits and ham that would form the main morning meal. By the time Sade and Jule came in to start the baking, she was pulling the last of the croissants out of the oven and putting the loaves in. She smiled and pointed them to the kitchen table where she had set out cups and a plate full of the croissants.

Jule gathered the pot of hot caf and filled the cups and settled down next to Sade, watching silently as Olga put the last of the early-day loaves into the oven and put the pot of grits over the fire in the main fire pit.

Good morning, girls. Smells like someone got an early start today.

Good morning, Mama. It was Olga; we just got here.

Olga smiled at her mother and nodded toward the table as she double-checked the fire in the pit to ensure it was not too hot. Then she walked over to the kitchen table, determined not to cry again.

Sorry, I have not been much help the last couple of days. I wanted to say thank you by giving you a little relief today. Please, have some croissants and caf. The grits and ham will be a little while.

Olga’s mother came over and hugged her, and it was all she could do not to begin crying again.

Thank you, Olga, this is wonderful.

Yes, thank you, Olga.

They all took a croissant and started talking about the day’s duties and what they would make for the end of day meal, and Olga gratefully listened to the familiar banter. An hour later, she heard the men coming down, and the women got up and started setting out breakfast. First the caf and croissants, then the grits and ham. By the time all the men