Viper Bite

18 March, 1361. Ferrenthor Manor, Marquessate of Niarnol, Islia.

Ever since their first encounter, Camilla had been meeting with Lord Ned Michal every morning in the same little courtyard. They would sit on the same little stone bench and talk nonstop, often shocked by how quickly the hours would slip by.

Ned told her all about his childhood and Camilla did the same. She learned that his had been a lonely upbringing, but different to the loneliness that William had experienced. Ned's childhood had been blighted by callous indifference and neglect, without any other boys around for companionship. His mother's health had broken down after his birth, so she was often confined to her chambers by illness. She'd shown no interest in nurturing her youngest child. His older sisters had been betrothed and sent off to their future husbands' estates when they were young. His brother John had been taught all his life to look down on Ned for being 'a useless cripple.'