Sylvia knew her sister would be distraught at the thought of her son competing in a sword-fighting competition, so she decided to pay her a visit.
The weather was mild, and there was hardly a breeze coming off of the sea. It seemed like the gods were being kind to Henry while he had to compete outdoors that day.
Sylvia held up her floor-length skirt as she walked to the town, only letting it go when she was out of the long grass and onto the dirt path. She took a sharp turn to the right and soon made it to her sister's shabby house.
Before she could knock, her eyes went over the state of the dwelling. Things had certainly gone downhill since her brother-in-law passed away a couple of years before. He was the handyman of the house, making sure things were in shape. She pondered Henry's situation. If he were knighted and received a higher salary, he could restore the house to its former, meager glory.
Sylvia finally knocked, not waiting for an answer, and pushed open the door.
