Sweeping the inner courtyards

Weevil remembered the rotational of his strict schedule and immediately exited his quarters to make his way downstairs. Past the vast number of hallways of Von Galand manor, he accessed a servant's storeroom to retrieve a broom. All across, he passed the armed female guards and other male servants of the household. The vast differences to their stature was a common sight to him. The women were clad in mobile half plate armor, with every inch of metal surface etched with curved lines and intricate designs. Upon the center of their breastplates were embossed the Von Galand coat of arms of black and purple, a symbol of a pair of raven wings spread from the hilt of a long sword above an elongated kite shield. Each carried a sword and a dagger. Some carried pikes and spears, which were more so the guards on the outside. The officers, identified by the purple silk sashes around their waists, all carried whips on his belts, as they were also the designated **** drivers should any man foolishly refuse to obey. No helmets were worn during peacetime, but every now and again, Weevil has seen them with barbutes on regular guards and great helms on sergeants. In contrast, the men wore what he had donned, and it was easy to see which ones worked the out of doors, stripped of their upper wear, and which ones worked in the inside, dressed in slightly more distinguished linen garb. There were the select few who dressed differently, like the sage, Magna, and the rest of the Duchess' entourage. It was easy to tell who had the clearer advantage, and every **** was at the mercy of any of the dominant females to use and berate as they see fit.

Retreating from the steely gaze of a guard nearby the storeroom, he made his way to one of the inner courtyards, a large space of dirt and hewn stone surrounded by walkways and pillars. Unlike the other yards, this one was not as beautiful as the rest, as the rich denizens of the manor favored the ones on the other side of the towering manor building over the ones close to the servant's quarters. As it was also nearby the manor's guard barracks, it was usually a place where the guards would gather for various purposes, such as training and drunken revelry. Sometimes even both. The Duchess has then left it as their own home territory to keep them in check and many less than savory occurrences have happened here as a result. Weevil was unfortunately assigned to sweeping this area clean among a small number of other slaves, who showed little courage in being in such a dangerous part of the manor. While many feared for their lives, Weevil had the security of being one of the Duchess' favorites to protect him. The noble ruler of the house had little tolerance for other people breaking her most prized property. Without much more thought than the lingering shift to his strange dream this morning, he went to work, mindlessly making himself useful in the eyes of his masters under one of the alcoves.