Author Archives: mourningdove

The Council “Sigismund’s Crusades are going to bankrupt us!” “What price can we put on the Holy Faith? These Hussite Infidels will destroy it if they’re not stopped.” “Attacking them just seems to draw more to their cause and make them stronger….” “We must think about our own. We barely have enough grain in theContinue reading “Advent Calendar Story: Day 7”

Saint Nicholas Ursula was downstairs stoking up the fire while her aunt finished up the day’s knitting when a knock came at the door. It was getting late for customers, but this close to Christmas, you never knew, so Ursula rubbed the soot from her hands on her apron and went to answer. “Oh hoContinue reading “Advent Calendar Story: Day 6”

The Roast Goose “Bernard, close the window and come to dinner. It’s freezing out! And the graf is well and gone up to the castle. You’ve seen him, eh? He’s all in one piece, isn’t he?” Freiherr Bernard von Ritter harrumphed in his white mustaches, but he obediently closed the window and turned back intoContinue reading “Advent Calendar Story: Day 5”

The Woman by the Fire The fire crackled and the pot of lentil stew bubbled away on the hook above it. Mathilde put down her stitching and reached over with a long-handled spoon to give the stew a stir. Almost done. She took up her needlework again, one ear on the firepot and the otherContinue reading “Advent Calendar Story: Day 4”

The Roses Sidonie had just set the roses in their pitcher on the carven stand in the oriel window when one of the maids downstairs screeched, “He’s here, he’s here!” and suddenly everyone in the house was thumping either up or down stairs trying to get to a window or a door. Sidonie herself wasContinue reading “Advent Calendar Story: Day 3”

The Spinning Girl Ursula blew on her fingers mechanically in time with the foot that pressed down, down, down on the pedal of the spinning wheel. The wheel hummed and the spindle rattled, whirling and wavering golden like a summer cattail in the candlelight in the tower. It was nothing like summer here. Ursula shiveredContinue reading “Advent Calendar Story: Day 2”

Hi, my name is MourningDove, and I have an Advent Calendar problem. I collect them indiscriminately–well, not completely. I don’t like the ones with chocolates. But otherwise, if it’s got 24 little doors or drawers or socks or figurines or magnets or stickers or boxes or bows, I’ll take it. I have so many adventContinue reading “Advent Calendar Story: Day 1”