Hamstung Imperial Palace
The early morning dew filled the air, making it look like a cloud of mist.
The hush of dawn, the air cool. Joya stepped out, with a wooden bowl clutched against her hip, the scent of dry grains rising faintly from it.
The soft rustle of her skirts brushing the dew-strewn ground as she shoved her hand into the basket of grains and scattered the feed with practiced flicks of her hand.
The grains rained down on the soil, tapping against the stone and earth. Almost instantly, the hens stirred to life, ruffled feathers, soft clucks, and quick darting beaks pecking at the food.
She continued to throw the feed on the ground until she had emptied the wooden bowl. She was wearing a plain white gown, the maid's uniform.
The quiet was filled with the flutter of wing
