backstory work
Been playing with a new idea, and I wrote up the following bit of backstory for it today. The quasi-Italian names are heavily influenced by my current paying work, proofreading about Tuscany & Umbria. Enjoy!

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12 Avrill, 43rd year of Cossimino's reign

Gracious Patero Brucco,

It begins. The dukes are eyeing Meo's vineyards and orchards, and they look to my own lack of a company of knights. They will not move while Father still lives, but the wound he took when his sword broke is great. He pretends to more strength than he has, I fear, and it weakens him more. It is an open secret about the court.

At times, I wish Giorgio had lived to adulthood, lived to be a boon to our father. When I was younger, I wondered that he could fall when riding with Lucia; our sister was ever the horsewoman of the family, even as a young girl. Could she not have done something to save him? In my blackest moments, moments I dared not even to confess to you at the time, I wondered if she had done something, if his death lay at her door.

Nonsense, of course. Certainly our father has no doubts about her loyalties. Last night in full kingly regalia before the court, he gave her the broken blade and bade her keep it until the angeli see fit to send us someone to forge it anew. Meo protested, of course. He said that as eldest living son, it ought to be his to carry. Father said he would not wish the fate of the broken blade upon his son.

Without the sword, however, no one will heed sickly Meo, too weak to defend his own home. If he has knights loyal enough to defend his family, I shall be surprised to learn it. Not that I expect to live long enough to see it. I ask only that you keep my wife and son safe, for a time may soon come when only my little Apollito will survive to inherit, and to rule when the angeli do grace us with a heaven-touched smith. I hope it comes soon, before Father dies, but my heart knows I will not see the sword whole once more.

Tell my family I love them, but I must be here for Father. Domenecca will understand.

Ever your servant,

Leoncio di Cossimino