Ash and Steel

Vittoria

The smoke smell continued to cling to the air. Even with last night's rain, it persisted, rich and bitter, curling through what was left of the broken stones of my once-east wing.

It charred walls.

Men walked in and out of the darkness, builders, masons, engineers, all wearing black uniforms.

"Raise the left beam three inches," I bellowed. My voice pierced hammers ringing off stone and t