I am so grateful for that powerful response. Fiction for me is risk-taking, because it's personal. Science and history, well they speak for themselves. Fiction is more a lens into our own psyches.

I think Maricia plans the worst punishment for her husband: public exposure. Usually this sort of neglect is private. Nobody acknowledges it. But public shaming....that will do it. Ditto for the cleric.

Thanks so much for the encouragement :)
Warm regards,
AG