Arri and Keish

Arri-- February 5, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

February 5, 2004

Dear Keish,

Keish, how could you? Everyone in Rousha will be convinced I’m engaged to Sean within the week. Even Imato says you went too far. He says it will discourage other young men from wanting to court me. (I’m not sure I care about that, though.) He does acknowledge that people would have started speculating about me and Sean anyway, especially since I danced with him three times. He cut in once to rescue me from a young man named Penrad Natire who was trying to usher me into a private room. Really, I had decided to run for the door in a few seconds anyway, but Sean cutting in was less embarrassing. I don’t think you noticed that time.

I never thought it would be a relief to dance with Mendel! He’s so much better than me and he loves dancing. But he also pretends not to notice when I step on his feet. Keish, there has to be a way for me to get out of attending dances. I feel so stupid at them. It was nice of Mendel to dance with me twice, and to steer me away and talk to me when other young men came over. He says everyone was dying with curiosity to find out why the prince liked me so much. Your rumors were good, but they didn’t entirely take suspicion away from me. That’s why I got asked so much. Maybe now that the whole world knows what a terrible dancer I am, and that I’m not engaged to Prince Tulson, they’ll leave me alone.

Still, you’re right, I danced with six other young men. They were very polite. Phyfe Tecsin was almost as bad at dancing as I was. He was the nicest though. He said the next time we meet, we can pretend to have twisted ankles and just sit and talk. But he comes from Cletus near the Midaeans so we may never meet again. I met his parents, Lord and Lady Tecsin, a long time ago. They were friends of Father and Mother. Phyfe asked after Father’s health and said that his parents wanted me to know that his family was at my service.

Thank you, thank you, thank you again for my dress! Sean said I was beautiful. Mendel said I looked like the meadow where he first met Fairy (as he still calls Aunt Nysa). I’m pretty sure it was a compliment.

Queen Elspeth was very nice and didn’t ask me a single question about Prince Tulson’s engagement when I helped her get ready for the ball. I did enjoy making flower arrangements for the tables, and one of the servants showed me all the silverware so that I wouldn’t make any mistakes at the banquet.

You looked gorgeous, Keish, and you and Jace danced so elegantly! I heard several people comment that you were a lovely couple. I wonder if you should be worried about rumors. I mean you danced every dance with Jace except the one with Prince Tulson. I guess you never worry about rumors though.

Oh, the festival was the best part of everything! Fire dancers, jugglers, puppeteers! It was like being a child again with a bag of cinnamon-roasted almonds and my old stuffed giraffe under one arm. Father and Mother used to take us to at least one festival in Rousha every year, sometimes the winter one and sometimes the summer. Imato took me on the elephant ride and we threw darts for prizes. I still have the little wooden frog that I won at darts when I was seven. This time I got to watch Liop play games. (Thank you for stopping him from using magic to try and win them!)

I don’t know why Lady Pren kept trying to get you alone. Maybe it wasn’t that so much as trying to get Taty and me to be friends, which wasn’t at all difficult. I didn’t really think about it at the time or even notice until you mentioned it.

Aunt Nysa likes you very much. She wishes we lived closer together.

Brynn came and talked with me on the 31st, but I didn’t want to talk much. I know she wants me to study magic and Uncle Winthrop is against it. She suggested that Taty and I could have our lessons together and I said I’d think about it. I’ve been doing an awful lot of thinking lately, and I just feel so muddled inside. I do want to learn magic, but I don’t want to go against Uncle W. Of course, I promised Imato that I would ask Uncle W. for permission to study magic. The King sent a missive informing Uncle W. and me to appear before him one February 15th. I’m obliged to have things figured out by then.

February 10

Uncle Winthrop doesn’t like it that I get up at dawn and walk to the mental home every morning to be with Father. He says it isn’t safe for me to go walking by myself so early. I don’t understand it at all. In Odsreq there were spikebacks and wolves and lions, but Uncle W. was never the least bit worried when I went out. I tried to get Liop to come with me but he says only the birds are bobbersome enough for that sort of thing and that he’d go with me after school but not before. I asked Uncle W. what he was so worried about and he said robbers, but we had those in Odsreq.

So three days ago Uncle Winthrop came home from work with a giant schnauzer, almost as big as a pony! He must have been solid black in his youth, but now he’s speckled with bits of white. Still, he looks very aristocratic with his head set high and his powerful shoulders. Uncle Winthrop says he’s more for looks than anything and that he would rather I just stay home, but I can’t stand being inside on clear mornings. His name is Coulter, and he has to be brushed everyday to keep his long coat sleek and untangled. Kestrel doesn’t like him much. I think she’s insulted because he took her spot by the fire. Anyway, they both come with me in the morning now. Kestrel leads the way as always, and Coulter walks at my side.

Imato has returned to Adya for his training today. I forbade him to come back without his knighthood and he made me promise I would have started my magic lessons. Aunt Nysa overheard us and after he left, she looked at me closely for a while until I began to feel nervous.

“I should like to teach you,” she said finally in her soft, unassuming, voice.

Suddenly everything became very clear.

“Would you?” I asked, eagerly, “Can you? I mean, do you know how?”

Aunt Nysa’s chin came up and she looked insulted.

“We’ll start tomorrow after Winthrop leaves for work,” she informed me. I stared. It was the first time I’d ever seen her assertive about anything and the intensity of her gaze made me shiver.

It seems strange that less than an hour later Brynn came calling. She asked me to go walking with her, and I agreed. I was excited to tell her about studying with Aunt Nysa.

Her reaction startled me. She stopped walking and her eyes seemed to turn gray and serious.

“I think,” she said finally, “that this is as it should be.” She looked down at me with a worried expression.

“But, Arri,” she continued, “you need to be careful. Fairy magic is strong and very dangerous, especially for someone who isn’t a fairy. You need to remember that the spells Nysa teaches you may be difficult to control and that fairies are known for using more magic than is necessary to accomplish things. Be very, very careful.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t…” I began, feeling unnerved.

“No, Arri,” said Brynn, “Study with Nysa.” And she didn’t say anything more.

I was trying to decide if there was anything else I should put in this letter, so I set it aside and pulled out the ledger to figure the budget for the next couple of weeks. It’s a good way to clear my head when I’m nervous. I had my mind buried in numbers, when I noticed Uncle W. standing behind me. How glad I am that I wasn’t still working on your letter!

“Where did you learn to calculate averages?” Uncle W. asked suddenly.

“From you,” I said.

“No, I taught to divide the money to see how much you could spend on each meal. I didn’t teach you to average the cost of produce.”

I though about it.

“Oh, Cook suggested that,” I said finally. Uncle W. had the most thoughtful expression, as though he had just realized something important.

“You would have done well in an academy,” he said finally, and wandered off again.

It was such a strange thing to say. Academies are for boys preparing for college. I bet Liop would do well in one.

I’m just going to mail this now, and start a new letter tomorrow after my first magic lesson.

I hope your trip went well. I miss you already. Tell Uncle Adlen its my turn to visit you, but I really don’t know when I’ll be able to.

Love,

Arri

Keish-- January 30, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

January 30, 2004

Dear Arri,

Four full days in Rousha and there is so much we didn’t get to talk about! It might as well have been four days in Adya, I have so much to write! Of course, I barely even saw you the first two days and the other two were so busy that we didn’t get to talk about much else.

So… how was spending a day helping Queen Elspeth get ready for the ball? I think I’d have died if I’d had to spend that beautiful crisp day directing servants in that busy ballroom. The tables did look nice, though. I’m sure your help was invaluable. (I’m sorry, I can’t help but tease you a little. I’m sure you were very helpful.)

I spent the day with Jace and Taty. He showed me old Rousha and all of the things he planned to show Liop the day after the ball. So many great things to see! It’s no wonder Liop kept switching languages in excitement that night.

It was good to spend time with Jace again. I’ve missed him, even though it hasn’t been too long since he left Adya. I think Taty got bored with us, though. She told Jace to “find another chaperone next time.” He just laughed.

The day of the ball was, naturally spent getting ready and controlling rumors. (Gretel says I should change that to spreading rumors, but really I was trying to control them,) Clearly, I spent too much time in the palace. I didn’t need all day to get ready, but everyone else seems to, so I stayed with Gretel and we heard all sorts of rumors. Most of them were about you, which is why I was trying to control them. (It’s also why I didn’t mention them to you that night-- you seemed nervous enough.) Anyway, even with Lady Pren introducing Clara to a few people as “a special guest,” nobody was picking up on it. Everywhere we went in the palace we heard the rumors about Tulson marrying a Brio.

In the anteroom, drying our hair after the baths, there were four of the young ladies of the court who were going on and on about you when we walked in. I decided enough was enough.

“Have you met Mistress Clara Songson yet?” I asked them, innocently. “I wonder why she would choose now to come to court.”

“The Prince’s announcement, of course,” one of them answered. (I don’t remember their names, so we’ll call her “Red Hair”.)

“Yes, isn’t she your cousin’s friend?” added Brown Hair.

“Well, yes I believe she is, so she must know…” I trailed off, “hesitating.”

“Know what?” asked Curly Blond excitedly.

“Well I don’t know if I should say anything,” I demurred.

Gretel rolled her eyes. “It’s bound to come out,” she said. “Just tell them.” (Not that she had any idea what I had in mind, but she trusts me… for some odd reason, she says.)

I fretted a moment or two more, then said softly. “Well I guess it’s okay to tell you, as long as you don’t tell anyone.”

They hastened to assure me that no a soul would be told, so, content in the knowledge that what I said would be everywhere within the hour, I continued. “I’ve read the cards for a match between Prince Tulson and Lady Arri. No matter how many times I do it, she’s a widow by 20. It always ends in disaster.”

“Now be fair,” said Gretel, trying valiantly not to laugh, “one time it was Lady Arri that was killed tragically and Prince Tulson was left a widower at 22.”

“That’s true. That was if they married on his birthday. If they married on her birthday they both died in a horrible accident within a week. The point is, it’s a bad match every time.”

“But couldn’t the cards be wrong?” Other Blond asked.

I responded abruptly, “You doubt my ability to read the cards?” (Said while rising dramatically, of course.)

They all quickly insisted that they didn’t doubt any such thing and I sat back down, mollified.

“It’s just so sad,” Brown Hair said. “We were all so sure. Poor Lady Arri.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say ‘poor Lady Arri’. She’s being courted by a wonderful young man. And you know what ‘wonderful’ means,” I said with a wink.

“Lots of land and money,” Gretel answered in a conspiratorial whisper.

They all nodded.

“Who is he?” asked Red Hair.

I put my hand to the base of my throat in innocent protest. “Gossip about my cousin? And in front of her soon-to-be sister-in-law? Oh, I couldn’t. And you mustn’t say anything to Arri. It’s supposed to be a secret.”

Since nothing is so exciting as knowing about a secret courtship, I believed them this time when they declared they’d never tell. I’m sure you probably had four girls giving you very interested looks all through the ball, though.

“So who is Prince Tulson marrying?” Curly Blond asked.

I glanced at Gretel questioningly. She shrugged slightly and turned to the four girls. “You really haven’t wondered why Clara Songson would suddenly come to court?” she asked.

“I know if I were her, I wouldn’t have come unless the announcement was about a family member or something,” I said nonchalantly, watching their reactions while pretending to study my nails.

The reactions varied in levels of confusion. Red Hair was most perplexed. “But who is her family? No one has even been able to figure out where she came from. They might be minor landowners from the borderlands.”

“Have you seen her?” asked Gretel.

“Do you really think she’d hold herself like royalty if that were the case?” I added, playing to the common perceptions of class.

“Maybe she’s a relation of the Pren’s,” suggested Curly Blond.

“She is staying with them,” pointed out the Other Blond.

I shook my head. “Jace and Taty said she’s a family friend.”

Gretel jumped in before they could protest more. “Friend of a Brio, friend of the Pren’s, holds herself like a queen… I don’t think anyone needs to be concerned about her family.”

Brown Hair finally piped up. “But it’s just her. I’m not sure she has any family.”

I shrugged. “Well, if she’s not here because it’s going to be her friend and she doesn’t have any sister…” I trailed off significantly.

Their eyes all grew large. “You mean…” Red Hair started.

I shrugged again. “I’m just saying.”

Glowing with excitement, they all hastily gathered up their things and said goodbye.

As soon as they were gone, Gretel and I dissolved into hysterical laughter.

“You liar,” Gretel said when she regained her composure. “All that about the cards.”

I shrugged. “I can make the cards say anything I want them to say.”

“You know, it’s too bad you don’t like all the intrigue of court life,” she said as we went back to our rooms, “because you’re appallingly good at it!”

I ran into Tulson later in the afternoon-- he was uncharacteristically nervous. So much so, in fact, that Jace and I decided we really just couldn’t play any pranks on him.

And before anyone else asks-- NO! we were not responsible for the exploding cravat! I don’t know why people don’t believe me. Don’t they know how much I’d love to be able to claim responsibility for such a great idea?

You looked stunning at the ball. I’m glad you liked the gown. Imato seemed impressed. I thought Mendel might faint! (I’m sorry, it was just so funny!)

I actually enjoyed the ball. Jace and I don’t ever get to go to balls together. He was a little possessive, though, wasn’t he? I really didn’t mind, though. I really didn’t want to dance with anyone else. (Tulson doesn’t count, he only danced with me to ask what I’d been telling people about Clara and to accuse me of causing his cravat to explode,)

You danced a lot. Mendel, Sean, Tulson, and what… half a dozen others? It’s as if the whole kingdom suddenly realized you’re an eligible young lady. (I’m teasing again, aren’t I? I just can’t seem to help it.) Oh and if Imato starts lecturing you again, you’re supposed to remind him that Gretel said to leave you alone. He wanted to pull you aside after you danced a couple of times each with Mendel and Sean, but Gretel wouldn’t let him. “It’s a ball,” she told him. “Let her be. She should dance with whomever she pleases.”

He grumbled a bit. I don’t think he likes people realizing his little sister is a young lady. I guess it’s just part of being a big brother. This was Taty’s first ball and Jace was grumbling about who she was dancing with, too.

I thought Tulson’s announcement went fairly well. Her connection to you and how she carries herself was already being discussed and Gretel and I had already planted the suspicion that she was the one. The King and Queen were a bit surprised, but Queen Elspeth seemed to be pretty understanding. She had Clara move to the palace, after all. I think what you said to her at the Westridge’s really helped.

It was probably for the best that Sean and Mendel were the only Westridges there, though. I overheard Sean telling Imato that his parents were going to need some time to adjust to the idea.

Speaking of adjusting, I’m glad Nysa came to the ball. She looked lovely. I think she only danced with Sean, Mendel and Imato, but she seemed to enjoy herself. I saw several men that looked disappointed that she left early-- and a couple of them even looked jealous that Sean got to escort her home!

The day after the ball was fun, wasn’t it? I enjoyed the festival market the most. I’m glad Lady Pren convinced Clara to come with us; I enjoyed getting to know her. You’re absolutely right about her making an excellent wife for Tulson.

Father and Uncle Winthrop really seemed to enjoy the gifts we found for them at the market. (Well, okay, I don’t think Uncle W. was actually all that thrilled with the

book of practical magic I got him, but maybe he’s softening just a bit. Either that or he was just being on his best behavior because he had told you he would.)

Speaking of shopping, don’t think I didn’t notice you trying to put the rest of the money I gave you back in my handbag. It’s on the bookshelf in your room. It was a gift and I don’t want it back. If you can’t bring yourself to spend it on yourself (though that dress we found at the market was perfect-- you should get a couple more) then buy something for Liop or something. I’m not taking it back.

I’m glad you and Taty got along so well. You’ve got two good friends in Rousha now to help you get settled in. (Granted, Clara’s just getting settled in too, but still.) Clara and Gretel got along well, also, which will be great for Gretel if Imato ends up with a post near Tulson and Clara.

Did anyone else feel like Lady Pren was trying to push you and Taty together and Clara and Gretel together, leaving me with her? It certainly felt that way to me! I didn’t mind too much, she is wonderful, but it felt like she had some sort of ulterior motive-- like when the Queen wanted to meet you. I felt like I was being evaluated for something. But Jace didn’t say anything… Maybe I’m imagining things. I probably won’t even see Jace again for several weeks. He wasn’t ever sure he’d be able to come for my birthday.

Dinner was wonderful; I think everyone had a good time. Don’t you agree that Father is acting odd, though? I don’t suppose he said anything to you that would explain it?

While you and he were talking after dinner, Nysa and I went out for some air. I didn’t really get a chance to tell you about it though.

“I recognize you,” she said almost immediately. “You were the one in the cave.”

I nodded. “I made that journey.”

“You did for this family what no one else could have. That child was never born.”

“My mother was killed while with child,” I responded softly.

She looked startled. “Your… mother…” You could see her struggling to remember.

“Ellean, your sister,” I explained. That was when I noticed that she was holding you book of fairy tales. I took it from her and opened it to the picture of the three girls. I pointed to each in turn. “Jezreel Fae Brio, Ellean Ryn Brio, Nysa Brio.”

She studied the picture for a moment, then pointed out each girl. “Jessie, Elli… me. Nysa Mikel Brio.” She turned the pages slowly, looking at the pictures. “Someone is missing. I have an older brother.:

I nodded. “Winthrop Latit Brio.” I pointed back inside. “Winthrop.”

She was quiet for several minutes, then looked back at the book. “Jessie told my story.”

“My mother did, too. They told it differently, though.”

She nodded. “They were very different.”

“What about you?” I asked quietly.

Her face clouded. “I’m… still not sure. So much is still missing.”

I put my arm around her thin shoulders. “It will come.”

She smiled. “I know.”

We went back inside and I asked Uncle W. if he’d read any good spells lately. He wouldn’t take the bait, though. I guess he meant it when he promised you no controversy.

I can’t believe how much effort it took yesterday to get that book of spells away from Liop! I was starting to think I really was going to have to turn him into a fire newt! (It’s a good thing it didn’t come to that, though. I’m not sure that spell works.) It’s a good thing that locator spell worked, because I don’t think we’d have gotten it any other way. He seemed mollified by the newer book I gave him, though. Hopefully he’s not causing trouble with it. At least the spells aren’t going to cause any explosions.

It was nice to jest spend a day at your new home, even if we spent most of it arguing with Liop. It’s probably good Gretel and Imato had gone out-- I don’t think Imato would have been amused. Nysa sure seemed to think it was funny, though. And Brynn spent all of lunch laughing at us. Did she come today to discuss more with you or is she coming tomorrow?

Well, I have spent the whole day writing and now the carriage is arriving at the inn. Gretel informs me I haven’t been very good company, so I should stop. Honestly this is so long I’d better just send it to you. Since we’re just a day’s ride from Rousha I’ll just send it to you with the morning post and you should get it tomorrow night! I should be back in Adya by dinnertime on the 1st, so Hermes should find me there.

Love Always,

Keish

P.S. Shelly loved Rousha! I’ve only just seen her and told her you hoped she’d enjoyed herself. She was very gratified that you’d thought to ask after her. Since I did everything for myself, she spent all her time at the festival. Apparently it was amazing!

Gretel-- January 22, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

January 22, 2004

Dear Arri,

I’m sending this by express messenger care of Prince Tulson, who solemnly promises, under threats of all sort from Keish, that it will get to you no later than the 25th.

I hope you enjoy this gown. Keish helped me pick the design and colors. We decided the green would match your eyes, and the gold belt looks so elegant. The cream across the bottom is embroidered with golden branches and flowers inspired by the drawings Keish saw in the Fairy book your mother made for you. We’ll make sure you have help lacing the gold cord up the back. I’m planning to send one of the lady’s maids my mother insists on bringing over to you.

Don’t worry about the silk-- Keish has enchanted it not to stain and she enchanted the hems so they won’t rip. She said you’d be glad to hear that, though of course, we both think you’ll do splendidly at the ball.

Keish also assures me the fit should be perfect. She managed to get all of your measurements while she was with you. She says that was why Brynn was laughing so hard the day she was trying to explain what lessons she wanted you to start with-- Keish was around the corner “zinging” (Keish’s word) spells into the room like “possessed measuring tapes” to get all your measurements. She assures me the spells are completely accurate, but I made sure Tulson could give you access to the royal tailors for a more precise fitting if needed.

Thank you so much for what you said to Imato-- I can’t wait to really have a sister!

Love

GRETEL

Arri-- January 21, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

January 21, 2004

Dear Keish,

Yes, of course Jace can take Liop out exploring! I’m sorry I forgot to mention that in my last letter, but the answer was obvious. Liop is very excited, almost enough to cover up his fear of moving.

Uncle Winthrop thinks it’s an excellent idea to celebrate his and Uncle Alden’s birthdays together in Rousha. He says he will be on his best behavior and not utter a single controversial word from sun-up to sun-down. I made him promise, although Imato and Liop are taking bets on whether he can actually keep it.

I’m writing this letter from the coach that Uncle W. hired to take us to Rousha, so you’ll have to forgive the sloppy handwriting. It’s snowing lightly and we’ve gotten stuck in the mud twice, but Uncle W. is sure the storm will clear soon and it’s impossible to avoid muddy roads this time of year. Uncle W. is in a small carriage ahead of us with Father. Father doesn’t seem to be feeling well and I couldn’t get him to eat anything this morning. Hopefully the doctors and healers in Rousha will be able to help him. He still hasn’t said a word and he fought hard when Uncle W., Imato, Cook’s husband, and Mendel tried to move him from the bedroom to the carriage. I was afraid they would hurt him, but they were very careful.

I must start this letter from where I left off in my last letter. There were only three things left to do before we could move to Rousha.

The first was to have dinner with the Westridges. It was a formal affair, so Liop had to stay home. I wore one of Aunt Rawnal’s dresses made over. It’s a long red-brown gown with lots of hand-crocheted lace. Uncle Winthrop says it was one of the first dresses she made after they married. It’s old-fashioned, but elegant and Imato said I needed to wear something elegant. I would have worn the yellow dress that Treany gave me, but I’ve worn it so much it’s beginning to wear out. Cook says the shade of brown is wrong for my complexion, but I still like the color.

The dinner was awfully formal, which means that only Lord and Lady Westridge, Imato and Sean had anything to say. Uncle Winthrop was polite, but he and Lord Westridge never really had anything except a business relationship, and that was ending now. Imato told me beforehand that the Westridges were having us to dinner because of our social standing and because they wanted to keep the door open for social contacts when we move to Rousha. I really don’t understand any of that.

I spent most of the first course trying to remember what fork to use, and during the main course I mistook an oil vase for a salt shaker—it was dark—and poured oil onto my meat, which startled me and I knocked a fork (still not sure what kind) onto the floor and bent to pick it up, but I was still holding the oil vase, so I poured oil all down my dress. It all happened in less time than I just took to write it. Mendel put his hand over his mouth to try to hide his laughter.

Lady Westridge rang for Clara to come and help me. For some reason Mendel thought that made everything even funnier and he busted up entirely.

Lady Clara ignored him completely. She picked up the fallen dinnerware and led me away to a spare room without saying a single word. Then she produced a spare dress of Lady Westridge’s for me to change into.

“I really don’t think Mendel should have laughed,” I grumbled as Lady Clara helped me with my buttons.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Lady Clara, unconcernedly, “Mendel seems to laugh every time I do anything these days. It’s driving me crazy. I’ll be relieved when I can follow you to Rousha in three days. Lady Pren is sending a carriage for me the day after you leave.”

I didn’t think anyone could say “relieved” and “Rousha” in the same sentence. I stared at her.

“At least the Westridges never expect me to act like a lady,” I said, although it wasn’t really comforting, “Lord Westridge didn’t even raise his eyebrows. Aren’t you worried about using the wrong thing at dinner?”

“Not really,” Lady Clara answered, “I’ve had to set so many tables that I know what all the utensils are, and having to carry serving trays has given me pretty good balance.” I could hear the pride in her voice as she said this. It amazed me. I hadn’t ever thought about it before.

Lady Clara told me to wear the spare dress the rest of the evening and she’d have my dress ready for me by the time we left to go home. I spent the rest of the evening moving as little as possible. When I got my dress back, it was perfectly clean and spotless.

The second thing to do was to have lunch with Treany. She told me it would be very informal and just her and me, which meant that I didn’t have to worry because even if Treany does know the difference between an oil vase and a salt shaker, she doesn’t ever put both on the table at the same time, at least not for lunches. And she never notices what fork I’m using.

I told Treany about the dinner and she didn’t laugh once. She was very sympathetic and she called Lady Clara a “very superior kind of servant,” which made me laugh because I suddenly understood why Mendel thought the situation was so funny. I would rather forget it happened though.

“You ought to send for her when you move into the palace,” she informed me in a conspiratorial whisper. I was confused.

“I’m not moving to the palace,” I said, “We’re going to a nice two-bedroom apartment in the old city. We have a lovely view of the castle park.”

“Oh, I’m sure you don’t intend to be there long,” said Treany lightly. She studied my confused expression.

“Arri,” she said finally, “I promise I haven’t said a word, but really, you couldn’t have been more obvious.”

“About what?” I asked.

“You and Prince Tulson.”

It was like watching a vital puzzle piece fall into place and discovering the puzzle wasn’t what I thought it was. I started at her, trying to decide what to say.

“I’m not engaged to the prince,” I said finally.

Treany frowned at me.

“The queen came all the way to Rousha and the only person besides her brother’s family that she dined with was you,” she accused me.

“Yes, but you don’t understand,” I said, wondering how Treany knew I dined with the queen.

“You can’t spend most of your time with three young men, two of them highly eligible, without attracting attention, Arri,” Treany continued. Then she sighed, “you really should have taken Feminine Politics. People watch you. Besides, you’re the only eligible young lady in Odsreq.”

I shook my head. “There’s you and Felicia Lowling and…” but Treany interrupted me with a bright smile.

“Prince Tulson would never even look at us. We have no rank.” She shook her head in frustration.

I started to protest that, then shut my mouth, thinking that if I said too much I might accidentally give away Clara. Lunch with Treany wasn’t nearly as nice as I thought it would be.

“What do you mean, people watch me?” I asked finally, my voice soft.

“For all the reasons I’ve already said,” Treany told me, “and you’re really hard to figure out. You’ve never done what people expected a lady of quality to do. You were so quiet when you first came here. People though it was snobbery at first. It took me forever to figure out that you were just being shy.”

“I didn’t know anyone, and I was scared,” I defended, remembering that first awful drive to Odsreq after we were told Father died. I didn’t even know Uncle Winthrop very well. Then going to language class and everyone stared at me like I was a zoo animal and no one said anything…

“Do you think the people in Rousha will think I’m snobbish?” I asked.

She didn’t answer that. She just sighed again and then brightened. “You’re going to make so many important connections. Will you promise to send me sketches of the new season fashions? Old Rousha is the absolute center of modern design!” I promised to send sketches of every outfit I saw.

I don’t think I really convinced her that I’m not engaged to Prince Tulson, and she couldn’t understand at all why I was so nervous about moving. I don’t know what I’m going to do, Keish! I’m so glad you’re coming. I wish you could just stay here with us and keep me from making a fool of myself, although I’m not sure it will be possible to prevent that regardless. Everyone my age will be graduated from finishing school and very elegant, I’m sure.

The worst part of all is that I have to leave Glory behind with the Westridge’s. That was the third thing I had to do before we could leave. I walked her there myself and handed her over to Mendel, who didn’t even laugh once, but showed me the stables and how bright and clean they are, and introduced me to the head stableman and even the veterinarian who will help with the foaling. I know the Westridges have the best stables of anyone and Mendel says that no matter where I’m living, he’ll send for me as soon as Glory’s belly drops and she starts going into labor, so I still might get to see the foal born. But it won’t be the same as if I’m living there and can help take care of them. I know the foaling is still more than two months away, but I can’t help worrying about it.

I’m sorry, Keish. I feel so selfish and helpless and whiny. Everything we’re doing is for Father to help him get better, and I do want him to get well. I want that more than anything—more than Glory’s foal. So I shouldn’t be complaining, and I ought to be much happier than I am. Father’s going to have the best doctor in all of Elcaro! That’s something to be happy about. Everything will be so much better when he’s well again. Our apartment is within walking distance of the hospital. Uncle W. made sure of that, so we’ll be able to visit him whenever we want. And of course the king’s healer will help with the treatments. I wish I could help too.

I don’t know why the fairies didn’t take you, but I’m sure they could tell that with or without magic, I’m hopelessly incompetent.

Uncle W. was right. The snow has stopped and the sun came out while I was writing this. We’re traveling through countryside now with white, sparkly fields covered in fresh snow. It’s cold, but I have plenty of blankets, and Liop is asleep with his hot little head against my shoulder. I think I should quit complaining and just watch the scenery. I wonder though, why your father is in such a funny mood. Do you think he’s been talking to Mendel? He’s been awfully silly since Prince Tulson got engaged, and not just around Lady Clara. It’s like there’s some private joke going on that no one will explain. That’s one thing I just thought of—in Rousha I won’t have to spend so much time trying to figure out Mendel.

I threatened Liop with everything I could think of but I have no idea where that book of spells is. He’s bent on keeping it, even if he blows up the kingdom.

I can’t wait for you to get here. It will be so nice to talk to you in person again! And Aunt Nysa is so excited to meet you! She was very impressed by your spell work in the cave.

I have to end this now, as I’m almost out of paper. Everyone sends their love and safe journey, and we will see you in a few days.

Love,

Arri

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Keish-- January 15, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

January 15, 2004

Dear Arri,

It is absolutely too much of Tulson to make you do something like that! I should like to give him a piece of my mind on the subject. I think I will, when I’m there in a couple of weeks. Honestly, what could he have been thinking, putting you in such a position?!

And then to be upset with you for what you told the queen… the nerve! He makes me so mad sometimes. Spoiled youngest prince. Grr. That is just…. I need to go distract myself with something.

I’m calm now. I think you did an excellent job. Far better than what Tulson had in mind, I’d say, since you got the queen to admit that one must marry for love. Perhaps you should be studying diplomacy as well as healing.

As far as ways to introduce Clara… well that’s only part of it, isn’t it? How is Clara going to explain going to Rousha to begin with? Or are the Westridges the type of people that would understand? I wrote to Jace yesterday to see what he thinks-- and to tell him to make sure Tulson realizes she’ll need a wardrobe and such. Maybe he’ll have some ideas.

I suppose Clara could go with you-- supposedly as a sort of ladies’ maid or something.

I’ve been thinking about this since I got your letter and I haven’t come to any conclusions. It just isn’t done-- there’s no precedent. Even in the stories, they never bother to mention those kind of practical details. Gretel hasn’t been able to think of anything either and Papa just laughs… at everything these days.

I haven’t called him that in years, but it just slipped out the other day. He’s started calling me Keisha or Keisha Nerys. He hasn’t done that since Mother died.

Speaking of Papa-- I finally got things worked out for his birthday. He rather wishes we could all celebrate together since Uncle W.’s birthday is coming up also. We’re just going to have a quiet dinner here this week and then Jace is making arrangements with his parents for a larger dinner the day after the ball. Please tell Uncle W. and Imato and Liop so they plan on it. Since we’ll be spending the day with Lady Pren, I thought that day worked out the best.

Oh! Since you didn’t seem to object, I told Jace to go ahead and write to Liop about them exploring together while we’re with Lady Pren. If it is a problem, just let me know and intercept the letter from Jace.

Personally, I’m looking forward to being in Rousha as a good way to avoid Vanessa. Naturally, she’s coming too, but there should be enough going on to keep her from pestering me. Unfortunately for Clara, once it’s announced that she’s Tulson’s fiancée, Vanessa will probably want to compare notes on wedding plans.

It’s too bad Clara doesn’t have a long-lost father like Marie. Her presentation to court was a few days ago and it went very smoothly. It was pretty much like any other. She looked lovely in her gown and managed all the dancing, which she was quite concerned about.

January 16

I lost track of time while I was writing yesterday, so I had to leave off when Gretel came looking for me. We were supposed to go out to do some shopping. She needed to get away from the palace for a bit. Really, some of the gossip is getting out of hand. Even Vanessa’s mother is fading into the background as far as the gossip goes-- and her daughter is marrying the prince!

Gretel’s mother is taking the whole thing too far. If one more person mentions the idea that Imato’s training has taken longer because he’s really a sorcerer knight-- a position that no one has held in at least a century-- and that he’ll be the king’s personal sorcerer… well, I might scream. Poor Gretel has to put up with the talk constantly since there’s a steady stream of women coming to gossip with her mother. I think she’s starting to wish they could just elope.

Last night Papa told me that the king has been receiving reports indicating a complete collapse of the Narls. There have also been many reports of men suddenly not knowing why they are where they are, or arriving home after having been missing for years-- with no memory of what they’ve been doing.

There have been some reports of problems, but mostly it seems that taking care of Gessair has taken care of the Narls.

Does Nysa remember more? She asked Brynn some interesting questions. I hadn’t realized Brynn was from the Toroon line. I’m not sure there’s anyone left from that line…

I wonder why the fairies didn’t take one of us? Do you think our mothers found a way to keep them from taking anyone? Or did Nysa stop the fairies?

Oh! You said Liop made a bright blue potion that caught fire? That little sneak! That’s why I can’t find that book of spells-- he must have taken it with him. You’d better get it away from him-- several of the recipes have mistakes in them (like that one). It’s a small volume, kind of ragged and says simply “Practical” on the front. It’s sort of a dirty yellow with red lettering. Hopefully you can find it before he sets anything big on fire… a lot of the mistakes seem to result in flames. Sorry, I didn’t even realize it was missing until a few days ago. He must have found it after I left and he wouldn’t have realized it has so many mistakes. I’ll have to get it from you when I’m in Rousha-- I’ve been trying to correct it.

I’m bringing a “lady in waiting” to Rousha. Well, sort of. One of the maids that helps me from time to time said something a few days ago about wanting to visit Rousha, so I figured, why not? Her name is Shelly and I quite like her. I won’t need much, so I told her she could do all the exploring she wants. She’s thrilled. Gretel just laughs at me.

Speaking of which, (laughing, that is), I’m sorry everyone is telling you not to listen to everyone else. It is funny, though. I don’t know if it would be helpful if I tell you not the listen to Mendel or not, so I’ll refrain even though it’s tempting.

January 19

Sorry I haven’t sent this yet. I thought I’d best wait to see if Jace had anything helpful to say. I just received his letter and he says his mother wants to arrange things. She seems to know what to say to the Westridges and is going to have Clara come stay with her. Lady Pren also seems to think that just introducing Clara as “Clara Songson” is enough and that she (Lady Pren) can control some of the gossip. So I suppose Clara will be hearing from her. (This is one of the rare occasions when I am all too happy to turn things over to an adult!)

Oh, and Jace says that Tulson had already thought of the need for a wardrobe (there may be hope for him after all) but he was happy to turn those details over to Lady Pren also.

It’s quite late, but I’ll send this off first thing in the morning. You’re probably getting anxious since I’ve taken so long responding. I shall see you soon!

Love Always,

Keish

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Arri-- January 11, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

January 11, 2004

Dear Keish,

Your dress is beautiful! You’re going to look so elegant at the Winter Ball. I showed the sketches to Treany and she said that you have flawless taste (which I already knew, but I thought you’d appreciate the compliment since Treany is also known for having good taste in clothing). I won’t ask about my dress, but I’m very grateful, and it’s wonderful to know that I don’t have to worry about it. I’m really not very good at fashion.

We hired Nurse Linder right before the trip to visit you, because Mother was feeling poorly and wanted extra help. She didn’t come from a healing background, and I think the traditional doctor who trained her was against healers (a lot of them are, since they’re kind of in competition for patients). I don’t remember why Father and Mother chose her. Miss Perlita was around— sort of— she was being courted by someone (I don’t remember the name and they eventually broke up).

I should tell you the plans for moving. Uncle Winthrop found an apartment, so we’ve begun packing. The apartment is smaller than the cottage, so we’ve been sorting things out that will be stored in the Westridges’ basement from things that we really need. Most of Uncle W.’s books will go into storage, and a lot of the furniture. He rented a shop in Rousha for his alchemy supplies. It’s probably best that Liop doesn’t have such easy access to them anyway. Yesterday he was caught mixing a bright blue substance that caught fire when Uncle Winthrop asked a little too loudly what it was. Liop says he was going to rub it on the windows so people could only see out and not in. Uncle W. says it was entirely the wrong color for that kind of potion, and he’s glad Liop was caught before he actually tried to use it.

I know you’re going to miss Jace a lot, but it is very comforting to me knowing that I have friends in Rousha: Brynn, Jace, and Taty. I don’t really know anyone else there, or at least it seems that way because I didn’t keep in touch with anyone I knew after I moved away nearly four years ago. The girls I shared classes with must be highly educated, refined young ladies. They will have graduated from school and be seeking marriage. I never graduated, and although I learned a lot in Odsreq, I don’t think it will serve me in the high society of Rousha. I wish you lived in Rousha; you know virtually everything about high society.

I still don’t know who my trainer will be. Everything is so busy, and Uncle Winthrop is pretty stressed out. Imato advised me to let the matter rest until we get to Rousha, and I think he’s right. Thank you, and tell Uncle Adlen thank you, for offering to pay for my apprenticeship. I think it will be okay now, but I’ll let you know. Thank you.

Brynn came on the eighth in the morning. “It’s too snowy to work outside today,” she said briskly, “is there a room we could use where we won’t be disturbed?”

“The basement,” I said.

Aunt Nysa looked up from the cross-stitch sampler I had been teaching her to sew on. Her long golden hair hid most of her face, but she was watching us.

“You’re welcome to join us,” Brynn told her.

Aunt Nysa turned her eyes on me. She set down the needlework and took my hand.

With Uncle Winthrop back, the basement is much better organized and cleaner than it was before. Brynn, Aunt Nysa, and I moved the table and instruments to clear a space in the center of the floor. Brynn pulled off her long white gloves, revealing her bright orange hand. At least the cuts from the crystal were almost completely healed. Then Brynn removed a cold pale object from her satchel and placed it in my hand. It was a peeled potato, carved round. Brynn smiled grimly: “At least this is closer to my natural skin color than the orange,” she said.

Aunt Nysa stood by, watching us with intense interest. I closed my eyes and felt the weight of Brynn’s hand on top of the potato. Suddenly I felt like I had been doused in cold water. I jerked my hand instinctively and the connection broke. Aunt Nysa laughed as the potato hit the ground with a soft thump.

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling the color rise in my face.

“Not to worry,” said Brynn, “Keish almost hit me in the head with the crystal when I used the spell on her— said she felt like a spider was crawling on her.”

“Is that what I should have felt?” I asked nervously.

“Different people feel different things,” said Brynn nonchalantly, “Don’t worry; I got the information I needed.” She stretched out her hand and studied it. It was still bright orange, but no worse than that. She sighed.

“Well, Arri,” she said finally, “your magic is as strong as Keish’s and much stronger than mine. Actually, it’s surprising the fairies never took one of you.” She glanced at Aunt Nysa as she said it.

“The fairies have a more accurate method of measuring magic,” said Aunt Nysa softly.

“Yes— and very invasive. I’ll stick to this one since I really don’t need that many details.”

Aunt Nysa looked abashed.

“Sit down,” said Brynn, and since there weren’t enough chairs we all sat cross-legged on the floor. “Now Nysa,” said Brynn gently, “what would you know of me?”

Aunt Nysa blushed, soft rose giving color to her pale cheeks. She looked down and let most of her face be hidden in her hair. A couple of minutes of silence surrounded us.

“I would know who you are, and how you came here,” said Aunt Nysa, “and why you are connected to this family.”

Brynn whistled. “That’s a list,” she said, “but it’s a wise one.” Aunt Nysa raised her head briefly.

“Very well,” said Brynn sofly, “but understand that I’m not in the habit of telling more about myself than I need to. My name is Brynn Garrard and I am of the Tooron magic line. There is also a little Maurisald in me, but the Tooron is much stronger. Actually neither the Maurisald nor the Tooron can compare to the Brio line in strength. The fairies were slow in deciding to take me— in fact they waited so long that they almost lost their window of opportunity. I was fully seven years old when I was taken.”

“Why?” asked Aunt Nysa, and I asked, “What’s a window of opportunity?” at the same time.

“The fairies’ time allotment in which they can take a child without permission is between two and eight years of age. Before the age of two, they must ask the parents, and after eight, they must ask the child. The fairies waited so long, because they were hoping a more magical child would be born into my family. None was.”
Brynn gave us a minute to think about this.

“How old are you?” I asked.

“Old,” said Brynn simply, “I was fully grown when Nysa came to the fairies.”

Aunt Nysa raised her head and looked at Brynn.

“It had been a long time since a powerful child had entered the world of fairies,” Brynn continued, “when Lord Bastion Brio married the Lady Katja Whiteleaf. They were 4^th cousins, both magical, and both from the line of Brio. You can imagine” (she looked mainly at Aunt Nysa) “the kind of excitement a marriage like this caused. The first child, Winthrop with only a little more than the average amount of magic, was a disappointment. Jezreel was much more promising. Most fairies were certain Ellean would be taken, but still the listening fairies waited. Then you were born.”

Aunt Nysa shifted in her seat and her large blue eyes narrowed.

“You were exactly what they wanted. They needed only wait for the perfect moment. You were three years old when it finally came.”

Brynn frowned. She stopped looking at either of us.

“I didn’t pay much attention at first. I didn’t really care about new baby fairies, but then Jezreel and Ellean came. Other families had looked for their lost children. Other families had even found them. But eventually they would quit coming, especially once the child lost its memory. Even children who never lost their memory soon stopped getting visits. They were too difficult. Jezreel and Ellean were different. Years later they were still coming, still pouring every ounce of magic they possessed into finding a sister who couldn’t always remember them from one visit to the next. They never gave up.”

“I thought you said you didn’t know my mother,” I said.

“I never spoke to her while I was in the fairy ring. I was only aware of what was happening; I wasn’t involved. I didn’t become involved until I left the ring and a couple years later went to tutor Ellean.”
Brynn became silent. I looked at Aunt Nysa and saw tears in her eyes. It occurred to me that Brynn must have had family. Did they find her? Did they stop coming to see her? They were questions I knew I couldn’t ask.

There really isn’t much to tell after that, although Brynn didn’t really answer the question of why she is connected to this family.

In the afternoon Prince Tulson showed up and asked if I would go walking with him, but Imato pointed out that it was snowing, so the prince looked uncomfortable and finally said he had something to speak to me about in private. Imato raised his eyebrows at me and gave me a chance to say no. I knew what he was thinking, so I shook my head and turned a little red.

“Okay,” I said to Prince Tulson and we went into the basement. I seem to be spending a lot of time there.
Once downstairs, Prince Tulson began to look awkward. Usually, when I see the Prince he immediately has something to say and says it, so I wasn’t sure what to think when he started by asking me how I was and then how Father was. Actually, I kept thinking about what Imato said about the prince courting me, and even though I knew it was silly, he was acting so funny that I started to get nervous.

“How long are you going to be in Odsreq?” I asked finally.

“Not long. Mother is visiting Uncle Perris. Actually, I wanted to ask you a favor, since she’s here too.”

I was confused and worried all at once. Prince Tulson was watching me very closely.

“You see, Clara and I have been doing a lot of talking, not just when you’re around. She’s really a great lady, don’t you think? I like spending time with her.”

Relief washed over me. I smiled.

“I like Clara a lot,” I said, “she really does deserved to be called a lady.”

“Or a duchess,” said Prince Tulson, “You see, I made her an offer this morning and she accepted.”

“Really?” I almost shouted I was so happy, “I’m so glad! Congratulations!”

Prince Tulson looked so relieved that I felt a little startled.

“I’m glad you like her,” he said with more confidence, “I was a little worried… well, the problem is more with Mother and Father. They’ve been letting me spend more time here, and I’ve told them a lot about you and Clara, but they didn’t expect me to fall in love with Clara. She’s… well, she’s a servant. And you and I know she shouldn’t be one, but that isn’t going to be so obvious to the king and queen.”

I nodded, wondering what the favor was and starting to get nervous again.

“So I was thinking that you could talk to Mother for me,” the prince continued, “You can have lunch with her tomorrow and talk about Lady Clara. Explain all of her qualities. She’s so graceful and well-mannered…”

“When they meet her, they’ll be able to see that,” I protested.

“I want them to look for it, to expect it. I started to, but Mother interrupted to explain how interested she is in meeting you. She feels badly that she didn’t have an opportunity to speak to you when you were last in Rousha. When you have lunch with her tomorrow, talk about Clara.”

I kept trying to protest, but the Prince Tulson kept insisting. He never listens when I try to get out of things, so in the end, I had to go upstairs and think about what dress to wear. Keish, I really don’t think it’s fair.

I arrived at the Westridge manor right on schedule, walking carefully through the snow with the hem of my yellow dress held up to keep it from getting wet. The day was clear, cold, and beautiful. I climbed the steps to the manor entrance and rang the bell. In a minute a servant answered, but not one I recognized. He, however, recognized me in a moment and admitted me. I handed him my coat and scarf.

“Lunch is about to be served, my lady,” said the servant, “Let me escort you.” He led me through the main hall and into the parlor. Prince Tulson was sitting at a small table with the Queen talking. When he saw me, he jumped up and came to offer me his arm. I curtsied. Queen Elspeth nodded her head and came forward to offer me her hand. She was gorgeously dressed in navy blue with white and gold trim. When she took my hand, I realized with a start that I was still wearing one of my gloves. I gasped a little and removed it hurriedly, trying to stuff it in a pocket, but I didn’t have any pockets, so it dropped on the floor. The Queen laughed a little.

“I’m very pleased to see you again, Lady Arri,” she said. I was glad she didn’t say my full name. Prince Tulson escorted me to the table. He gave us very formal introductions, then stepped toward the door.

“Will you excuse me, Mother?” he asked. She nodded and he hurried out of the room, catching my eye and giving me a slight nod as he went.

I didn’t expect him to leave us alone so soon. I wasn’t ready for it. My mind went blank and I stared stupidly at the Queen, wondering what to say.

“Tulson speaks very highly of you, Lady Arri,” said Queen Elspeth, smiling kindly, “He says you are one of the smartest girls he knows.”

I blushed. It was a moment when I should have said something about Lady Clara, but my mind was still too jumbled up. I never thought the Queen would compliment me.

“I hear you and Tulson have been spending a lot of time together,” she added. I jumped slightly, because I could tell from her tone of voice that she was implying something more than that.

“Not just us,” I stammered, “Lady Clara Songson too.”

“Yes, Tulson has told me about her. She’s a servant here, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” I said, “And I like her a lot.” I tried to think of something else to say about Lady Clara, but it didn’t seem appropriate to say she was great at climbing trees or fixing picnic baskets, or any of the other things Clara did. All those things only emphasized her social status, and I knew Prince Tulson wanted me to make her sound higher class.

“Yes,” said the Queen, “Are you looking forward to the ball?” She smiled politely.

“Yes, I am,” I lied, “Imato and my cousin Lady Lakeisha Leilani are coming too.” I wondered whether I should mention Lady Clara, but decided against it since I didn’t know if the Prince told them he invited her.
Queen Elspeth began telling me about her plans for the ball. She was particularly involved in the decorating and she gave me long descriptions of the flower arrangements and tablecloths. I only half-listened. I was trying to figure out how to draw the conversation back to Lady Clara. Every once in a while, when I could tell the Queen had just asked a question, I nodded politely.

Before I realized how much time had passed, Prince Tulson returned.

“Sorry I took so long, did you enjoy your chat?” he asked, looking mostly at me.

“We had a lovely conversation,” said the Queen, “Lady Arri has agreed to come a day early to help me put the last minute touches on the tables.”

I blinked. I couldn’t remember making any commitments like that, but then again, I couldn’t remember hardly any of the conversation at all, so I figured I must have agreed. Prince Tulson looked at me. I looked away guiltily.

We ate lunch for a few minutes, Queen Elspeth making light conversation. The food was good, but I couldn’t enjoy it very much, knowing I’d failed the Prince so terribly. Then one of the servants came to the door. He called Queen Elspeth and Prince Tulson out of the room. I suppressed a sigh of relief.

Once they were gone, I went to the window, put my hands on the sill and looked out into the spacious backyard. Mendel was playing with one of the cats. They looked peaceful and happy. I sighed miserably, wishing I was home playing with Kestrel or brushing Glory. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around, and found the Queen standing behind me.

“You have a lot on your mind, I think,” she said kindly, “May I do anything for you?”

I’m not sure why, but I didn’t expect Queen Elspeth to be so nice. She looked genuinely concerned about me. I looked back out the window, trying to organize my thoughts. Then I plunged forward with the only thing that came to my mind:

“Your Highness, do you ever think about marriage?” I asked. It sounded stupid the moment I said it, but I couldn’t take it back.

“I think about my son’s marriage frequently,” the Queen replied, “I want him to marry a fine young lady.”
I frowned, knowing she was misunderstanding something important, but not knowing how to approach it. I decided to deflect the subject for a minute.

“What about your marriage?” I asked, “Why did you marry the King?” Then I put my hand over my mouth in fear of my boldness. Is that an appropriate question to ask royalty? Probably not.

The Queen studied me thoughtfully for a minute.

“I fell in love,” she said finally. She didn’t look offended, so I ventured another question.

“Would you have married him if you didn’t love him?” I asked.

“No,” she said slowly.

“Love is very important,” I said.

“Very important,” her eyes were full of questions that she didn’t ask.

“Would you have married him if he wasn’t a prince?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” she said, “We must marry whom we love.”

“No matter what?”

“Yes,” she agreed, narrowing her eyes slightly, “are you in love with my son?” She put one hand on my shoulder.

“No,” I whispered, “but someone else is.”

“Who?”

I hesitated; it didn’t seem right to just tell her. “I’m sorry, but I think you should ask him that question.”

“Does he love her?”

“More than anything!”

The Queen withdrew her hand.

“Forgive me, but I was sure it was you.” She was disappointed. I felt a worried chill.

“It’s someone better than me!” I cried in a panic, “It’s someone who will make sure he eats three meals every day! She’s really great: smart and pretty and everything.” I tried to remember Prince Tulson’s adjectives, but in that moment they escaped me.

“Do you think so?” asked the Queen.

“I know so. Only… she’s not what you expect.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know, Your Majesty,” I said awkwardly, “but she’s good and kind, and I know she’ll take good care of the Prince.”

“Then I can’t wait to meet her.” The Queen smiled a little perplexedly.

I smiled back as a new idea struck me.

“You’ll meet her at the ball,” I assured her, “The Prince will introduce her to all the court.”

Prince Tulson was really mad at me when I told him later what I said to the Queen. He said he would rather introduce people to Lady Clara one at a time, so he could get their reactions. I said that we should spread rumors through the court about what a fine person she was, so they would already have a good opinion of her before they met her. He liked that idea, but the announcement still worried him. I didn’t know what else to suggest. I mean, I hadn’t planned on making a promise like that to the Queen. I said it without thinking. Do you think I did okay? I hope it turns out all right, and I’m never letting the prince talk me into something like that again.

I told Imato that you said he is the most frustrating person you know, and he said (smiling) that the feeling is mutual. I think it’s funny that Jace took Imato’s side. Imato says men should stick together, especially when stubborn young ladies try to argue with them. I’m glad you told me about how Imato proposed; I knew it had happened, but Imato didn’t give me any details at all. He especially didn’t tell me about kissing Gretel.

By the way, Imato hasn’t ever killed a dragon. None of the squires have. Imato says he did fight one once, but it was Sir Aoweir who finally killed it.

Sean is twenty-two years old— I think— unless he’s had a birthday recently. Treany says Lady Westridge has introduced him to “countless” girls, but he hasn’t courted any of them seriously. I never paid much attention to Sean before. He’s kind of shy and quiet, not at all like Mendel. If Sean wants to court me, I wish he would just tell me. Well, maybe not. I don’t know what I’d say. I guess I’d say yes, because he is nice, and I can’t think of a reason to say no. I wish Imato would stick to his own courtships and not worry about mine. I don’t know why anyone would want to court me anyhow. My education is incomplete, and I’m always getting in trouble for something. I’m too young anyway. At least, I feel too young. Treany says her mother got married at sixteen. I wish I hadn‘t asked Treany about courtship. Imato says I shouldn’t pay attention to her. Uncle W. says I shouldn’t pay attention to Imato who says I shouldn‘t pay attention to Uncle W. Brynn says I shouldn’t pay attention to Liop (not that he has any opinions about courtship). Prince Tulson and Lady Clara only pay attention to each other. Brynn went back to Rousha. That leaves Mendel, which isn’t very comforting. No one else in Odsreq pays much attention to me. I’m glad I have you to write to.

As for the queen, Imato tells me that connecting the royal family to the Brios would be very desirable. I, myself, might not be a perfect match for the prince, but my legacy is, and that would be enough. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the idea. I don’t want to be courted for my heritage.

I hope you are enjoying getting ready for the ball. If you have any ideas for how to introduce Clara as a Lady to the Court, I’d really appreciate it.

Love,

Arri

Go to NEXT Letter

Keish's dress-- Sketches

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Keish-- January 5 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

January 5, 2004

Dear Arri,

Patience may be a virtue, but as you well know, it is one I was not blessed with! So while I am trying my very hardest to wait for your next letter before responding… I’m starting this letter now. After all, even without a response to my letter (was that really only yesterday?) I have plenty to respond to!

I got your letter from the 4th earlier today. I read it at lunch (good thing Jace doesn’t care much about how poorly I play hostess!)

Isn’t it funny that we both had formal audiences the same day? And then we both sat down yesterday morning to write letters. You’ll probably get mine today, so you can read how mine went.

Yours sounds… interesting. Actually I laughed out loud and Father insisted on knowing what you were up to that was so funny. I told him about Brynn and Uncle W. arguing.

He shook his head. “Brynn and that uncle of yours must be the only people in two kingdoms who would forget themselves and start yelling at each other during a royal audience.”

Jace cast a sly grin in my direction. “Well, maybe not the only two,” he said.

I glared at him and replied sternly, “Arguing with Tulson does not count! It’s usually his own fault.”

Father chuckled. “Perhaps you’re right, Jace.”

I scowled as fiercely as I could with soup in my mouth.

I’m responding all out of order, aren’t I? I think I do that every time. Since I have a plenty of time, I shall try to restrain myself and go through your letter in order.

I think it was a good idea to take Liop. One never knows what that scamp will do when no one is looking. Uncle W. probably would have been irritated it Liop burned the cottage down with some spell or something. I’m surprised, though, that he didn’t try a scrying spell to watch the audience with King Trunsle since he couldn’t go in. I imagine he knows enough about them to pull it off. (Don’t tell him that though, it’ll just give him ideas.)

I remember Father’s reaction when I asked if we were going to attend your mother’s funeral. I know it had been some years since my mother’s, but when his face turned white and he wouldn’t answer me I knew it was just going to be too hard for him. I didn’t press the matter. I remember wondering if you would be upset with me for not coming. I was always too scared to ask you.

Nurse Linder… was she the one who came with you when you visited a few months before Liop was born? She didn’t like me much. I don’t think she approved of me. I seem to recall hearing her muttering something about my being undisciplined, wild and entirely unladylike. Not that she was wrong. I was probably at least two of the three.

Jace showed me the sitting room you were in while I was in Rousha. It is certainly very busy. We laughed about the mural. I doubt people dressed that was when they went hunting dragons. Can you imagine how annoying it would be? Those clothes would definitely get in the way. I suppose your mother was wearing a very nice dress when your father rescued her from the dragon, but she hadn’t been planning on running into one, so that’s an entirely different matter.

Only Uncle W. would try to tell the King that he was already making arrangements! People say I’m outspoken, but good grief! Maybe it runs in the family.

I’m glad King Trunsle won’t let Imato just give up on his training. I’m sure he would have regretted it as soon as things settle down. Sir Aoweir didn’t like the idea of giving up on him, or letting him give up on himself.

I’m glad you don’t have to take Feminine Politics. (That made me laugh, which meant I had to read that part to Father… He and Jace both laughed loudly too.) Poor Imato-- he’s so serious sometimes. You shouldn’t have to take it, though, and I’m glad everyone is in agreement on that.

What was Uncle W. talking about? How could proper training lead to your death? Isn’t the opposite more likely? If you were to try to use your magic without training the results could be dangerous. Besides, your mother died of complications from childbirth, didn’t she? What does that have to do with magic? And what, if anything, does Brynn know? She must know (or at least suspect) something to have let it go at that.

What about Master Ujifil? If he looks forward to seeing you often, does that mean you’d be his apprentice? Or is that just because he’ll be treating your father? It’s wonderful that King Trunsle is going to take care of the apprenticeship. Father and I talked about it last night after I sent Hermes off and agreed that we would fund your training if you would let us. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. I guess maybe we should have been talking to Father about these sort of things all along. In the future, Father says, you are to let us know of such needs immediately so that we can help. He said he was going to write stern letters to Imato and Uncle W. on the subject (though he didn’t think Uncle W. would necessarily listen.)

The next part of your letter made me laugh again. (Actually, I can’t think of it without laughing, which Jace says, teasingly, is most distracting.) It’s probably a good thing Sir Aoweir thought to give Imato the helmet. I suppose that makes Gretel’s letter to you a little superfluous, but she’s been upset enough she may not have noticed. Actually, she says in her note that she didn’t know if she would be seeing Imato or not. If I were Imato, though, I’d have been far more nervous about facing her, too! (You’ve probably never seen her in a temper… it’s a frightening thing for whomever is on the receiving end. She doesn’t scream or throw things the way I tend to-- she becomes deadly calm.)

Imato, however deserved it! I’m convinced he either thinks too much or not enough. He may be the most frustrating person I know, and you are welcome to tell him I said so.

Jace thinks I’m being too hard on him. “Imato is being cautious,” he said. “You don’t understand the pressure put on young men to make good matches and be able to provide for them so that delicate young ladies” (I snorted at that) “don’t have to know any sort of hardship.”

“One,” I responded, “that sounds very boring, and two, we’re not all that delicate, and three, who said such things were anyone else’s decision to make?!”

Jace’s voice took on a tone not unlike my father’s when he thinks I’m being unreasonable. “But a young man simply cannot approach a young lady’s father to ask permission to court her or to ask for her hand if he has no viable means of supporting the young lady. Fathers are intimidating enough as it is without feeling like you’re asking with nothing to offer in return.”

“My father isn’t intimidating. And I don’t see how Sir Aoweir can be that intimidating either, when Imato already knows he likes him. Besides if I want to marry someone then I want to marry them and if that means we would struggle, then that’s our decision to make. The man can’t just decide without giving the girl a chance to voice her opinions too.”

“That’s part of your problem,” Jace pointed out, “most young ladies don’t have strong opinions and don’t even know what a struggle would mean. If they know from experience, then they probably aren’t that good of a match to begin with. Fathers, on the other hand, know what a struggle would mean because they are older and wiser and have seen more of the world. They have to protect their daughters, it’s their job. If a young man knows the father is going to disapprove because he can’t provide, then it’s better to let the young lady move on.”

I blew out my breath in frustration. “But Sir Aoweir likes Imato and Gretel isn’t that sheltered. Do you honestly think she cares a jot about giving up fancy ball gowns until Imato’s established himself? She has them in spades! It’s not as though Imato has no prospects, he just has to finish his training. And it’s not like they’d be starving and homeless until then. All she wants is to be with him.”

“But it would be more prudent for them to wait until Imato is done. I’m sure Imato is thinking Sir Aoweir holds that opinion. Imato’s just being practical.”

“I think in this case the ‘delicate young ladies’ are being more practical than the young men! They would have her dowry, and she comes of age in April and will receive a portion of her inheritance and they have his wages. Plus, he should receive be receiving his inheritance soon, right?”

“I think finding Sir Quin has likely changed that,” Jace pointed out.

I rolled my eyes. “Even if it has, I’m sure Uncle Quin would be willing to give Imato at least a portion once he’s well enough to do so. Plus once Imato finishes his training and enters knighthood it’s only a matter of time before he has a status equal to Sir Aoweir, so in the long run, what has she lost?”

“But that’s the long run,” Jace said, starting to get ruffled at last. “Imato has to consider what she’ll lose in the short term as well-- and in the short term, he’s still just a squire.”

I was ready to pull my hair out. “Am I the only one who realizes that he only has about 6 months or something left?! It’s not as though they would elope! Even the shortest formal engagement is at least six months.”

“Did you learn that in Feminine Politics?” Jace asked mischievously, hoping, I’m sure, to throw me off.

“I didn’t take Feminine Politics,” I retorted crossly, “which you well know.”

Jace sighed. “Maybe you should have,” he muttered.

I threw a quill at him. It was the best thing in reach since I was still sitting at the table in the library where I’d been writing this. (Where I’m sitting now, actually.) Of course my aim was way off, which is too bad, because he deserved being hit in the forehead for that comment. “What are you talking about? You don’t like that rot any more than I do,” I practically hissed.

“But at least we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”

(There’s that word again-- why do people insist on calling arguments with me discussions?! I think they do it because they know it gets me even more riled up!)

“It’s not my fault that Imato’s being ridiculous. And it certainly isn’t my fault that you’re defending him. Even if they didn’t have her inheritance and dowry, which as far as I’m aware would likely be plenty to live on for months, his wages aren’t nothing. And it’s not as though her parents wouldn’t let them live there or help them out in some way. Lady Aoweir certainly isn’t going to allow Gretel to miss any balls or important social functions. Being married won’t mean Gretel can stop living the status life her mother wants her to have, probably. If their circumstances interfere, Lady Aoweir will step in and make up the difference. And, as I’ve pointed out, the soonest they’re likely to marry is fall, since I’m sure there will be some sort of formal engagement. And they can’t really marry until Uncle Quin is at least making some progress. So that’s plenty of time for Imato to finish up and take his place as a knight. There can’t possibly be objections to the daughter of a knight marrying a knight, can there? And I still say it should be her decision and no one else’s. Surely Sir Aoweir can see that, too.”

I was slightly out of breath and very worked up by this point, so I broke off and went back to writing. Jace looked completely taken aback and how passionate I was. I don’t know why-- I thought he knew how I felt about such things. But then, I was surprised too. I didn’t think he would be so seriously agreeing with Imato! “Fathers are intimidating” indeed. It’s not as though he’s had experience going about asking for the hands of this or that young lady. At least, I should certainly hope he hasn’t, for he’s not said a word about it to me and he’s been telling me practically everything for years now. (Just as I’ve been telling him.)

Perhaps he was more taken aback than I originally thought, though. He’s been silent for an hour. That doesn’t mean he agrees with me, of course. I’m sure he still thinks Imato is being perfectly sensible. Though I do hope he realizes I made some good points.

Speaking of good points, I could also go on and on about Imato’s concern that something might happen. That, as I understand it, is life. Of course something will happen, but it doesn’t follow that it will be something bad. You can’t live in fear of vague possible disasters. What if our parents hadn’t married because they were worried something might happen? Things did happen to them, both good and bad, and that’s what has made us who we are.

I just read that last bit to Jace, hoping to draw him out of his rather distracting reverie. He says I’m waxing philosophical.

“But that doesn’t mean you’re entirely wrong,” he says, giving me a broad smile. It’s even more distracting than his peculiar silence was, so I’m sending him off to see about tea.

As he left, he poked his head back in the room. “I’m sorry for what I said about Feminine Politics. I’m glad you didn’t take it.”

“I know, but it was very bad of you to say,” I responded.

He just grinned and shut the door before I could throw something at him again.

I’m sorry Imato was disappointed. He probably doesn’t understand that it’s more difficult for a young woman, especially when you haven’t come of age and aren’t completely sure who knows best, to interrupt that kind of an argument. Just because you were quiet doesn’t mean you’re weak. Sometimes it’s better to let the argument blow over before adding your thoughts. (I know, I know, this sounds strange coming from me, but if you’d started yelling like I would have, what would have happened? The argument would have just gotten worse and Uncle W. wouldn’t have really been listening to you anyway. Much better to go to him after he’s calmed down some.) I’ve always known you have it in you to stand up to him. I’m sure he’ll let you once he realizes how important it is to you. I know Brynn and I and Imato have all told him that, but it’ll mean more coming directly from you (and he’ll be able to see it’s not just my idea or something). Or you could always come here and live with us. Father could arrange and apprenticeship, I’m sure.

I’m glad you set Imato straight about Gretel. They’re both in your debt, I think. I’m sure I’ll hear a lot of details when Gretel returns-- which I hope is soon, though I guess it wouldn’t be fair to separate her from Imato right away. But then again, maybe Imato will be coming back to Adya soon, anyway. Or will he stay until you are settled in Rousha? (Then again, I may know before I even send this off.)

It’s night now. At dinner I asked Father about his letters to Uncle W. and Imato. He had already written them both.

“I told Winthrop that he was being a stubborn, prideful fool not coming to me. We are family, after all. I don’t see why he didn’t write or even mention it while we were there for Christmas! He acted as though everything had been taken care of, arrangements all made, payments decided upon. I didn’t offer help because he made me think everything was done.”

I chuckled. “What did you say to Imato?”

“A lot of the same things-- that he should have come to me. Especially since Winthrop was making an idiot of himself. If he had simply written a letter he could have let the adults handle everything and gone back to his training.”

I nearly dropped my fork. “You didn’t say that, Father.”

He nodded, looking confused at my tone.

I looked at Jace (who was so staunch in defending Imato earlier in the day), but he was suddenly very interested in the fish course.

“Father,” I began gently, “Imato is an adult. He may not have finished his training yet, but he’s 21 years old. You and Uncle Winthrop have to stop treating him like a child.”

Father blinked. “I’m not treating him like a child. I just want him to be able to finish his training. He can’t do that very well if he’s worried all the time about taking care of everything.”

“I know, but he’s not going to see it that way. He’s going to feel like you think he’s 12. Why do you think he and Uncle Winthrop keep arguing? He wants to be allowed to be the adult he is.”

At this point Father looked to Jace for help, but he was still intent on the fish (he was apparently trying to ensure that the sauce was spread as evenly as is humanly possible). I kicked Jace under the table, but he just smiled without looking up. I glared at him.

I turned back to Father. “The fact is that if you don’t rewrite it, it will serve the opposite effect. It will simply convince Imato that you are like Uncle W. and he most certainly won’t come to you for help. It would be better to be on friendly terms, especially since he’ll be coming back to Adya.”

He finally agreed to rewrite the letter. I think he saw my point once he’d thought about it. Jace did quite an amazing job cleaning his plate. He can be very aggravating.

After dinner we went up with Father to the observatory. Jace was finally helpful, keeping an eye on what little could be seen through the clouds. I supervised while Father rewrote the letter. It’s much better now.

It’s late, So I will put this away for now.

Jan. 6th

Grr. Blaze seems to think that the moment the slightest bit of light sneaks in through the crack in the curtains he has a duty not to let me miss it. Personally, I would like to sleep until the sun is high enough that it demands attention, but no, he’s got me up when the sun isn’t even sure it’s up. In fact, this morning, it wasn’t even a hint of sunlight glimmering through the curtains, it was the light from the servants’ tower. Grr.

The advantage to this (the ONLY advantage) is that it has given me a chance to look over this letter and write more before breakfast. And rereading it I noticed that I completely forgot to tell you about the other letter I received yesterday.

It came in the morning, but when I got yours a few hours later I forgot abut it. It was not at all a letter I expected. It was from Jace’s mother.

Remember I told you we’d had tea the day I was in Rousha? It was kind of odd-- having tea alone with a woman you’ve only just met that day, but upon whose household you’ve wreaked a fair bit of havoc over the years. I like her and we had an enjoyable discussion on growing up at court (she’s the daughter of a knight, but then you likely knew that), but it was still just a bit odd.

I guess she liked me, though, because this letter is an invitation to spend the day after the ball shopping with her and Taty. She says the market will be larger than usual for the Winter Festival and the shops will have all their best merchandise out. There’s a letter here for Gretel, too (who apparently instructed the couriers to bring her mail to me… I’ll have to ask her about that). Lady Pren says she has sent a letter to you as well. I guess it’s probably waiting for you in Odsreq. (She must not have known you’d be in Rousha.) She hopes I can persuade you to join us unless your father’s condition absolutely prevents it.

Jace laughed at that. “Between Mother, you, and Gretel Arri had better just say she’ll come or she may find herself pulled out of the house in her dressing gown!” I glared at him and he laughed more.

Jace is here to find out why I haven’t come down to breakfast. “Make sure you tell Arri not to worry about what to do with Liop while she’s out with you ladies-- I’ll take him on a tour of Old Rousha and I promise to keep him out of trouble. With her permission, I’ll write him a letter inviting him to spend the day with me,” he says. He’d just write the letter, but he wants to make sure it’s okay before he gets Liop’s hopes up.

Well, breakfast is cooling and Father wants my opinions on the possible implications of the current proximity of Jupiter to the constellation of the Unicorn. So I guess I shall put this away again.

Evening

Gretel’s back! (I know, it’s completely selfish of me to be so excited when she and Imato can’t spend more time together, but I’ve really missed her these last couple of months.) I’m sure Imato has already told you what happened when he went to find her the other morning, but I somehow can’t picture him giving you a detailed account, so I’ll tell you what Gretel said. Perhaps it’s not a fair judgment of Imato. If that’s the case, it might still be fun to compare versions of the story. Anyway, here is what happened, with minimal commentary from me, as Gretel told it.

“The sun was barely rising when Imato knocked at my door. I hadn’t slept well, so I was already in a morning gown. I’d been staring out the window trying to decide if I’d been to hard on him [I told her she probably hadn’t]. I was glad to see him, especially since it seemed he was radiating a new confidence.

“’I’m sorry,’ he said simply, taking my hand and sitting beside me on the window seat.

“I nodded. ‘Me too.’

“’But you were right,’ Imato said. ‘I shouldn’t have written you that letter. I’ve just been so worried about everything.’

“I tried not to smile at the look on his face. ‘What changed?’ I asked him.

“He chuckled. ‘I talked to Arri. She gives pretty good advice for a little sister.’ His smile was larger and happier than anything I’d seen from him before.
“’You can’t be just figuring that out,’ I told him sternly. ‘You have a wonderful sister. I wish…’ I trailed off uncertainly.

“’It’s true,’ he said softly. ‘Shall I share her?’

“I looked up sharply. Was he saying what it sounded like he was saying? ‘Don’t you dare toy with me, Imato Quin Etautca,’ I told him.

“His eyes were sparkling like Liop’s do when he’s trying a new spell. ‘After yesterday do you think I’d dare do anything resembling toying with you?’ [“Not if he’s half as smart as his siblings,” I muttered at this point in her narrative.]

“My eyes filled with tears. I don’t know what I pictured this moment would be like, but I’m sure it was far more wonderful than I could ever have imagined. [Here I rolled my eyes.] ‘I’ve always wanted a sister,’ I admitted.

“His face grew more serious. ‘I still have to talk to your father.’

“I laughed. ‘He’ll be very pleased to talk to you.’

“He still looked somewhat troubled. ‘And I don’t know when the wedding could be. I still have months of training, and I don’t know how long it will take for my father to recover and…’

“I put my hand firmly over his mouth. ‘There will be plenty of time to sort all that out. Just knowing I can be your wife is enough…’” [Apparently Imato interrupted her here, but she just blushes and nearly giggles. I’ll assume that means he kissed her. I don‘t suppose that‘s a detail he‘ll give you.]

I guess then Imato went to talk to Sir Aoweir. Then of course, Gretel and her father left for home and I guess you and Imato and Liop and Uncle W. did too. It is too bad that they had to be separated so quickly after becoming betrothed.

So Gretel arrived just after lunch and we spent the afternoon trading stories about the winter. Jace helped me tell stories about our journey for a while, but then we sent him away so that we could dress for dinner. It was Jace’s farewell dinner and it was to be a formal, if small, dinner. (Well, okay, as formal as I can persuade myself to be. After two months away I thought we may as well try a formal function, or an informal formal function, as Jace called it.)

Father was in absolutely rare form. I think he told every joke he knows. He was jolly through every course, laughing merrily at anything anyone said that even approached being funny and sometimes… snickering (or something… I can’t think of a better word) to himself for no apparent reason at all. Have you ever seen my father snicker? Until tonight, I hadn’t either. It was very odd. If he were at all prone to drinking I would have suspected he had been having wine earlier, rather than tea. It was nearly as distracting as Jace’s smiling.

I do hate to let Jace go, but it’s not as though I can order him to stay. Well, okay, I suppose I could, but it wouldn’t be very polite of me. It will be Taty’s birthday soon and I have kept him from his family long enough (which really is just one of those things one tells oneself whether one agrees with one’s self on the matter or not is another matter entirely).

Jan. 7th midmorning

I beat even Blaze this morning, waking early to see Jace off. I was sorry to see him go, but I tried not to let him see just how sorry. He didn’t seem to want to go, but said he must speak with his father about several things and left with a certain air of purpose.

I resisted the temptation to return to bed (as if Blaze would have let me) and went up to the observatory. Father was acting somewhat silly again, and as soon as he had had his breakfast I sent him to bed and went looking for Gretel.

The court is positively buzzing about her and Imato. I’ve never understood how so much gossip can have circulated so far and so quickly! I suppose since it’s been a few years since you’ve lived in Rousha maybe you’ve not experienced it, but it’s quite a phenomenon. Gretel’s been back less than a full day and already everyone is talking about what a wonderful match she’s made. Lady Aoweir, of course, has been spreading much of this gossip to make the other mothers jealous. It’s quite the favorite pastime at court, you know. She has made certain that everyone knows that Imato rescued Uncle W. and your father (which technically he doesn’t deserve all the credit for and I’ve had to bite my tongue several times to avoid saying as much) and that King Trunsle has declared him to be Elcaro’s most promising squire and how he’s bound to follow his father as captain. Apparently Lady Aoweir is no longer bothered about the fact that your brother is not landed.

That’s all of the legitimate gossip. There’s also a great deal of ridiculous gossip, probably also started (slyly) by Lady Aoweir, though I’m sure she’d deny it (it’s all part of the game to women at court). Some of it, though, is getting silly. If I’m asked once more how many dragons Imato has slain (the current estimate is 4), I’ll likely go insane. (Ah, court life)

Well, Gretel and I are to have lunch with Marie and help her with gowns and such.

Jan. 8th

I am supposed to tell you that you are not to worry in the slightest about a new gown for the ball. Don’t ask, that’s all I’m allowed to say. You’ll just have to trust me on this.

Gretel and I went to have lunch with Marie (you remember, she’s the girl who used to be a servant, but found out she’s the daughter of a knight). It was a much more enjoyable lunch than the one with Vanessa, even if we did talk about gowns. Marie is to be formally presented at court in a couple of days, so after lunch we went with her for her fitting. It’s fun to spend time with her without her having to be working. She’s been away near the sea getting to know her father.

Gretel and I decided we may as well take the opportunity to see about gowns for the ball. (And naturally there was a discussion of wedding gowns and trousseaus and such, but Gretel demurred for the most part, declaring that she was not starting that process until she and Imato had further discussed dates and such.) One of the dressmaker’s assistants, Annette, always keeps an eye out for things I would like. She’s been helping me keep things mended (since I’m so miserable at it and I always have something in need of mending) for a while now. She set aside a lovely crushed velvet that exactly matches my eyes, which is no mean feat.

Now, you know my sketching is at least as deplorable as my mending, and I’m certainly no designer, but with a few patterns and a little magic, I was able to design my own gown. It will use the crushed velvet and some silver brocade. It’s funny, I always hated going through fittings and everything, but after having been gone so long it’s kind of exciting to get a new gown. I guess court life is a part of me after all. Not that I want to bury myself in it-- in fact I’m avoiding Vanessa who wants Gretel and I to come to tea or lunch, or something now that Gretel’s back. I, however, have no intention of subjecting myself to that again. If Gretel chooses to accept, she’s on her own. (Oh, I’m enclosing the sketches of my dress, since I’m not very good at describing such things in detail.)

Now that I’ve told you about yesterday, I shall answer your letter. I received it not long ago, and read it, but I had to put things down in order.

Gessair is not going anywhere any time soon. King Menion has not formally decreed what will happen to him, but I rather hope he’s simply put to death. Letting him recoup his magic would really not be a good idea.

I’m sorry no one would let you do anything. That is the chief difficulty of being a young lady. No one wants to let you do anything. It’s quite frustrating.

Poor Uncle Winthrop. It must be hard for him to have Aunt Nysa not remember him. I’m glad she is comfortable with you, though. It must be very hard for her, too. All of this is strange. I wonder if she remembers my mother. I hope she continues to remember things. I wonder what Brynn will have to say about it. Do you think they know each other? I don’t know how long it’s been since Brynn left the ring. I never thought to ask.

Mendel does come up with odd compliments, doesn’t he? What a strange thing to say. I’d consider it a compliment, though. Well, of a sort.

Imato does think about courtship too much. And if he doesn’t think much about Tulson and Clara he’s never seen them together. (Not that I have, but I’ve read your accounts of such times) As to the rest of it, if they were courting you, wouldn’t they have gone to Uncle W. or Imato for permission? Mendel doesn’t sound as though he is thinking about courting anyone. I don’t know about Sean, though. How much older is he than you?

I suppose that does explain why the Queen just sat there taking notes. But would it be proper for a princess to be a healer?

I can’t seem to hold the quill from laughing, everything Imato said is so funny. I’ll have to tell Gretel later.

I hope things are going well with Nysa, and that your magic test went very well. You’ll have to let me know what Brynn says about it all. I’ll close now, because I fear that if I write more I will need more than just Hermes and Clotho to send this. (It’s lucky I have both of them here now)

Love always

Keish

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Arri-- January 7, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:48:00 +0000

January 7, 2004

Dear Keish,

I got your letter and also Gretel’s. It must have been awful facing Gessair in front of King Menion. I’m glad he didn’t get away or have any magic left. I’m glad you had your father and Jace to back you up. Jace really is indispensable. I think there must be a way for you to stay close to him and still be able to do the things you want to do. Maybe staying close to him is more important than the other things. I don’t know. It’s a lot to decide.

What are you going to do with Gessair now? Is he going to prison? For how long? It seems dangerous to ever let him out again, but maybe he could repent. I don’t know.

I think my last letter explained about Imato and Gretel, so I don’t need to respond to Gretel’s letter. I’m not sure what I would say anyway, except that I’m excited to see her at the ball, and I hope she isn’t too mad at Imato. I thought that maybe we would see Gretel some more before then, but she had to go back to Arella with her father. I didn’t see her before she left, but Imato seemed cheerful.

I slept most of the way home. Staying up most of the night isn’t easy for me. I don’t have as much practice as you do. Kestrel was very happy to see me. She would rather I didn’t go on adventures at all, but if I have to, then she thinks she ought to come too. I think Nozama feels the same way.

Yesterday, I woke up very early. The cottage was very quiet and full of soft blue morning light. I went out to the stables and began caring for the animals. Nacks woke up and joined me after a few minutes. I saddled Sprigs and rode him down to the river and back for exercise. I tried to be busy enough to make time pass quickly, but lunch was slow in coming.

After lunch I went up to my room and started gathering my things so that I could move in with Liop, but Uncle W. stopped me. He said we’d talk to Aunt Nysa first, but he thought that I should share my room with her and leave Liop and Imato as they were. I went and found Cook and asked if we could have a big dinner and could I help her make it, but she said Aunt Nysa would be tired from traveling and that dinner should be simple and light, so that she could go to bed early. It seemed like no one wanted me to do anything, so I went outside. I brushed Glory (though I could tell Nacks had already done it). Nacks, himself, was holed up in the servant’s quarters off the stables. He wouldn’t come out, and he wouldn’t give me anything to do. He just wanted to hibernate.

I went up to my bedroom and found my embroidery (sorely neglected for the last few months) and tried to satisfy myself with the rhythmic in and out of the needle. It’s nice on cold, lazy evenings, but frustrating when I’m trying to keep my mind off something else. I don’t know how the time passed, but it finally did, and I heard horses trotting up the rode.

I recognized Aunt Nysa the moment I saw her, though she was buried in blankets and clung tight to reigns of her pale dappled mount. Mendel and Sean rode on either side of her. Mendel waved to me as I dashed out to meet them. He jumped down from his tall stallion, took the reigns from Aunt Nysa and led the horses forward. I stood on the porch and tried to think of something to say. Mendel bowed deeply.

“Lady Arri,” he said, with a broad smile, “may I present your aunt, Lady Marigold.”

“Oh!” I said as it suddenly occurred to me that Aunt Nysa still didn’t know her name. I was trying to decide how to tell her when I felt someone standing behind me. A trembling hand steadied itself on my shoulder.

“Nysa?” asked Uncle Winthrop, his voice cracking.

The woman on the horse looked troubled. She dipped her face gracefully and stared at Uncle W. with large, hazel eyes.

“Do you know me?” she asked, her voice barely reaching our ears.

Uncle W. was crying. “Since the day you were born, I’ve held your face in my heart. Time has not changed it. Do you know me, little sister?”

Aunt Nysa looked at Mendel. He glanced awkwardly towards us.

“She still doesn’t remember much,” he explained.

“I’m sorry,” said the lady, dropping her head until the blankets around face hid her from view.

“Fairy,” said Mendel, “it’s all right, just as I said.” He reached up and found her hand. Aunt Nysa allowed Mendel to help her down from the horse. Every movement she made was graceful.

“Come in,” said Uncle W., “it’s alright; it’s alright.” He walked down and tried to put his arm around her, but she shied away closer to Mendel.

“Arri, come take her hand,” Mendel told me. I did so and together we guided her into the living room. I helped her out from the bundle of blankets around her. She was thinner than anyone I’ve ever seen, and her skin was almost white. From her post in the kitchen, I heard Cook gasp. Later she apologized for refusing to help me make a large dinner (“The poor bird’s starving!”). Imato added wood to the fire to make it blaze, and moved the sofa closer to it. Aunt Nysa held her hands out toward the warmth. She looked at me and at Mendel, but shied away from anyone else’s glance. I sat down at her feet so that I could look up into her face. It was the face of the woman in the cave, but melancholy.

For a long time none of us said anything. Cook brought in a tray of hot chamomile. Liop began as if to interrogate her, but before he finished the first sentence, Imato grabbed him and took him out of the room. Aunt Nysa watched them leave, and then turned her gaze back to me.

“I remember you,” she said, “Jesse brought you to me when you were just a baby… she bade me watch you… I never knew why.”

“I’m your niece,” I said. She smiled.

“I think she told me that, but I forgot it,” she murmured, “Some fairies remember everything, but I was never important enough for memories.”

“I thought that fairies who remember their old life leave the ring and become house fairies.”

“Yes, the less powerful ones do,” said Nysa, “but there are other fairies, powerful ones, called listening fairies. They lose the memory of their former life, but they keep all of their memories after that. They are the leaders of the fairies. I am very powerful, but I’m not a listening fairy.”

“Where are your wings?” I asked.

She sighed deeply. “I lost them when I left the ring. They never told me that would happen.”

“Nysa,” asked Uncle Winthrop. She turned her large, sad eyes on him. “Nysa, do you know who I am?”

“I saw you in the cave,” she said, “you were one of many.”

“I’m your brother Winthrop.”

She didn’t say anything, just sat looking in the fire.

“Will you still forget things?” I asked.

“I don’t know…”

Mendel knelt down next to me.

“I think Fairy’s memory is getting better—not worse. When I found her she couldn’t remember why she left the ring, but now she remembers your mother. And she remembers everything about me. It’s a good thing she still has her magic, because she’s been wandering in the forest for the past month, and she probably would have starved if she hadn’t bee able to use magic.”

“Will you stay for dinner?” asked Uncle Winthrop.

Mendel accepted, but Sean declined, giving his worrying mother as his excuse. We ate quietly. I was bursting inside with questions, but Aunt Nysa looked so tired that I didn’t want to do anything that would keep her up late. Aunt Nysa said she liked the idea of sharing her room with me. The problem was we didn’t have an extra bed. It turned into something of an argument, but finally everyone decided that the thing to do was to move Uncle W.’s big bed into my room for Aunt Nysa and I to share, and my bed became Uncle W.’s. Mendel stayed long enough to help move the furniture around. Then he went home.

This morning when I went out to help Nacks in the stables, I found Mendel waiting for me. He asked if “Fairy” was awake yet, and when he found out she wasn’t , he offered to help me with the animals. So I woke Nacks up and told him he could sleep in, which he very much appreciated. While we worked, Mendel told me all about his search for Aunt Nysa and how he found her. It wasn’t very easy, because when she left the ring, Aunt Nysa lost her memory of why she left it, so she wandered for a long time before Mendel and Sean found her. Mendel says she remembers a little more everyday. I told Mendel about the cave and Gessair, and he was surprised to hear about it and said that Aunt Nysa hadn’t said anything to him about it.

After the stable work, it only seemed fair to invite Mendel to breakfast. He wanted to help me make it, and I would have let him, except it soon became obvious that he hadn’t ever cooked anything before except wild game on a spit while traveling.

“It must be great to be useful to you uncle,” he said, sampling an omelet.

“Well,” I said slowly, “before Liop and I came, Uncle Winthrop could afford to hire Cook to make all his meals. But with us, it’s different.” I felt a little embarrassed to say such a thing, but it seemed best to be honest.

“Still, you’re not like other young ladies who wouldn’t have known what to do, and would have been ashamed to do it.”

“I didn’t know what to do at first. Cook had to teach me.” I said.

Mendel grinned. “I’m glad you’re not so well-bred as other girls,” he told me. It sounded like a compliment, but I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. I turned back to the stove, and Imato came down and rescued me from having to respond.

When Aunt Nysa came down, she still looked tired, and she ate slowly. When Liop tried to ask her questions, Uncle Winthrop shushed him. I agreed. It seemed like Aunt Nysa would answer everything in her own time. Often she looked from me to Mendel and back again. After breakfast, I excused myself to practice the magic exercises that Brynn gave me. I have a note from Brynn saying that she come on the eighth to test my magic again, although I’m a little afraid. She already has to where gloves because of me. What if I accidentally change something else orange?

After lunch, Imato and I walked to the market. It was clear and chilly, but the dirt roads were frozen hard and that made it good for walking.

I asked Imato how his magic test went, but he just shrugged. “It’s a good thing I want to be an knight instead of a healer,” he told me, and changed the subject.

“You know, Arri, you’re really setting yourself up for a catastrophe,” he told me. We were walking back from the market with ingredients for dinner.

“How?” I asked.

“Well,” said Imato, “it seems like you have at least two young men trying to court you.” He looked amused. I was at a loss.

“Don’t you already know who?” he demanded.

“No,” I said.

“Prince Tulson and Mendel,” said Imato.

“What? That stuff about the prince and me eloping was a rumor. You know that.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t erase the fact that three young men, two of them with plenty of other business to attend to, dropped everything to help me rescue you. Grant it one may have been mainly helping his brother, but I wouldn’t dismiss any of them entirely.”

“Prince Tulson and I are friends, and Mendel was helping Aunt Nysa, and Sean hardly ever speaks to me directly.”

“Do you know why the Queen attended our audience with the King? She doesn’t normally do that.”

My mind was blank.

“She wanted,” Imato grinned, “to get a good look at you, to see if you were worthy of her son.” He gave me a chance to respond, but I didn’t.

“I wish I knew her well enough to tell you what she concluded, but I think the fact that Prince Tulson is back in Odsreq is a good sign.”

“Is he?” I asked.

“Yep,” Imato touched the brim of his cap as though in salute, “that’s quite a conquest, Arri, if it’s true.”

“I think you’re mistaken,” I shook my head doubtfully.

“Now the next suitor is Mendel.”

I made a face and Imato laughed.

“Perhaps we’ll leave him alone for a while. After all, you’re a highly eligible young lady and have much greater prospects to consider.”

“Sean?” I asked, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

“Sean,” said Imato knowingly, “who sold you a tamarin for half its value and needed no incentive to ride out with Mendel in search of you.”

“He’s just a good guy,” I said.

“He’s a gentleman with a valuable inheritance, and parents who would love nothing more than for him to marry a lady of high birth.”

“Yes, Treany said something like that once,” I said, “but I don’t see how Sean could be interested in me. Wouldn’t he have to court me first?”

Imato put his arm around me as we walked.

“I don’t want you to marry anyone you’re not in love with,” he said seriously, “what I’m doing is warning you, so you don’t get pulled into something you don’t like. Prince Tulson and Lord Sean are both good matches, but only if you really like them. Mendel is something else, but I think you’ve already figured that out.”

“Then why are you telling me this?” I asked.

“You need to be more careful about spending time alone with young men you aren’t interested in. You could be leading someone on unintentionally.”

“I’m never alone with Prince Tulson. Clara is there, and I think he likes her more than he likes me. Besides, if I did like someone, wouldn’t I need a chaperone to be with them?”

“It’s unlikely the prince is interested in a servant,” Imato told me, “and you’re right, you should always have chaperone.”

“Well, I’ll remember that if I’m ever alone with Sean,” I said.

“What about Mendel?” asked Imato seriously.

“I’ve never intentionally been alone with Mendel. It just seems to happen, no matter what I do.”

Imato laughed, and that was the end of the conversation.

Keish, do think Sean might like me? It seems so unlikely, and I’ve never thought about it before. I’m too young for marriage. No one has ever wanted to court me. The whole idea is just as frightening as facing the Narls was in the desert. I’m not worried about the prince or Mendel. But I wish Imato hadn’t said anything about Sean. How am I ever going to speak to him again without thinking about it? I can’t even write this without my face turning red. I didn’t know he gave me such a good price for Nozama. Why did he do that?

I think Imato thinks about marriage and courtship too much. He should get married soon, so he doesn’t have to think about it anymore. You probably feel the same way about Prince Euan and Vanessa, right? Having lunch with Vanessa must have really tried your patience. At least most people only get married once, so once Vanessa picks her dress and fabric and everything, that ought to be the end of it. I guess she picked on you, because you do have nice taste in dresses—Imato told me that once. I love the ribbons you gave me. I don’t know what I’m going to wear to the ball yet. The nicest thing I have that still fits me is the dress Treany gave me, but Imato says I ought to have something new. Or I might alter something of Aunt Rawnal’s. I’m going to get Treany’s advice.

If Prince Tulson doesn’t tell me about the container of honey, I’m going to ask him the next time I see him. After all, he can’t make me build any traps for you! Arella is too far away.

I have a note from Lady Pren asking me to join everyone for the festival the day after the ball. It sounds like a lot of fun. I asked Uncle Winthrop and he thinks it will be all right. I haven’t been to the Winter Festival since I moved away from Rousha.

Imato likes the talisman. He attached it to his mail shirt. Liop is so glad that you like the hat. He says his next project is to make a hat that acts like an umbrella.

I wish you well with trying to decide what to do with your life. I’m having similar problems. Magic really complicates things. Without it we would probably just get married and become wives. What do wives of noblemen do, I wonder? It would get boring to just hold tea parties all the time. Maybe if I’ll find out when I move back to Rousha. Uncle Winthrop says we’ll move the week before the ball. That’s only two weeks away.

I have to end this letter now, so I can sleep. May the winter snow be light and peaceful.

Love,

Arri

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Adlen to Winthrop-- January 5, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:47:00 +0000

January 5, 2004

Dear Winthrop,

You stubborn, proud, camel-minded fool. Would you care to explain why I had to learn from Keisha that there was concern about how to pay for Arri’s apprenticeship? You led me to believe that everything had been taken care of. Not to mention that you all but told me arrangements for Quin had been made.

Why didn’t you come to me? I could certainly have funded Arri’s training there or made arrangements for her to come train in Arella. Imato could have stopped worrying about it and returned to his training. (I’m sending him a stern letter also.) And I could have helped with the arrangements for Quin, though likely King Trunsle would still have insisted on taking care of that.

Next time, I insist you come to me first. And if you won’t, I’m sure Imato can be prevailed upon to be reasonable. (Though if he can’t, Arri will still tell Keish and I will still find out.)

And as to your conduct before King Trunsle, I am appalled. Renounced title or not, you know better. Even at their most outspoken, neither Ellean nor Keish ever approached such disrespect. And how could you put Arri in such a wretched position? Can’t you see how important this is to her? Between her desires and her embarrassment the poor child probably wished she were hundreds of miles away! You really must stop trying to make everyone live your way. And you may as well stop being so antagonistic toward Brynn Garrard. She is inseparably connected to the Brio line now, you know. Stop being ridiculous and you’ll see how valuable she is. Heaven knows Ellean found her indispensable.

And like it or not, she’s proving to be very important to Keish and Arri as well. Even if you didn’t agree with all that Keish yelled at you while we were there, you should at least have realized by now that the girls are destined to follow their mothers whether we like it or not. After having resigned myself to that, I’ve been able to enjoy Keisha’s developing talents. She is so much like Ellean was when she first came here.

So please, stop being a fool before you alienate the entire younger generation.

Adlen

PS (January 6th) Concerning your questions about Keisha while we were there-- Jace came to me today to request my permission to court her. Well, to make sure I approved of his intentions. He wants to let things progress naturally, rather than announcing a formal courtship. (No doubt he’s heard about my courtship with Ellean.) He is unsure of his future, having decided that he does not wish to take his father’s position, but says that he cannot deny his heart (or, apparently, the strengths of some of Keisha’s arguments against Imato’s caution with Gretel). So when the young ladies sent him away so they could dress for dinner he came to me. If I didn’t know him, I might be concerned about his future, but he’s an industrious young man and is bound to find his way. Not to mention, if I’d sent him away for such a “trifle” Keisha would never forgive me. And she would surely point out that the inheritance she will receive soon is more than enough for them to live on, if it comes to that. Apparently she’s found him distracting lately, so I’m sure you will agree that things are progressing. (I’m sure Jace does not want her to learn he approached me from anyone else, so don’t tell Arri or Imato if you think they’ll let it slip.)

Adlen

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Lady Elizabeth Pren-- January 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:46:00 +0000

January 2, 2004

Dear Lady Arri,

Tatyana and I hope you will spend the day after the ball with us. We intend to visit all the shops and the festival market. We are asking Lady Lakeisha and Lady Gretel to join us also. I understand that your father’s condition is serious, but I hope you will still be able to join us. We are praying for him and your entire family.

Lady Elizabeth Pren

January 2, 2004

Dear Lady Lakeisha,

Taty and I hope you will spend the day after the ball with us. We are planning to visit the large festival market and to visit the city shops, since they will have all of their best merchandise out for the festival. I am also sending letters of invitation to Lady Gretel and to Lady Arri. I hope you will persuade her to join us, if her father’s condition at all permits it. We look forward to seeing you.

Lady Elizabeth Pren

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Arri-- January 4, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:44:00 +0000

January 4, 2004
Dear Keish,

I know I don’t have a response yet for my last letter, but so much is happening that I need to describe for you, that I’m just going to send Clotho with this letter, and then wait for your response. The last thing I told you in my last letter was that I was summoned to court, so I’ll describe that for you.
The King’s coach was black with red trim. Four sturdy, dark bay Clydesdale horses pulled it through the snow at a steady pace, their breath making puffs of mist in the air in front of them. The messenger hardly spoke and seemed rushed, but he gave us time to pack our overnight bags and arrange with Cook and her husband to care for Father. Nacks, of course, would see to the animals. Liop wasn’t summoned, but we brought him anyway to keep him out of trouble.
“Will the King be on his throne?” Liop asked Imato, who was the only one of us who had ever stood before King Trunsle.
“Yes,” said Imato.
“Will I get to see him?”
“No, you’ll stay in the guest chambers.”
“Can’t I come to your audience too? I’ll be silent,” Liop shifted restlessly on his seat in the coach, “I just want to see what he looks like.”
“You’ve seen him before,” I said, “in the summer parades before we moved to Odsreq.”
“I don’t remember the parades. I was too little,” Liop complained.
That startled me, but when I thought about it, I realized that Liop was only three when Father disappeared.
“They were very grand,” said Imato, leaning back in his seat.
“Tell me,” said Liop. Imato began describing the parades in a low voice intended to make Liop sleepy as we had at least three more hours of traveling. I turned my head and watched the snow covered hills and the bare-branched orchards that make up much of the land between Odsreq and Rousha. At first I listened to Imato, but when Liop’s head dropped sleepily onto my lap, I began to remember another carriage ride with Liop. It seemed a long time ago…
Father and his man-servant took turns driving the coach while Imato and I sat inside with Nurse Linder. Liop, still so tiny he slept most of the time, was curled up in Nurse Linder’s lap, and every time Imato or I tried to say something she shushed us rather loudly. It was a much longer drive from Rethmon Beach to Rousha, and the spring rains made it gooey and cold. You hear a lot of gossip at funerals, hard to ignore kinds of things. Some people said Father was running away from her memory. Some said he must not have really cared for her, to accept another assignment so soon after her death. Some said it was heartless to pull us children away from our home, but that sounded silly—we’d only lived there two years. Everyone had an opinion, and no one seemed to care if I was close enough to overhear it.
I was glad we were leaving Rethmon behind—I only wished we could take Mother’s casket with us. I remember asking Father if Mother would be sad that we weren’t there to tend her flowers anymore. He told me she would be too busy watching over us in our new home to pay attention to the graveyard. I thought that Father understood what he was doing better than anyone else in Rethmon Beach. He wasn’t running away.
I suppose it must be different living in the same place all the time where you have everything to remind you of the people who aren’t there. For me it has to be different, because everything to remind me is absent, so I have to build up my own reminders like planting seeds I took from the gardens at Rethmon under my window at Uncle Winthrop’s cottage, and tying knots in bits of rope to make sure I still remember Father’s lessons.
Rousha is more than a capital city, it’s also the place we always went between places. When we were children, we stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Brio. After they died, we stayed at the castle, or in rented houses nearby. The longest continuous time we lived in Rousha was the house on Brick Lane near the army headquarters on the west edge of the city.
We passed by that house on the way to court, quickly, as though it weren’t even there. I don’t think the carriage driver cares about scenery. I caught a glimpse of the old lace curtains in the windows and a single girl jumping rope on the sidewalk. I used to jump rope there too. The flower boxes in the windows were empty—of course it’s winter. It looked cold.
We passed through the old inner gate that used to be the outer edge of the city when it was small so many hundreds of years ago. The crumbling brick turrets on either side of us leaned toward each other. They haven’t fallen yet. Maybe they never will. I held my breath as we passed between them, even though I know it’s just a childhood superstition.
The “old” part of Rousha looks less old every time I see it, because so many of the original buildings are being torn down and replaced with newer structures. They finished filling in the moat around the castle. It’s all covered in snow now, but I suspect it will make a beautiful green park one day, just like the king commanded.
When we arrived at the castle, we were first ushered into changing rooms where we could take off our heavy travel clothing and change it for formal court attire. I don’t actually own any court dresses, so I wore the yellow dress that Treany gave me for the cotillion last spring. Imato, however, had a courtier’s suit. Fortunately, we didn’t need to come up with anything fancy for Liop. After changing we moved to one of the sitting rooms to wait for our turn to have audience with King Trunsle.
I’ve been in a sitting room before, waiting for Father to have audience. There are two different kinds: one large, simply furnished room for ordinary people, and several small but richly designed room for nobles and other people of importance. Of course, we were sent to one of the small rooms. I think the person who decorated the small sitting rooms wanted to distract everyone from the fact that they’re waiting by making them feel surrounded by busy-ness. First of all they’re painted, floors, walls, and ceiling, with murals. Our room had murals of dragon hunts full of movement and color with so many people crammed into the space that you felt like the dragons had accidentally wandered into a village fair. Everyone was dressed as though they were on their way to a party and just happened to be carrying swords and shields with them. On the ceiling the sky was painted with so many colorful birds that you had to look hard to find the bits of blue sky poking out between them. They were all flying in a big whirlpool shape that made me dizzy. The rug on the floor was jammed with flowers, as were all the pieces of furniture. After the first several minutes I closed my eyes, so I wouldn’t feel so crowded.
I’m not sure how long we waited. Liop was fidgety because there wasn’t anything to do, and Imato and Uncle W. looked worried and didn’t want to talk. When we were finally summoned to the audience, I was torn between relief and nervousness. Liop made me promise to tell him everything when I got back.
Since the courtroom doesn’t have to pretend to be busy, it is decorated as simply as possible. It has a high arched ceiling, red floor rugs, cream curtains hiding the stone walls, and many tall brass torches to illuminate the room. The only ornate objects are the royal thrones set on a dias at the head of the room. When we entered the room, I saw immediately that King and Queen Trunsle were both present, sitting on the thrones. However, it was the table in front of the dias that immediately grabbed my attention. It was a heavy oak table without any trim, but standing behind the seats watching us enter were Sir Aoweir with his white-feathered helmet, a old gentleman I didn’t know, and Brynn. Each end of the table had formal dining chair, and the side nearest me had three other simpler unoccupied chairs. I had little trouble guessing whom they were for.
I had to let go of Imato’s hand so that he could bow and I could curtsy. Uncle Winthrop bowed too. King Trunsle held out his staff so that we could each touch the smooth ceramic ball on top of it. (I’m told the king has a much more elaborate staff for ceremonies.)
“Welcome,” said King Trunsle, and he looked like he meant it.
We curtsied and bowed again.
“I would like to begin with your reports of service,” the king began. Imato, Uncle W., and I all exchanged confused glances.
“First I would like to hear how Lord Brio discovered the whereabouts of Sir Etautca,” said the king helpfully, “Then Lady Arri can explain how she discovered the whereabouts of Lord Brio, and her part in the rescue.”
“Oh!” I said, and then clapped my hand over my mouth because I had spoken out of turn.
I don’t need to tell you our explanations, or the king and queen’s questions, because I’ve already told you all about those things. After our reports, the king and queen stood and moved to the seats at either end of the table.
“Now,” he informed us, “we will discuss and make arrangements.”
Again Uncle W., Imato, and I felt confused, and again the King had to help us.
“First we will discuss and decide on a proper course of treatment for restoring Sir Etautca’s memory.”
“Your Highness,” said Uncle W., “I am already in the process of making those arrangements.”
The King frowned at him, “I have your letter and I understand, but you can’t simply ask for money and not have me take personal interest in how it’s used. I have called Master Ujifil, my personal healer, to advise us on this case. I will hear your plans and we will decide together the best course of action.”
Uncle W. frowned but he took a place at the table.
“Our next order of business will be to assign Squire Etautca his final tasks so that he can complete his knighthood.”
Imato bowed deeply, “Sire, I believe I gave a letter of resignation…” he began, but the King raised his hand. He was frowning.
“I never received your letter; therefore its contents are completely irrelevant. Sir Aoweir tells me he never received your letter either. Consequently, squire, you are still under his command.”
“Sit, Imato,” said Sir Aoweir. Imato sat.
“Finally, we will discuss the education of Lady Arri,” said the King. He was smiling a little now.
“Do I have to take Feminine Politics?” I asked uncertainly. Imato put his head in his hands, but everyone else laughed.
“Everything in order,” said King Trunsle smiling wider, “Lord Brio, please tell me your plans for my captain.”
It took a long time to sort everything out. Uncle Winthrop thought that he ought to have more control over the proceedings, but the king reminded him that they were discussing the future of the captain of his army. Imato thought he ought to help more, but the King told him that as Elcaro’s most promising squire, he had a responsibility to finish his training and not waste the time and energy that the government had already spent training him. I thought that I shouldn’t have to take Feminine Politics—everyone agreed with that.
The last order of business fell to Brynn.
“I’ve found an apprenticeship for Lady Arri,” she announced, directing a broad smile in Uncle W.’s direction. He immediately stood up.
“I am currently the head of the Brio Family,” he said, “I will not sign my name or put forth a single coin towards an occupation that will likely lead to the untimely death of my niece.”
He spoke with such intensity that for a moment no one spoke. Chills shot like lightning through my spine.
“You don’t know that,” said Brynn finally.
“I know more than you do!” Uncle W. responded.
“You assume more,” snapped Brynn. The rest of us looked at each other in confusion.
“It is Arri’s destiny to follow her mother, just as Lakeisha follows Ellean. She will never find happiness without it,” Brynn continued.
“Assuming she lives long enough to see it…”
“It’s not your decision to make. She ought to have been apprenticed years ago. You know that.”
“There hasn’t been money,” Imato tried to remind them, but they weren’t listening. Brynn called Uncle W. a name that I shouldn’t repeat, and Uncle W. shouted something in response, and I think that they forgot there were other people in the room and even the original argument. Finally the king stood up and shouted for silence.
“Lord Brio,” interrupted King Trunsle, “there are only six healers left in all Elcaro, and Lady Arri is the only child with the affinity to be apprenticed of whom I’m aware. I intend to pay for this apprenticeship myself. You can see it will be to my advantage.”
Uncle Winthrop folded his arms and caste glares at everyone in the room, even those of us who hadn’t said anything. Brynn looked at me; she held my eyes with hers a long time.
“Arri,” she said finally, “aren’t you going to say anything?”
No, I thought nervously. But then…
“Why do you think I’m going to die?” I asked, looking mostly at Uncle W. He didn’t say anything.
“Lord Brio,” said Brynn, folding her arms angrily. He shook his head at her.
“For the love of Jezreel,” he said softly, looking at Brynn.
Brynn’s fine eyebrows arched in surprise and for a moment I thought she would say something, but she regained her composure and was silent. For a long time no one said anything.
Then King Trunsle said, “Perhaps this is not the time for this discussion.” His fingers played with a gold clasp at his throat. I looked over at the queen, but she had her head down, writing something, and didn’t look up. She was the only one of us who hadn’t spoken during the meeting.
Brynn and Uncle W. sat down. The king offered all of us a smile.
“We will reconvene tomorrow,” he said, “after we’ve all had a chance to cool our heads and examine the facts.”
“Sire,” said Uncle W., “my sister, Lady Nysa, is expected home soon. I ask permission to postpone until we move to Rousha for Sir Etautca’s treatment.”
“Lady Arri?” the king asked.
“Yes, please,” I gulped nervously.
“Well, then, I expect all of you to have resolved your differences,” he shot dark looks at Uncle W. and Brynn, “and be ready to discuss Lady Arri’s apprenticeship rationally and without name-calling. Court adjourned.” And he and the queen swept out of the room.
As we stood to leave, Master Ujifil caught my eyes. He bowed deeply, so that I could see the smooth, tan circle of skin on top of his head. When he rose again, a smile made deep creases in his face and his dark green eyes sparkled.
“I look forward to seeing you often, Lady Arri,” he said softly, and while the rest of us milled around awkwardly, he walked swiftly out of the courtroom.
Uncle W., Imato, Sir Aoweir, and I left together. Once outside the courtroom, Sir Aoweir turned to Imato.
“You have one more meeting, squire,” he said, “right now in the third sitting room to the right.”
“Who…” began Imato; then he stopped and his face turned bright red.
Sir Aoweir shook his head at him. He started to turn, paused, and held out his helmet. “Here,” he said, “you might need this.” And he turned and walked away swiftly.
Still red, Imato ran his fingers across the white feathers of the helmet.
“I’ll see you later,” he said, and retreated hastily down the hall, looking much more nervous than he had been with the king.
Shortly after we returned to the sitting room, we were served hot soup with bread and cheese for dinner. I didn’t eat much. Uncle W. spent a while talking to me about the dangers of magic, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before. It was still early evening when I told him I was tired and excused myself. We had all been assigned separate sleeping rooms, except for Liop who was supposed to share a room with Imato. But Imato wasn’t back yet, and Liop made a fuss about sleeping in the big, ornate room alone, so I told him he could come share my room. He was restless and pestered me with questions about the meeting and I told him everything about Father and Imato, but I didn’t say anything about the argument over my apprenticeship. We found a jigsaw puzzle in a drawer and dumped it out on the breakfast table to work. I didn’t fit very many pieces, and I yawned so much that Liop finally caught on and let me go to bed.
I’m not sure what time it was when I heard the soft tap of knuckles on my door. It was still dark beyond the curtains of the room, and Liop was curled up on the other side of the bed. I climbed out as quietly as I could and pulled my warm, pale blue robe around me. The tapping got a little louder. I cracked the door open just a little. Imato, still in his formal suit and looking wide awake, peered in at me.
“You awake?” he asked.
“I am now,” I yawned.
“Do you want to go for a walk?”
“I’ll get my slippers,” I got them and a minute later we were walking together down the dark halls of Rousha’s castle. At first we didn’t say anything. Imato had a candle in one hand, and its glow caste yellow haloes and made ghostly shadows all around us, catching bits of paintings and the occasional suit of armor or potted plant sitting beneath dark curtained windows. Imato put one arm around my shoulders, protectively.
“How did your talk with Gretel go?” I ventured finally, and it startled me how loud my whisper sounded.
Imato sighed, “I‘m not sure. She was pretty angry, and I don‘t think I said what she wanted to hear.”
“She’s in love with you,” I said.
“She’s the most wonderful girl in the world,” said Imato, “and I want to marry her, but how can I? She deserves so much more than I can give her.”
“You’re the best squire in all of Elcaro, and you’re about to get your knighthood,” I reminded him.
His head dropped. “Maybe I’m just afraid, but those things seem so far away right now. Who knows what may happen? I should have had my knighthood a long time ago. Do you know there’s only one squire left who’s older than me? And he’s been passed up for knighthood three times. Every time I think I’m almost finished, something comes up to slow me down. Even after I have my knighthood, I can’t promise any stability. What if something happens, Arri?”
I dropped my head, “I don’t know.”
“I love her so much,” Imato said.
I didn’t say anything. We walked for a long time, up staircases and along corridors, past balconies and through large, dark rooms. Once we met a watchman, who recognized Imato and bowed to us. We went downstairs to the kitchens and found two new candles (Imato’s was almost gone). The castle is so big that most of the time I didn’t know where we were, but Imato knew. He was a page there before he was a squire.
“I was really disappointed with you today,” Imato said slowly.
“Why?” I asked, startled.
“The king, Uncle W., and Brynn all stood around the table arguing about your future and you hardly said word. You just let them try to make decisions for you.”
I didn’t say anything.
“You have more backbone than that, Arri. Don’t you want to be a healer?”
“Yes,” I said, “but I don’t want Uncle Winthrop to hate me.”
“I see,” said Imato with surprise, “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
We walked down another hallway in silence.
“It seems like we have the same problem,” I said softly.
Imato looked down at me.
“We both want to do something, but we’re afraid of the consequences,” I told him. He cocked his head to one side, as he often does when he’s listening.
“But you captured a griffon and rescued two people from the Narls,” he said.
“And the king thinks so highly of you that he called a personal audience when you tried to withdraw,” I responded. Imato smiled.
“Maybe we both need to use more backbone,” he said, “and do what’s right regardless of the consequences. Let‘s make a pact that we‘ll both do the thing we most want to do no matter how afraid we are to do it.”
I took a deep breath, “What are you going to do?” I asked.
“I‘m going to ask Gretel to marry me,” said Imato, “what will you do?”
“Ask Uncle W. to let me study healing.”
“It’s a pact?” asked Imato.
“It’s a pact,” I said, and we shook hands.
We came to a window in time to watch the sunrise, gold and pink on the castle turrets. Then Imato showed me back to my room where I began writing this letter while Liop still sleeps. I think Imato went to talk to Gretel.
I have to finish this letter now. It’s already very long, and I still haven’t eaten breakfast. When we get back to Odsreq, maybe Aunt Nysa will be there. I hope so. I have so many questions I want to ask her. I wonder if she can start helping me with my magic.
I hope that you slept well last night.
Love,
Arri

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Gretel-- Dec. 30, 2003 (sent with Keish's 1/4/04 letter)

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:41:00 +0000

December 30, 2003
Dear Arri,
I don't think Imato is even reading my letters. Did he open the package I sent with Lord Adlen?
I'm sure Keish will tell you what a state I'm in. Suddenly I'm questioning everything. Did he ever love me at all?
Please talk to him. Father doesn't understand why he won't come back to Adya now that your Uncle is her to take care of things. He even asked if something had happened between us to cause this change in Imato. It wasn't something I did, was it? Please, tell him I love him and I'll even come to him if he truly doesn't want to finish his training. If he's found a better path, my father will understand that. If it is something I've done, please tell me so I can correct it!
I miss him so, and I miss having Liop here and for a long time now I've missed reading your letters.
I know Imato is stubborn and maybe he won't listen to anyone, but will you try? I always wanted a sister and hoped that’s what you would someday be. I still hope that.
Give my love to everyone.
Gretel

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Keish-- January 4, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:40:00 +0000

January 4, 2004
Dear Arri,
I thought I knew what to expect, I really did. I insisted on an audience with King Menion last night even though it was after dinner. It’s one thing to stay with you for a few days while divining to make sure Gessair is still too weak to travel (or anything else), but it’s quite another matter to spend the night in the same castle with the wretched man-- even thought what happened in the cave broke his magic and nearly killed him.
I wasn't at all prepared.
We took the time to freshen up and change into more formal attire, then went to King Menion’s smaller audience chamber. I was grateful he would see us at that hour. After the formalities, I stated my accusation and story as concisely as I could. It is all a rather complicated mess. King Menion frowned as I spoke-- Gessair has been one of his most trusted advisors for many years. (I can’t bring myself to use his title-- the man doesn’t deserve the courtesy.)
Father spoke when I finished. "My Lord, I have full confidence in my daughter. I have also spoken to my nephews and niece whose participation Lakeisha has described."
I felt myself blush a little at the pride in his voice.
"And the Lady Arrietta has recovered?" the king asked.
"The full effects on her magical ability have not yet been determined, but she has recovered physically, Your Majesty," I answered.
He nodded thoughtfully. "And your role in this?" he asked Jace. "You witnessed the events and confirm Lady Lakeisha's words?"
I winced inwardly at my title, but smiled at Jace as he replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
The king commanded that Gessair be brought, regardless of his condition. The guards had to support him when they returned.
When he saw me, Gessair's face became even more white. He looked ghostly. Then his eyes narrowed and he started a hissing chant. You could feel the hate in his eyes-- that is what I was not prepared for.
I stepped back and flicked my wrist instinctively, even though I could tell there was no real power in his words, just malice. He slumped.
King Menion stood. He practically roared out the charges brought against Gessair-- leading the Narls, treason, attempted murder, murder, intrigue. It seemed like too few words, but they carried a great weight. "If I had had any doubts," he finished angrily, "they would certainly have vanished at your attempt to attack Lady Lakeisha!"
He waved his hand and the guards hauled Gessair away.
The king looked very tired. "Thank you, Lady Lakeisha. I am sure this was not an easy task for you. Gessair will be dealt with appropriately, you have my word."
I curtsied deeply and left the throne room.
I started sobbing as soon as we reached the tower. Father had remained to consult with the king before going up to his observatory. Jace helped me to a sofa in the library and went to see about getting me a cup of tea (chamomile-- you'd have been so proud of him).
He sat with me until I had calmed down, then asked, "Why do you think Gessair seemed so surprised to see you?"
I thought a moment. "He may have thought it would take us longer to return. After all, it took us much longer to reach the cave than it did to come home, even with spending a few days in Odsreq. He probably thought he would have time to recover and escape."
"I would have thought his followers would have helped him," Jace commented.
"I thought of that, but how many were his followers by choice?" I asked, thinking of the spell I'd broken over the men in the forest.
He nodded. After a moment he got up. "You're exhausted. Go to sleep. I‘ll go keep your father company for a while and see you in the morning."
It wasn’t very late yet, but I was to drained to argue as he walked me to my room, gently kissed my hand and left. It took me some time to fall asleep, though, for I kept seeing Gessair's hate-filled eyes.
Jace gave me your letter at breakfast this morning-- it’s a good thing Hermes has gotten so used to him, I was in a sorry state last night-- even if I had been awake when he arrived.
I also have a note from Gretel-- she went to Rousha, so I guess maybe you’ll see her there.
Speaking of Gretel-- you may want to have a talk with your brother before she skins him alive. Her note says he actually wrote her a letter saying he was sorry but he wouldn't be seeing her again! Of all the camel-headed… What was he thinking?!? Actually, he probably wasn't thinking, was he. Anyway, Gretel's hurt and furious and hurt (and did I mention she's just a little upset?) and Adya has enough storms this time of year without adding her tears!
Anyway, maybe you can talk to her, or better still, make Imato talk to her, while you’re all there. I do hope she’ll return soon, though. Even with how upset her note sounds, I miss her.
Christmas was wonderful! It was so nice to relax and see everyone. You can tell Liop that I've been wearing the scarf he gave he and the waterproofing and warmth spells he used work very well. Jace says the same about his hat.
Father had such a good time. He wishes we could be together for every holiday. He's more relaxed than I've seen him in quite a while. He's worn the hat you got him constantly and he got out his entire beetle collection to display, adding the ones Liop gave him. He was very excited! Like a child with a new set of blocks! He was still at it a little while ago when I made him eat breakfast.
Did Imato really like the talisman I got for his birthday? It reminded me of the one you described that your mother made for your father. I know he liked the boots-- Jace told me they'd be the perfect practical present-- but I wasn't sure about the talisman. I couldn't really tell from Imato's reaction.
Tell Tulson “thank you” for the invitation to the ball. (Okay, yes, that's slightly sarcastic but only slightly-- I must have been more homesick than I thought.) I see that he sent Gretel one, too-- they came together, so I’ll give it to her when she returns. We'll come, of course, though I'm only doing it for you (well, okay, and Jace). I hope you'll weave the ribbons I gave you through your hair, unless they're marking pages in the Chronicle. I know that's what I told you they were for, but they would look very nice in your hair and the silver bells at the bottom would jingle as you danced. (I'm talking about hair ribbons… help me! What did being away do to me? And to make matters worse, Gretel told Vanessa I would be “thrilled“ to come to lunch as soon as I returned, and wouldn‘t you know it, Prince Euan‘s dear betrothed has already sent up an invitation for lunch today and even with Jace here I apparently have to accept since Gretel said I would. Drat!)
Tulson, Tulson, Tulson. I told you you couldn't stay away from her. He owes me a large rich chocolate cake. Please tell him I expect it my first night it Rousha. We'll send all the boys away and eat it, just you, me, and Gretel. (Well, maybe Jace can have a piece… he's pouting).
I can't believe Tulson didn't mention the present Jace and I left him! He had to have found it. Unless he hasn't changed his clothes in days, but even he's not that bad.
Well, I guess I have to tell you about it since he didn't. Jace and I spent more than half a day planning it while we rode to Odsreq. We rigged a skin container filled with honey above his armoire. (We thought about a pot, but decided it would break on his hard head.) It was a fairly large container-- we wanted to cover him as completely as possible. Then, and this was the real feat of engineering, thinking that he would turn to his water pitcher and basin, we rigged a thin string from the pitcher to a large sack of feathers. (It had to be a feat of engineering, because Jace says using magic would be unfair since Tulson can’t. I said that since Tulson’s a prince he has extra resources and that isn’t fair, but Jace insisted it would be bad form. We debated the ethical ramifications for nearly two hours.) Anyway, are you picturing this?
There's no way it didn't work. We had it all set up and Jace made sure that the servant that cleans Tulson's rooms wouldn't touch anything. I wish I could have seen Tulson all covered in honey and feathers! (And in the end, the only magic we could agree on was a spell that made the room clean itself up. It didn’t seem at all fair to foist such a mess on the innocent maid, especially after she promised not to interfere!)
Let's see, I'm answering your letter all backwards. I'm glad Uncle W. wasn't bothered by my being there, but only he would consider having a vase thrown at his head by his yelling niece a "discussion"!! Granted, I did pull it back before it hit him, but there's no way he didn't see it. Oh, and you can tell him that I hope he'll think more closely about what I had to say about magic! If he's going to remain convinced that it's bad just because it can be used for evil, then he may as well give up everything that can be used for evil! Like knives or Alchemy!!
On a lighter subject, Mendel's letter sounds quite funny. I'm so glad they found Nysa! I'm sure Lady Westridge is pleased. I can't wait to hear from you about Nysa! What does she remember? How is Uncle W. going to react? What does she think about what happened in the cave?
You'll have to tell me everything! Oh, but drat, I have to go to lunch..

Ugh, I just got back from lunch. Next time Gretel says I'll go somewhere, I'm refusing! Two hours, two hours! And there were endless wedding dress sketches, at least 100 possible menus, and, much to my horror, a very large pile of fabric swatches. I sat there thinking "this is it, this right here is why I hate living here!" I thought I was going to pull my hair out! This is why pushing the prince toward a girl from a foreign kingdom would have been a good idea. Then she wouldn't be here to torture me like this! Luckily, Jace and I are going out into the city this afternoon, so I was able to make a graceful exit. Right now I'm just waiting for him to get ready.
Has Brynn tried the spell with the crystal again yet? I think she said she would do it after you had done those exercises for ten days. How did those go after I left? You were really making progress with making those herbs grow.
Did Imato let her try it on him? She told me she would if it was okay with him. I just don't feel like I have the experience to make as accurate a determination. With Liop my results were pretty vague-- which is fine with a young child whose magic may shift and change as he gets older, but it didn't seem helpful with Imato.
I know Brynn feels like your magic has changed a lot since the cave. I wonder how many other people were affected. Do you think Flora's family would be affected by it? Not all of the magic the Narls stole was Brio magic. I'm still trying to sense how large of a shift of power has occurred.
Has Uncle W. become resigned to Brynn's visits yet? He may as well get used to it. She's pretty well connected to our family now.
Oh, what does Brynn have to say about Nysa? Can she help her with remembering things? It's harder for Brynn and I to communicate now that things have changed and since I'm home there's not as much need. When she came to Odsreq, we severed the connection we had formed.
Here's Jace. He says to tell Liop he's sorry he couldn't show him around when you were all in Rousha. He has to go back in a couple of days, though, so if you go back to Rousha after the ninth he'll be there. We're going out into the city now; I'll finish this tonight.

So, what did King Trunsle want? Was it a formal audience? Were you in Rousha long? Was it about your father?
Has Uncle W. made arrangements for moving to Rousha? I forgot to ask you when everything would be ready while we were there.
I‘m preparing the menu for a farewell dinner for Jace. This time I won't see him in just a couple of days and I'm miserable. It seems so natural to have him around. I feel like a part of me is leaving and I don't know if I can keep saying goodbye to him like this. (I'm sure if Gretel were here she'd be teasing me mercilessly.)
That story from the Chronicle is rather odd, isn't it? I don't see how you can accidentally steal a dragon's egg, either. Maybe some parts of the story were lost over the years? I also didn't realize "Damar" was a common name.
I plan to spend much of next week in the library doing some research. Now that I know some of the things I don't want to do with my life it's time to figure out what I do want and how to go about doing it. (Plus it should help keep my mind off Jace's absence… maybe.) I receive my inheritance on my 19th birthday, so I will have the resources to do what I want. The problem is I never thought a lot about it until recently.
Blaze keeps trying to steal this quill, never mind the fact that I gave him one already. He was very happy to see me. I keep waking up with him right on my stomach. I don't know how, but Gretel convinced him not to attack the herbs she hung in my room to dry. (Maybe Liop convinced him?) She finished getting my garden ready for winter after I left and there are herbs all over my room. The scent is heavenly.
I should close, it's time to go down to dinner. Gretel’s note said she wanted me to send something, but I can‘t find it. No doubt whatever it is will be tearstained-- I tell you, this has got to stop! Oh, here it is.
Love always,

Keish

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Arri-- January 3, 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:38:00 +0000

January 3, 2004
Dear Keish,

It was so wonderful to have you and Uncle Adlen for Christmas! I know I already asked you, but did Uncle Adlen enjoy himself? He’s so quiet that it’s hard to tell sometimes. Uncle W. keeps mentioning how glad he is that you came for Christmas, and that it’s a pity that you don’t live closer. Of course, he also hopes you’ll think more closely about the things that he told you about magic. (I thought you two had an argument? But Uncle W. seems to think of it more as a discussion.)
I know you only just left for Arella yesterday morning, but I’ve already got news for you.
Mendel found Aunt Nysa! I just finished reading a letter from him and I had to write you at once. When Imato comes in I’ll tell him and Liop about it too, because Mendel told me to get everyone ready to meet her. I just hope they don’t want to read the letter, because it’s addressed to “Sir Arriman Etautca, Captain of the Fairy Regiment” and refers to Aunt Nysa as a “prisoner of war, rescued from the villainous choke-vines”. Actually, I like this letter better than the other two. It’s less sappy.
Mendel, Sean, and Nysa are staying at an inn in Parmorrow so that the horses can rest for a while. Mendel says they will probably arrive here in Odsreq on January 6th. That’s only three day’s away! We have to prepare a room for her. If Liop and Imato move into my room, then she can have her own room, but I need to clean all the bedding and dust and wash the windows. I wonder if Uncle W. will pay Cook a little extra to help me. I don’t know if I can do everything fast enough. Maybe I ought to scrub the floors again too. I think I’ll trade curtains with the boys’ room, so that she can have white lace. No, I have a better idea. I’ll give her my room and move in with Imato and Liop. Then she can have a window seat and feel the sun when it first comes up in the morning and look out over the gardens and the pasture. I’m so excited to see her! I hope she doesn’t mind that everything’s so simple here. I’m glad Uncle W. decided to build a new door for his laboratory to replace the one I chopped down with the ax last summer.

Yesterday, after you left, Prince Tulson showed up. He invited me on a picnic in the Westridge’s greenhouse. I haven’t gone on any long walks since before we went to the cave, but Prince Tulson isn’t someone you can say no too, so I followed him along the back path that leads to the Westridge’s manor.
“Is Lady Clara coming too?” I asked hopefully.
“Yes, if I can find her,” said the Prince, “every time I ask where she is, I get vague answers from the other servants. I almost think they don’t want to tell me.”
“Why?” I asked. The Prince just shrugged.
When we arrived at the house, Prince Tulson immediately asked for “Clara” (we only use the title when we’re alone). I saw immediately what he meant by the servants being evasive. They said she might be cleaning the stables.
“I’ll go help her finish,” I said, “so she can come with us.”
The servant shifted uncomfortably. “Well,” he said, “maybe she’s done with that and working on the dusting upstairs.”
I was about to offer to help again when Prince Tulson interrupted me.
“Wherever she is, I demand that you find her and bring her here. She can finish working later.” He said it so forcefully that the servant jumped and hurried off upstairs. In a few minutes, Lady Clara came down. Her long blond hair was twisted into a tight knot on the top of her head and she was carrying a dust cloth.
“What can I do for you?” she asked a little stiffly.
“You can come on a picnic with us to the greenhouse,” responded Prince Tulson brightly.
Lady Clara looked more at me when she answered: “Lady Westridge wants me to dust upstairs.”
“I can help you finish later,” I said, “please come.” Why did she look so uncertain?
“Well after that I’m supposed to help Kitty polish the silverware,” she said.
“We’ll help you clean the whole manor this evening,” said the Prince impatiently.
Lady Clara looked around as though to see if anyone else was listening before she answered in a low voice, “In that case, I’d be delighted.”

“The Winter Festival is this month,” said Prince Tulson as we walked toward Mendel’s greenhouse, “I have invitations to deliver to you for the ball.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out two envelopes. He handed one to me. It said “Squire Imato and Lady Arietta Etautca” on the outside. He also had one for Clara. It said “Lady Clara Songson” on it in beautiful curved letters. Lady Clara smiled, but didn’t open it.
“That’s kind of you,” she said brightly, “you’ll have to tell me everything about it when you get back.”
Prince Tulson looked dismayed. “Why aren’t you coming?” he asked.
Lady Clara looked both surprised and annoyed.
“I couldn’t possibly go to a royal ball,” she said, “you know that.”
“Why?” the Prince demanded.
“I’m not nobility,” she said, “It’s one thing to pretend I have a title out here in the forest with just you and Lady Arri, but I’m not pretending to be anything for strangers.” There was bitterness in her voice now.
“Who’s going to know you’re pretending?” asked the Prince.
“What will I say when they ask me where I’m from?”
“You’re from Odsreq,” Prince Tulson grabbed a golden leaf from an overhanging branch and began crumbling it methodically.
“And when they ask who my parents are?”
“Master and Lady Songson. That’s not so difficult.”
“I’m not going to lie,” Clara responded angrily, “and I’m not going to make a mockery of myself.”
“Why is it a lie? You carry yourself with more nobility than anyone I’ve ever met,” Prince Tulson matched her anger, “If I say you’re a Lady, you’re a Lady. If I say your mother—or grandfather—or great-aunt Matilda are Ladies—and Gentlemen—then they are. I’m a Prince of Elcaro, and I say it! It’s no mockery.” He pounded his fist into his hand, “I gave you a royal invitation to a ball, Lady Clara, and I demand that you accept. It has nothing to do with anyone else. I can invite whomever I want. Since when do you care what they think about you anyway?”
Lady Clara and I stared at Prince Tulson in shock. It seemed to me that he must have been thinking about this for some time. I wasn’t sure how to react, because both of their arguments were valid. There would be people at the ball who would think it a joke for Prince Tulson to parade a servant around like a noble woman. Lady Clara’s arching eyebrows drew closer together. She was trembling slightly.
“I only care what you think, Your Highness,” she said finally, almost too low for me to hear. They stared at each other for a while; then Lady Clara turned away.
“I should get the picnic basket,” she said, and walked back toward the house very quickly.

I spent some time last night looking through the Chronicle. I read about how the King of Elcaro saved Brio of Thalthin’s son from a dragon. The son’s name was Damar and he was a young knight on his first quest for the old king. The king that saved him was also named Damar (it’s kind of confusing), and he was still just a prince, but he was in charge of the quest. The quest was to find a bird with three eyes and bring it back to the palace. I think it was a kind of good luck charm. Anyway, one of the Damars (I’m not sure which), accidentally stole a dragon’s egg. The story doesn’t explain how it’s possible to “accidentally” steal a dragon’s egg. It seems to me that since dragon’s eggs are gold with red flecks, and they lay them on cliffs that it would be hard to steal, but the book says it was an accident, and that he brought the egg back to the camp, but the dragon followed him. Then there was a terrible fight and everyone was killed except the two Damars. The dragon carried Sir Damar back to the cliff (it doesn’t say what happened to the egg), and Prince Damar followed and rescued him. The English is really old-fashioned and hard to understand, but that’s what happened. They found the bird with three eyes too, on the cliff with the dragon. I wish the story said what kind of dragon it was. It sounded too big to be a spikeback.

Love,
Arri

P.S. I was just getting ready to give this letter to Hermes, when there was a knock at the door. A messenger is here from King Trunsle. He wants an audience with Imato, Uncle W., and me. I don’t know what to do, I’m so nervous. The King sent a coach to bring us back with him immediately, and I’m writing this as I wait for Uncle W. to make arrangements for Father. Liop will come with us, but Nozama and Kestrel have to stay. It’s all so strange and sudden. Why does the King want to see me? Uncle W. was the one who found Father, and Imato is the one that has been trying to make arrangements to bring him to Rousha. I don’t know why he wants to see me too. I’ve never met the King.
I have to send this now. Uncle W. is back…

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Our Apologies

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:39:00 +0000

The powers that be have been busy of late. Birthdays, weddings, babies....

And so, this chronicle of our adventures has been neglected.

We've begged and pleaded, nagged and cajoled. I, in fact, have even threatened. But alas, they have been too busy doing whatever it is they do.

So our humblest of apologies for the long dearth of entries. We have the highest of hopes that this will be rectified soon.

Keish- December 21, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

December 21, 2003
Dear Arri,
You saw ghosts in the cave? I felt a great deal of power, and possible presences, but I didn't see anything else. Did Imato or Uncle W. see them?
I'm sorry you didn't get to talk to your mother. I feel bad that the whole experience was so difficult for you, but it was for the best. When you're feeling stronger we can test your magic. If you don't want Brynn to test your magic with the crystal we could try the spell I used with Liop. It's not quite as accurate, but it works. I'd actually like to do something to test Imato's magic, too, but I don't know if he would want me to.
I did talk to Brynn last night. (It has been so nice sleeping in a real bed!) Without the extra power it was a little harder, but I was able to do it briefly. She doesn't really have family, but she does have friends she's spending Christmas with. Besides, she says it wouldn't be right for her to join us since she and Uncle W. don't get along. She said she will come two days after Christmas, though, to see how you are doing.
Uncle W.'s story about his youth was interesting. Not really what I expected, but it does explain a few things. We're going to have to get him to talk about magic at some point. He's not going to like it, but I think it has to happen eventually. Are you sure it's okay with him that I'm coming for Christmas? There's a part of me that's nervous about seeing him-- especially with what happened in the cave.
It must be hard for Lady Westridge to not know where her sons are. Interesting that she thought you knew. I wish I could help-- let Mendel know where Nysa is or something-- but the meadow I saw could have been just about anywhere.
Is Imato feeling any better? Maybe you should tell him about Nysa-- at least the general overview of what's going on or something. Has he said much about the cave? Asked about it? He was standing by Nysa, has he asked who she was? Eventually, at least, he'll have to be told everything. I'll bet seeing Gretel would make him feel better. I guess she missed his birthday. (That reminds me, I'll have to get him something… maybe Jace could help me pick a gift.) I'm sure she'll be spending Christmas with her parents, but maybe she can visit in a few weeks or something. Has Imato agreed to return to Adya to train with Sir Aoweir? I know you'd miss him, but he should. He could go back with us.
I'm so excited to see you and Father and everyone! Jace says to tell Liop he'll see him on the 23rd-- we should reach Odsreq that afternoon. Jace will see me to the cottage and probably stay for dinner if it's okay, then go to Rousha that night. I'm really going to miss him. It will be so strange not to have him close. To sit down to breakfast and not have him sitting across from me. As much as I'm looking forward to Christmas, it makes me sad. I'm planning on spending the day after Christmas with him in Rousha, though. I'll get to meet his mother and he's going to show me around the city.
It's nice not having to walk. I know you would want to know all about the horses, but I'm afraid I don’t know much about them. The horse I'm riding is a pure gray that's almost silver. Jace says he's mostly Oldenburg with a little bit of Dumaine. He's called Moonlight. Jace's horse is white. Jace says he's all Dumaine. He's called Tandy. Both horses are lovely.
Sometimes, though, I wish it would take longer to get to Odsreq. I'm so torn-- I want to get to you and see everyone, but I don't want to lose Jace, even for a couple of days. I certainly can't imagine not having him around for longer than that.
I guess I had better finish this and send Hermes off so that this gets to you before we do! Really I suppose I didn't have to write at all, I'll see you in a couple of days, but I'm feeling so… I don't know… torn, like I said, I guess. I've never felt this kind of turmoil. I'm starting to realize there are things I want to do with my life, and I want… it all, I guess. I want to be close to Jace, but I want to spend time with my father… but I don't want to live in Adya, but I don't think I want to live in Rousha.
I don't know. I really probably should just enjoy Christmas and then get through confronting Gessair before I worry too much about it. I want to do some research in Adya, find out how to do what I want to do. But do I want to do anything without Jace? Do I have a choice? Can I be close to Jace and live the life I want?
I don't expect answers, I just had to put all of this on paper and see if I could make any sense of it all. Thanks for "listening" again. Sometimes I don't see how you put up with me.
I hope you're feeling much better and I'll see you soon!
Love always

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Arri- December 16, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

December 16, 2003
Dear Keish,
About what happened three mornings ago, I still don’t think I understand. Liop and I were cleaning up from breakfast, and Uncle W. had just gone back to his study. (I think he was in there all night.) I climbed up on the stepstool to put the bowls on the top shelf, and then everything went black. I tried to move, but I couldn’t. It only lasted a second and then I was in a dark room filled with people, but it must really have been the cave. I could see you reading out of the Chronicle (but I didn’t know it was the Chronicle), and Liop was standing a little ways away, and everyone else was sort of crowded around us looking misty and ghost-like, too vague for me to tell them apart. And the air was full of chanting, with threads and ribbons of magic falling all around us, so that we couldn’t take a breath without drawing some of it in. I didn’t feel bound anymore, but I don’t know if I could really move or not— I didn’t think about moving after the darkness went away. I saw the flashes of light, and Imato, Uncle Winthrop, Nysa, our mothers, and Grandfather appearing. They were solid, we were solid, and the ghosts made room for us. Couldn’t you see the ghosts? Liop couldn’t see them either. When the window appeared, I had to look away. I felt like my insides were being torn to shreds, like I was being stabbed over and over again with every word coming out of the man’s mouth. The man’s chanting drowned out every other sound in the room. I put my hands over my ears, but I don’t think I was hearing it with my ears. I closed my eyes too, but nothing could pull me away from Sir Gessair’s chanting. There was more magic coming out of me than going in.
Then I felt Mother’s hand on my shoulder, and suddenly I could hear her voice, giving me the words of your chant. I knew the words, but I can’t remember them now. I started chanting with everyone else. I heard Liop and finally Uncle W. join us, and soon I couldn’t hear Sir Gessair’s voice anymore. I breathed deeply, breathing magic like air. The pain subsided. I didn’t see anything that happened in the window. Mother put her arms around me.
There was so much I could have told Mother. I’m nearly bursting inside with it, but I was back in the kitchen with Liop before I could say anything at all. I’m glad you got to say some things to your mother.
I woke up lying on my back with Uncle W. and Liop standing over me. I closed my eyes again, because I wanted to be back in the cave. Uncle W. picked me up and carried me to my bed, and I have been here ever since.
Imato is here. He left as soon as he could after he found himself back in the inn. The other inn guests noticed his disappearance and return, but he didn’t explain anything to them. He just settled his debt, saddled Spriggs, and left for Odsreq. He figured that was the best way to find out exactly what happened.
I’m starting to feel better. Kestrel is curled up next to me and purring. I ate some of Cook’s broth. I haven’t tried to do any magic— the idea frightens me and makes me feel very tired. I wonder what would happen if Brynn tried her spell on me now. I’m sure I have more magic than I did before I went to the cave. I asked Imato and Liop, but they don’t feel any different. I haven’t talked to Uncle W. yet, but I’m going to as soon as I feel strong enough to stand up.
It’s such a relief to know that Gessair has been stopped. I was going to write a letter to Brynn, but you’ve probably already told her about it. Maybe she can come for Christmas too, or maybe she is spending the holiday with her family. Does Brynn have any family? I never thought to ask her, but she must have someone…
December 18th
It’s been two more days. Liop is at school and Imato is off somewhere. This morning after they left, I got out of bed for the first time. I said I was going to talk to Uncle W. and I meant it. Halfway down the staircase I got dizzy and had to stop and sit down. I thought about what I would say to him. I thought about all the ways I could argue about why he should tell me things, but I didn’t really want to argue.
Eventually I stood up and finished going downstairs. I went to the library/office and knocked on the door. No one answered. I shook my head nervously and let myself in. Uncle W. was sitting at his desk his head down, reading some papers. He didn’t look up.
“I’m very busy,” he clipped.
I didn’t say anything, and he looked up.
“Arri!” he exclaimed, “you should be in bed! Do you need anything? A glass of water or something to eat?”
I hesitated. “A book,” I managed.
Uncle W. frowned. “You should have rang the bell and let me come to you.”
“I wanted to come look at the shelves,” I stammered. I walked over to the book cases and stared blankly at them. A couple minutes passed.
“On commerce?” asked Uncle W. dubiously noticing what shelves were before me.
I jumped slightly and moved to the agriculture section. “Flowers,” I mumbled vaguely. I pulled down the first book I saw and took it over to the green chair to sit down. I felt dizzy again. It was a big horticulture book with pictures that I flipped through absently. Uncle W. returned to his reading. After a few minutes I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
“Arri.” I woke up to see Uncle W. standing over me, his eyes gentle. “Arri, did you really come down here, still sick from the cave, to study the differences between the sixteen recognized varieties of wheat grass?”
“Wheat grass?” I focused on the book and read the words: “Tarleton’s light wheat grass is found only in the valleys of southern Tameral near the equator.” I leaned my head back against the chair.
“What do you want to talk about?” Uncle W. asked.
“Why did you run away from home when you were a youth?” I asked.
“Arri, that’s not your business.”
“Yes, but people tried to kill me, and take my magic, and yours, and Father lost his memory, and you won’t let me learn about healing… and I don’t know why.”
“That has nothing to do with it.”
I dropped my head. Uncle Winthrop sighed. He pulled the big leather chair next to mine and sat in it.
“I wasn’t the only one who ran away,” he told me, “there was a group of us— Ladian Norson, Joe Carde, Youssel Hounding…”
“Lord Hounding?” I asked, looking up.
“No, Youssel— he was the second of old Lord Sean Hounding’s four sons. He was Lady Westridge’s brother. You might say he was our leader, if we had a leader. Ladian’s father, Mr. Telman Norson, was a member of the ‘Landbreakers’, a group of men who believed that the large estates should be broken up and given to their tenants. Youssel was very bitter about the fact that his older brother would inherit the entire family estate, so Mr. Norson’s ideas about land reform appealed to him. Mr. Norson was one of the Hounding’s tenant farmers and we boys all grew up together.
“When I was fifteen, Mr. Norson and Ladian followed the Landbreakers on a barn burning spree. In one night they torched eleven barns— nine were a complete loss. Of course when he was caught, Mr. Norson went to prison and the Houndings evicted the entire family. With no place to go, they ended up living on the streets in Rousha. The youngest child died of an illness a few months later.
“After that Ladian and Youssel were more firmly Landbreakers than ever, but most of the men were in prison. We all went to the meetings…held in secret, full of strong words and new ideas, things they didn’t teach us in school. We had a lot of fun, especially knowing how much trouble we would be in if our parents found out. Father had forbidden me from having any contact with Ladian, and we argued almost constantly when I was home.
“But there was more to it than just that, Arri,” Uncle W. continued adamantly, “Ladian and Youssel had real reasons for joining the Landbreakers. Ladian’s family had worked on the Hounding estate for generations, and yet they had no more status or resources than any simple farmer. Why shouldn’t they have music lessons for their daughters, fine horses for their sons, and a chance to improve their situation? Youssel saw himself drawing ever nearer to a meaningless future, in which he could never marry or work, but would live along with his younger brothers at the mercy of an arrogant older brother they hardly got along with. Why shouldn’t they have the same opportunities as he did?”
Uncle Winthrop paced the floor, looking angry. I thought of Mendel and wondered if he is ever bothered by his lot in life. He doesn’t seem to be.
“Then there was the land out in the north. The king announced that anyone who could successfully farm it, could own it. That announcement gave the Landbreakers new ideas. They began making plans to move north, to create their own settlement. Some of the more radical thinkers even hinted at a new kingdom. I listened for weeks as they made their plans. I wanted to go with them.
“I remember the day I told my parents. You can imagine how angry they were, how they tried to talk me out of it. I had my head full of anti-class talk and I told them everything I’d been thinking for years. When I left that night, I said I would never come back. I was almost seventeen.”
“Where did you go?” I asked.
“I followed the Landbreakers north. We established the town of Onoff. Of course the idea of farming in the Torca Mountains is ridiculous— we learned that the hard way. The very idea was concocted by the king to try and get rid of us. You don’t need to hear about what a bad time we had of it. I was one of the ones who gave up, but Youssel and Ladian are still there. They both married eventually, but they’re no better of then they would have been if they stayed in Rousha. Youssel changed his name to Franz Journey.”
“Oh!” I said.
“Yes,” said Uncle W.
I leaned back and tried to make my dizzy head think clearly.
“What about magic?” I asked finally, “Aunt Ellean said that you felt so sad about Aunt Nysa that you didn’t do magic again.”
“Really?” asked Uncle W., “When did she say that?”
“It’s in the story she told Keish, about how Aunt Nysa was kidnapped by the fairies, but my mother’s book doesn’t say that. It doesn’t even mention you. Is that why you quit doing magic?”
Uncle W. looked angry and muttered something under his breath. “I have told you many times what my reasons are for disliking magic,” he said finally, “I have seen it used for evil many times, and I have seen the arrogance of those who have it, flaunting it in the face of those who don’t. It is dangerous, as you well know.”
“Yes, but…”
“No more, child. Your head is so heavy you can hardly hold it upright. Let me help you back to bed.”
That was the end of our conversation. I’m back in bed now and writing this letter to you. I can’t wait until you arrive here.
December 19th
Another day has passed. This morning I felt strong enough to eat downstairs with the family, though Imato and Uncle W. fussed a great deal and thought perhaps I should wait. After breakfast I went into the parlor to sit, because I was tired of being in my room. It had snowed the night before and the sun was not yet high enough to melt it, so the whole front yard sparkled and the air beyond the immediate reach of the fireplace felt cold.
It was from this vantage point that I watched Lady Westridge approach the house. She had an errand boy in tow— struggling with his short, young legs to take two steps for each of the Lady’s long strides. Her slim figure was completely hidden in layers of heavy clothing, and the clothing itself was shrouded in a full gray cloak. I couldn’t wonder very much why she was coming; it made me dizzy.
The boy finally managed to get properly in front of her just before they reached the door. I heard the knock, but I didn’t move. Imato answered it.
“Lady Westridge,” announced the boy dutifully.
“My Lady,” Imato was completely polite.
“How do you do?” came the response, “I have come to call upon Lady Arri.”
Imato glanced over at me, but I was equally surprised.
“You’re very kind to call on my sister,” said Imato, “but she is not well and is unable to entertain.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m afraid the matter is urgent. I will be as brief as possible and attend your sister in her room if she prefers.” She had not seen me sitting on the sofa.
Imato looked questioningly in my direction.
“It’s all right, Lady Westridge,” I said, “I can see you.”
Imato made a short bow, helped her out of her cloak and outer clothing, and then escorted her into the parlor, which really only means a few steps, since the cottage parlor isn’t a separate room. Lady Westridge took my hand politely, inquired after my health, and thanked me for my time. Then she seated herself in the rocking chair opposite me. The errand boy took up a position near the front door. Imato sent him back to the kitchen for some cookies and took up the post instead.
It took several minutes for Lady Westridge to come to the point of her visit.
“I’d like to ask you to write a letter to my sons and tell them to come home,” she said, “They are far behind in their studies and winter is deepening. I would write a letter myself, but they won’t listen, and I don’t know where to send it anyway.”
I dropped my head. “I don’t know where they are either,” I said.
“Surely, you can contact them,” she said firmly, “after all, you sent them.”
I looked back up. Lady Westridge was frowning at me.
“Perhaps it would help if you told me what they’re doing for you,” she said finally.
She didn’t know. She thought I had sent them on some kind of errand, and that I could call them back anytime I wanted. She thought it was all my fault. I didn’t know what to say, what I was allowed to say without breaking Mendel’s trust.
Lady Westridge waited for my answer.
“I don’t know where they are,” I repeated, “We were headed home, but they turned away. It wasn’t my idea.”
“Then you’re not involved?” she raised one eyebrow doubtfully.
I shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know,” I said, “I guess I am, but Mendel does what he wants. He doesn’t listen to me.”
“Have you heard from him?” asked Lady Westridge.
“Yes, but it wasn’t very helpful. I mean, you can’t tell where he is from it exactly. It’s like a lot of nonsense.” I felt my face get hot.
“There’s no consideration in that boy,” Lady Westridge said finally, “what I don’t understand is Sean joining him. Sean has always been so reasonable. Isn’t there anything you can tell me that will help me?”
She looked so sad and frustrated that I wanted to say something to make her feel better.
“What they’re doing is good,” I said, “but it’s supposed to be secret.”
“You made them promise?” she frowned again.
“No, it’s not for me they’re doing it. It’s for someone else, and that’s who they promised. I just found out about it— kind of by accident— or maybe not by accident, but it wasn’t my idea; I wasn‘t trying to find out. It just happened is all, and they’re trying to help someone— not me, well sort of me, but not directly. I mean that’s not the main goal of it. I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say.” It would have been a lot easier to just tell her what happened.
“It’s getting colder every day,” said the lady. She looked out the window through the ice crystals on the west-facing panes. “Will you promise me to tell them to come home, if you get a chance?” Lady Westridge has large, bright blue eyes, and right then they looked like they wanted to cry.
“Yes,” I said.
“Thank you,” she murmured, “I’ll leave you now. I do hope you feel better soon.” She gathered her outer clothes and the errand boy as swiftly as she had discarded them. Imato, who had remained silent and nearby at the front door, saw her out.
After she had left he turned to me with a quizzical look. “This isn’t something you can tell me about, is it?” he asked.
I shook my head sadly. Imato sighed.
“Well at least I’m not the only one in the dark about things,” and he left the room. I think he was angry.
I’m finishing this letter now, and I’m going to send it. I’m feeling better everyday, and I’m so excited that you are coming for Christmas! I am sending a letter to Uncle Adlen to invite him to join us. Imato has contacted Jace’s father and made sure you have horses in Dovery. I’m so glad you’re coming. Liop, Imato, and Uncle Winthrop all send you “good journey”s, and we will watch for you to come.
May you travel swiftly. You’re probably so close by now. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.
Love,

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Keish- December 14, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

December 14, 2003
Dear Arri,
I'm sure you're very anxious to get this letter. I've started it four times now, but I just can't seem to put everything on paper the way I want to. That's why I didn't send Hermes back to you last night. Sometimes I think he must get very annoyed with me.
Jace and I reached the cave yesterday, but you probably know that. We've been discussing what happened and can't decide how everything affected you, so I'm just going to write out the whole experience.
On the 12th we found a trail that I instantly knew led up to the cave-- we could just barely see the opening. The sun was setting and the cave seemed to face east, so we decided to camp where we were and go up in the morning when the light would be better.
As we entered the cave the next morning, with the light streaming in at our backs, my satchel suddenly became heavy, as if something had been dropped into it. At first I thought I'd imagined it-- that it was just the weight of magic in the cave-- but as I adjusted the strap I realized it was the book. It had become fairly large.
I wanted to look around the cave before taking it out. There didn't seem to be much in it, just a sort of round natural platform in the middle. The walls were smooth and empty. Somehow I felt almost disappointed. I guess I expected to find things like you did in your dream.
When I went over to the platform, however, I was surprised to see a mirror on it. You remember the mirror in the stories? Somehow it ended up in the cave.
It was like the cave was some sort of center of power for our family. I don't know how I knew that, but that's how the cave felt. It felt like one of our ancestors had made this cave a place of magic.
Looking into the mirror, I saw myself reading from the book, just like the vision I had. Immediately, I knew what I had to do. I moved back from the platform a few steps and told Jace to stay behind me.
I took out the book. Everything about it had changed, but I knew I couldn't take the time to study it then. I enchanted it to float so I wouldn't have to hold it. Instinctively, my fingers found the right page and I began to read.
There was a flash of light from the mirror, brighter and whiter than the morning light on my face. You and Liop had clearly been putting away the dishes from breakfast-- I could see the kitchen of the cottage in the flash as you appeared. You seemed to actually be there in the cave with me, but I don't know how it appeared to you. Did it seem real or was it like a dream?
I continued reading as you and Liop looked around. Did you know not to move or could you not? I knew you were right where you needed to stay, and in my mind I tried to tell you that, but I had to keep reading.
The light flashed again and I saw a group of men eating. Imato appeared across from you. It's interesting how we were positioned from youngest to oldest-- Liop across from me and you and Imato on a line perpendicular to us.
In another flash of light I saw a meadow and a woman appeared, looking frightened, between Imato and I. Her relationship to our mothers was unmistakable.
Another flash showed Uncle Winthrop's study and he appeared on the other side of Imato. He seemed to understand what was going on and didn't looked very pleased.
The next flash was the largest and the brightest-- and brought the most astonishing result. It was blinding, but when it faded our mothers had both appeared (mine between you and I and yours between you and Liop) and so had Grandfather Bastion-- standing behind Liop.
I didn't really have time to feel shocked because I was still reading and another light appeared. This time it was steady instead of just a flash. It was like a window-- opening on a room in the castle in Adya! A man stood at a table, chanting. His back was to me, but I could see what was on the table-- a miniature of Imato, a small painting of Uncle W., a reflection (that must be what it was) of you and a beautiful horse and another of Liop, and finally, a miniature of a baby that I recognized; it was a painting of you that had been my mother's.
I was still reading, but it seemed like I knew the words of the spell without looking down. It was like a chant coming from within me-- within all of us.
The man turned suddenly and I gasped inwardly (I don't think I could have stopped chanting at that point even if I wanted to). I don't know if you recognized him, probably not, but I thought I heard Imato gasp. It was Sir Gessair-- one of King Menion's closest councilors! A man that I've dined with, debated with, even danced with… and the man who killed my mother. The Master.
He looked around and began a different chant, but Grandfather had begun chanting with me, and our mothers, and Nysa. Imato closed his eyes for a moment, as though searching himself for the words, then joined in. Next I heard your voice join and then Liop's clear voice blended with the rest.
Gessair was starting to look concerned, his eyes darting quickly back and forth. His chant changed pitch as he sought to fight our magic.
Finally, reluctantly at first, Uncle Winthrop's voice rang out. Gessair looked scared now as the spell we were weaving gained strength. He jerked back and forth as if trying to strike out or maybe escape.
As our voices rose, the miniature of Imato caught fire and was consumed almost instantly. Next the painting of Uncle W. disappeared in a flash. As the chant rolled through the cave, the reflection of Liop was suddenly gone, too.
Gessair was in a complete panic. He began a new chant, louder and stronger. We raised our voices in response and the chant rumbled like thunder in the cave. Gessair turned back to his table, desperately trying to grab the pictures of you. As his hand touched the reflection a blinding flash lit the cave and the reflection and miniature were gone.
The Master howled in pain and began sinking to the floor. Waves of magic flooded the cave. Our voices sank slowly until the chant was just a whisper. The image of Gessair, now huddled on the floor, vanished and the light sank to a glow.
The chant died on my lips and the cave was quiet. Grandfather put his hands on Liop's shoulders as Imato crossed the cave to stand by you. You were hugging your mother.
Uncle Winthrop was looking very uncomfortable. Grandfather pushed Liop toward you and went to Uncle W. He put his hands on Uncle's shoulders and smiled. Then, with a small flash of light, Uncle W. was gone.
My mother touched my cheek and I turned to her, tears overflowing.
"You should not have had to bear so much of this burden, my child," she whispered as she hugged me. She felt real, but I knew that nothing had changed-- she was not still in our world.
"I wasn't alone," I replied, looking back at Jace.
She smiled. "I know."
She stepped away from me and closed the book, placing it in my arms tenderly. She looked toward the mirror and then at you.
"Jesse's children have grown up." She turned back to me, tears in her eyes. "And so have you, my Keisha Nerys." She touched the book. "Now it is time to restore things to their proper place."
I nodded. "I will, Mother." Her few words had told me exactly what I must do.
I saw your mother step back after hugging each of you again. Then there were three flashes and you, Imato, and Liop were gone. Your mother moved to Nysa, who'd been watching everything wistfully.
"Thank you," your mother said hugging her, "thank you, Nysa."
As soon as she'd said it, your mother and Nysa disappeared. Nysa's expression seemed to change to one of sudden understanding, though. I wonder if seeing your mother and hearing her name spoken changed Nysa somehow. Perhaps some of her memory was restored.
Mother hugged me again as Grandfather came toward us. He stood in front of me and looked deep into my eyes.
"The prophecy is fulfilled," he said, his deep voice making me shiver slightly. "Child, be free."
He passed a hand over my eyes and I stumbled. Jace caught me and both Mother and Grandfather disappeared.
The glow faded and the cave grew dark.
"Are you alright?" Jace asked in concern.
I sighed slowly-- like when you first wake up. I nodded and felt around in my satchel for a candle. I lit it with a snap of my fingers and smiled. "I feel so free."
Jace furrowed his brow in confusion.
I laughed, feeling better than I have in months. "The convergence was in me. The child that was to have these abilities was never born, so the powers converged in me. Don't you see? When my grandfather said to be free he released me from that extra power."
Jace sat next to me. "So," he began thoughtfully, "that's why you couldn't control it."
I nodded. "But now I just have my own power and it doesn't control me."
We decided to camp in the opening of the cave since it was starting to snow.
Jace went out to gather some wood but returned after only a moment with Hermes. It seems he had tracked me to the cave but was confused once he got there. Jace found him right outside flying back and forth.
I read your letter with Jace brought some wood. Poor Imato. What about Gretel and training with Sir Aoweir? I think what you did was wonderful. It was the perfect thing to make him feel better. I don't think Sir Aoweir will let Imato just give up on his training, though.
I hope Brynn is back with you. It seems the Narls didn’t underestimate your importance after all-- they had two pictures of you. Maybe now Brynn will be able to help you. Destroying the pictures seemed to undo whatever Gessair had been doing and magic was definitely released. I wonder if it will affect Imato's magic also.
Speaking of Gessair, I have to return to Adya and confront him. King Menion deserves to know what's been going on and Gessair should be tried for his crimes. I think his magic was largely broken, but I'll admit that confronting him frightens me a little.
It's midday and the snow has stopped. We should be able to travel tomorrow. Would you please send to Jace's father and ask him to arrange horses for us in Dovery? We should reach there in about five days. (Jace says a day or two is plenty of time for his father to make arrangements since the king keeps horses there for messengers and keeps very fast passenger pigeons to use to make those kinds of arrangements.) Then we figure we can reach Odsreq in another three or four days on horseback. That means we should arrive there Christmas Eve! Is that okay? Would Uncle W. mind? I don't think we can make it to Adya for Christmas. Maybe you could write to my father and we could all spend Christmas together at the cottage.
Jace will be able to spend Christmas with his family as well. He insists, though, on coming back with me to Adya to confront Gessair.
I've had time to study the book more carefully. I knew it was the Brio Chronicle. I'm bringing it to you. That's what my mother meant about restoring things. The Chronicle rightfully belongs to the Brio with the gift of healing. It's filled with spells and recipes and notes. Some of the pages are in your mother's lovely handwriting.
Oddly, I can no longer find the spell I read in the cave. I don't know if it has disappeared since it's purpose was fulfilled or if it's the kind of thing you can only find when you have to. I suppose it's for the best. It's a powerful spell and not something that should be used lightly.
I'm also taking the mirror. It's meant to be used by the Brio with the gift of divination. The lioness kept it safe for my mother and now it comes to me. Until the Narls were broken it was too dangerous for us to have these things, but now they should be returned to their proper place and use.
I wonder if there's an object to go with Liop's gift. I guess if there is it's still with Uncle Winthrop.
I should end so I can send Hermes back to you.
Everything feels so different and wonderful, Arri. I no longer feel lost and trapped inside myself. I may not have as much power, but I would rather have less and have it be my own. I've been playing this morning, though, and I can still do pretty much everything I'm used to doing magically. It's just more controlled now.
I hope things are different for you too. I'm sure what happened didn't solve everything-- you're father isn't a Brio, so it probably didn't affect him-- but I hope it solved something for you.
May your burdens be lifted (or at least lighter)
Love always,

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Arri- December 11, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

December 11, 2003
Dear Keish,
I’m so glad to hear that you’re safe! I think the best part about exchanging letters is that whenever I get a letter with your handwriting, I know immediately that you’re at least well enough to write. And after reading your last letter, I think that says a lot.
It must have been terrifying to fight someone using magic, but you handled it so quickly! It almost sounded like you had been practicing. But how could you practice fighting with magic? It isn’t like sparring with swords. I’m so glad Jace is with you.
Do you think Narls are the cause of my magic problems? Brynn has returned to Rousha, because she wants to look at a particular book in the castle library and she says she doesn’t dare send for it. She’ll come back as soon as she can. The Brio magic must be in your book for it to have changed when Brynn used her spell on me, and all Brio magic must be connected somehow. Perhaps that’s why Marigold can remember a promise even if she can’t remember who she made it to, or why. I think she made the promise to my mother, and that means that they were in contact after I was born. I wonder how long my magic has been like this. Did Mother know? Is that why she asked Marigold to protect me? Was I born like this? If I was born like this, can it be reversed? I hope Brynn finds out something at the library.
The other morning when I went out to tend Glory before breakfast, I found Imato already in the barn. He was standing in front of the bales of hay, brows furrowed in concentration, punching one bare fist after another into the dry, prickly blades.
“Imato!” I cried in shock.
Imato jumped with surprise and turned towards me. His eyebrows lifted and he lowered his fists, visibly red even in the shadows.
“Your hands,” I said, “what are you doing?”
Imato looked down and his raw-scraped knuckles. He quickly hid them behind his back.
“I don’t know where my gloves are,” he muttered, “and what are you doing out so late?”
I motioned to morning light streaming in through the barn door. “It’s not so late anymore,” I said.
“Zooks!” said Imato, accidentally brushing the back of his hand against a stable wall. I felt awkward, like I had intruded on something private, but I couldn’t ignore those hands.
“You need a poultice for that hand— I can make one,” I said. “Will you come to the kitchen?”
Imato followed me to the kitchen. I found my dry herbs in the cupboard and dampened them to make a poultice. Then I spread it over Imato’s knuckles, whispering Mother’s peace poem as I worked so the poultice would be full of goodwill. I was surprised to feel a little magic behind the familiar words this time, although I knew it lacked the strength of Mother’s voice.
Imato sighed. “It’s been a long time since I heard that poem,” he said.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Imato didn’t answer. I finished applying the poultice. Then I thought I should set some chamomile tea on the stove to heat and get the breakfast ingredients ready for when Nacks brought in the eggs and milk. But mostly I was thinking about Imato.
“Are you going back to Adya soon?” I asked finally, not looking at him.
Imato stood up from the table. He put one hand on my shoulder and made me face him.
“That’s just the point, Arri,” he said, “I’m not going back.” His face had that stoic look Father’s face has sometimes when he explains something difficult.
“But Imato…” I began in confusion. He overrode me.
“I’ve had everything backwards, Arri,” he continued firmly, “my first duty is to my family and I haven’t been doing it at all. No, just listen… it’s not me that needs to finish schooling, it’s you. All the swords and arrows in the world won’t bring Father’s memory back, but you might. Before he was interrupted by that last march, Father was interviewing tutors for you. You would have been trained in healing if things had continued. That was the most important thing.”
“But there wasn’t any money for that,” I protested, “it wasn’t your fault, and Father wanted you to become a knight. He was so proud…”
“There’s money now— I’ve been saving my salary. It’s not much, but it will get you started, and if I take a job in town— I can clerk or smithy— then I ought to be able to get you through the rest of it. I’ll go to the King for help if I have to, but you will become a healer.”
“What about Gretel?” I asked, “Aren’t you going back to Adya for her?”
Here Imato looked away. “She’ll understand,” he said slowly, “I’ve written her a letter…maybe in a few years if she hasn’t married someone else…”
“Imato!”
“Arri, this is your time. Your life has been on hold long enough. All this time I’ve had everything I needed and you’ve had nothing. Well, look where we are now. Father needs you, and I’m going to see that you can help him.”
I stared at him. Then I looked away. I hadn’t told him about Brynn testing my magic. You’re the only one I told. I felt tears sting my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” asked Imato gently.
“I can’t do magic,” I blurted out, “I’m all torn up inside…” I explained about the crystal ball and the orange and Brynn’s hands. Imato sat back down and put his head in his hands.
“Then what can we do?” he asked, sounding helpless.
“Keish says Father needs a healer. Brynn says she can’t teach me anything, because she doesn’t understand what’s wrong with my magic.”
“Then maybe you can heal,” said Imato suddenly, “Brynn said herself that she’s never encountered anything like this before. She could be wrong about your magic— I’m sure she’s wrong!”
“But Brynn is…”
“Not Mother,” Imato interrupted quickly. “Surely if you weren’t capable of healing, Father would have known, and he wouldn’t have looked for a tutor. Brynn isn’t a healer, and Uncle W. says she has a tendency to jump to her own conclusions and then refuse to admit when she’s wrong.”
“But Uncle W. does that too…” I protested.
“You captured a griffon and rescued both Uncle W. and Father from the Narls. You have power, Arri. I’m sure of it.” And he refused to discuss the matter any further.
I thought about what Imato and Brynn had said for the rest of the day. I thought about your dream about Father and how I was the one who could heal him. I thought about Father’s sword and Imato’s knighthood and Uncle Winthrop. I felt like my head was spinning with words all jumbled up in a cyclone and contradicting each other, spreading chaos as they moved. I can’t solve this alone.
The next morning Imato announced that he was leaving for Rousha. Uncle Winthrop came out of hiding just long enough to give him a letter for the king. Imato saddled Spriggs and prepared to leave, but I just couldn’t let him go like that.
“Wait a minute!” I shouted just as he reached the gate. Imato turned back.
I ran upstairs to Uncle W.’s bedroom and pulled Father’s helmet and sword from the chest. I thought about all the trouble Uncle W. and I went to in order to keep it hidden on the way back from Onoff. I carried them down and placed them just out of sight inside the house.
“Come over here,” I told Imato. Looking puzzled, he got back down off Spriggs and walked up onto the porch.
“Arri, I really should be off…”
“This will only take a minute. Take off your sword belt and hat, and don’t ask questions.”
Imato raised one eyebrow, but he did as I said, setting the short squire’s sword and his green felt hat to one side.
“Now kneel down,” I commanded. Imato knelt.
I reached behind the door and brought out Father’s sword.
“You may not be the King’s knight,” I told him, “but I’m going to make you my knight, and Father’s knight.” I raised the sword and touched the tip of it briefly to each of his shoulders.
“You may now arise,” I told him.
Imato stood and I presented him with Father’s sword, hilt first.
“Arri!” he gasped when he realized what I was giving him.
“No questions!” I reminded, “You are now a knight of the Brio household.” I held out the helmet and Imato lowered his head so that I could put it on. It fit perfectly.
“You may now go forth on you first quest,” There were tears in my eyes again, and I wondered if I was just being a silly girl, but I felt earnest and Imato had tears in his eyes too. He hugged me.
“Take care, little sister,” he said.
“Godspeed,” I responded.
Imato remounted his horse and rode swiftly out the gate without looking back.
Do you think I did right? I wanted Imato to feel better, but maybe I should have waited until Imato’s birthday in ten days, or Christmas. But I don’t know when Imato will be back. I hope the king isn’t angry with me for giving Imato the sword and helmet too soon. I hope Father doesn’t mind. I wish I could tell him about it, but if I could do that, then I wouldn’t have had to give them to Imato anyway.
Uncle Winthrop came out of his office today. He went to speak to Lord Westridge, and when he came back he told me that we may be moving to Rousha. Lord Westridge will look for another tenant for the cottage, and Uncle W. will accept the assistance of King Trunsle. Uncle W. looks so helpless these days, and he won’t talk about anything. He helps me take care of Father, though. I asked him what Marigold’s real name was. He said it was Nysa and then refused to say anything more. It seems almost funny that we haven’t known it for so long and all I had to do was ask Uncle W. and he told me as though it were no big secret at all. It’s so hard to know what I’m allowed to talk about.
In the meantime there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do except help Nacks in the stable and try to keep Liop from doing too much magic. I never know what color things in the cottage are going to be anymore, or what size. Fortunately, Kestrel is very disturbed by these inconsistencies and always comes and gets me when Liop starts casting spells.
I’m glad you’re not seeing any snow yet. We had some, but it melted. The real winter storms should be coming soon though, so I hope you find the cave soon. I wonder which one it will be.
May the forest hide you well.
Love,

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Keish- December 7, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

December 7, 2003
Dear Arri,
So very much has happened, I don't know where to begin. Jace says I'd best just begin with what happened after I sent my last letter and stick to the order things happened-- hopefully it will more or less make sense.
I wrote another letter and sent it by regular post on the 2nd (you'll probably have it by the time you get this one) so I'll start with later that day.
We spent the whole day in the village (Ceinlys). We used the money we had to replenish our supplies. We had enough to not have to tell any fortunes; I was nervous about it after what happened before.
Jace says I have to tell you what else I bought. He's laughing at me, which he's been doing a great deal since that night when I told him how upset I'd been about missing his birthday. He hadn't even noticed. It was hard finding something in Ceinlys, even if it is a bigger village, and I was being picky. It was his 20th birthday, after all. Eighteen and 20 are important and I got him such a great gift for his 18th birthday. (Now Jace is laughing about modesty not being one of my stronger qualities. I glared and he laughed harder; I don't really see how he finds it so funny still with everything else that has happened)
Anyway, I managed to find him a nice blue tunic that matches his eyes and a nice dagger to go with the hunting knife he's carrying. (Okay, so it's really a short sword enchanted to look like a hunting knife as long as he doesn't draw it.) I really will have to get him something better when we get back to Adya.
The next day we were traveling, but I felt so odd we had to rest for a while. Something was wrong, but I couldn't pinpoint what. For some reason I felt I should take out the book that Darius gave me. It had changed. Not that it was bigger or smaller-- the pages were still very blank-- but it felt different. I can't really describe it. It was as if the magic had shifted. Of course after reading your letter I realize it must have something to do with what happened to you with the crystal. I don't understand it completely.
Since I'm on the topic, (Jace is reminding me that I said I'd tell things in order, but this is a nice segue) what do you think of Brynn? I loved reading your description of her! It was excellent. I wonder what happened when she and Uncle W. met-- they sure don't like each other. When we talked about him Brynn always tried to stay very neutral.
Reading her account of my parents' courtship made me laugh and cry at the same time. I remember the Condies, though they've not lived in Adya in years. When they agreed to let Mother stay with them they had no idea what they were getting into! She was overwhelming-- at least that's the word Father would use. She was restless and rebellious and really more than sweet old Lady Condie could handle. Mother used to laugh about it, though you could tell she felt at least a little bad for what she put them through. Just before her 19th birthday she left them to live on the edge of the castle grounds in a little cottage with her new tutor. (I realize now it was Brynn.) The little cottage had been a sort of guesthouse for an eccentric lady who had died some years before. It's not there anymore.
Master Jaxinamy was old and starting to fail, so Brynn really took over teaching Mother. She was certainly qualified-- more than Old Master Jax in many ways.
I found it funny that Brynn describes that time as the beginning of my parents' courtship. Father used to tease Mother that he couldn't corral (his word) her into a real courtship until the new year, though they'd known each other several months. For a whole year, every time Father would start to talk more seriously about marrying Mother would find a way to put him off. Then as soon as he backed down she would spring the idea of eloping on him. She said she was never really serious-- just wanted to scare him a little. She wasn't ready to give up her freedom, even if she was falling in love with him.
After that year, though, Mother agreed to marry Father. It was his birthday and he always says it was the greatest present he ever received. Once Mother made up her mind, though, she wouldn't stand for a long engagement. She threw the court into a frenzy preparing a wedding in just over a month-- they married February 28th.
Once they were married, Mother was true to her decision to settle down. She became the perfect wife-- following convention (well, mostly… sort of) and filling her role in the court life around her.
I had forgotten about Father's beetle collection. It had gotten so large that my mother once said we'd need to have a room just for the beetles. That's another thing he stopped doing when Mother died.
I always liked hearing your father tell the story of rescuing your mother from the dragon. It's been a long time, though, and I'd forgotten much of it. It is interesting that she was so far south-- do you think it has anything to do with the caves?
Jace says I've strayed far enough and must get back to telling things in order. I stuck my tongue out at him, but he does have a point. Where was I?
Oh yes, so I was feeling odd and that must have had something to do with you and the crystal. Brynn did use the crystal with me, but not until after she told me about teaching my mother. When Liop came I did something similar with him. It was just after I'd learned about the Brio legacy and the three gifts. I wanted to know which gift was his.
I'm sorry it went so wrong-- I don't know what that would mean. I'm sure Brynn can figure it out. I may be able to give some information to help, but I'm not sure it's related and I'll have to get to it in a little bit because it won't make sense out of order.
The next morning dawned very cold and threatened rain, if not snow. Since we were in a very sheltered spot, it seemed best to wait out the day. Midmorning I passed out and for a moment I saw you lying on the ground. I came around with Jace bending over me, clearly worried.
"I'm fine," I said, "but I'm not sure about Arri." I tried to divine what had happened to you, but the only vision I could conjure was of you sitting with Liop and Imato-- clearly safe and well-- so I let it go. Now, obviously, I know it was when Brynn tried the spell again.
Before I forget-- please remind Liop that if he tries the editing charm on anything without Brynn's supervision I really will turn him into a fire newt the moment I see him again. He consistently mixes up the wording (for some reason it comes out half in Iconese) and his parchments inevitably catch fire. I thought you'd better be warned, especially if Brynn isn't staying long. He should know better than to do it, but you know how he can be.
How far had I gotten? Oh yes, the 5th we were able to travel again. We stopped for lunch and Jace went to gather some wood. He seemed wary when he came back.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Maybe we shouldn't light a fire," he said slowly. His eyes were still scanning the area.
I went over and forced him to look at me. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure. I just feel like maybe we aren't alone."
Now I was scanning the area. "Following or searching?" I asked, not doubting that someone was out there.
He shook his head again. "I don't know." He looked at me sharply. "You'd best not try divining to find out."
He knows me far too well.
"Let's eat quickly," I said, not responding to his statement.
We traveled cautiously for the rest of the day and spent a rather nervous night. We didn't dare light a fire, but I could use just a little magic to keep us warmer.
Yesterday morning Hermes found us just after we'd started out. I let Jace read your letter after I'd finished. (I hope you don't mind-- I figured I just tell him everything anyway.)
We had an interesting discussion about inheritance and the difference between Elcaro and Arella. Second sons seem to have more options in Arella. My father is a second son. He's still considered a lord and was able to pursue a position at court even though his brother inherited the family land. (My cousin's son holds it now-- both my uncle and cousin died fairly young.)
I didn't mean Mendel was a good match for you personality-wise. I've never really met him. He did show up in Adya briefly, but I didn't talk to him. And you're right, even if second sons don't have many options in Elcaro, I don't agree with Treany. If you love someone those aren't good reasons not to marry them, in my opinion. But you aren't in love with him, so it doesn't much matter.
Tulson's too busy? I would think his parents would be getting anxious for him to start considering settling down. His brothers are married, right? (Jace says yes, they are and, laughing, says that the queen would like nothing more than to have Tulson settle down sometime soon.)
As far as what I was implying about him and mental homes goes-- he can take that however he wishes, I say (smiling sweetly and being ever so innocent).
Anyway, yesterday-- this is where things got even more interesting. We were settling into camp for the night when Jace suddenly say bolt upright. I was instantly wary, shoving my hand to the bottom of my satchel where my dagger was.
"Stay here," Jace said, jumping up and plunging into the brush.
"Not likely," I muttered, leaping after him. A moment later the sound of metal on metal rang through the air as Jace drew his sword and met the blade of a rather mean-looking man. Two others were headed toward him until they caught sight of me.
"There she is," sneered the older one. His face was horribly pock-marked. He raised his hand menacingly.
I raised my dagger, still in it's sheath, and used my magic to shield me from whatever spell he sent hurtling for me. I knew what it was as soon as it hit the dagger-- a spell to paralyze.
I reformed the spell, using his own magic against him as well as my own. I don't know if he even realized what was coming, but he was down before he could cause anymore trouble. Jace had already disarmed the man he was fighting and the third man started to run. I sent the same spell after him and he fell.
I turned to Jace, breathing heavily. His arm was bleeding. I flicked the last remnants of the spell I'd used on the others at the man at Jace's feet to keep him still.
"Are you alright?" Jace asked, breathless also. When I nodded he added, "You should have stayed back there."
I went to him and made him sit so I could look at his arm. "Did you really think I would?"
"Well, no," he admitted, "but you should have." There was pride in his voice as he said it and I smiled.
"Looks like you only got a scratch. I'll bandage it."
He grabbed my arm as I started to rise. "Wait, it can wait. It's not bad, especially considering I had no armor." He grimaced. "What about them?"
"I guess we have to tie them up for now," I said slowly. "I'm not sure how long that spell will last."
"Go get the rope then," Jace said.
I shook my head. "You go. If it doesn't last long I can always cast it again."
He shook his head ruefully. "I'm supposed to be protecting you." He touched my cheek as he said it, then walked swiftly back to where our things were.
I surveyed what I'd done. It seemed unreal. They had to be Narls, but I was surprised there were only three. I mentioned it when Jace returned.
"They underestimated you," he said as he began tying up the man he'd fought.
"And you," I responded. Jace had disarmed the man without actually cutting him. "They must not have realized you trained with the king's own sons."
Jace shrugged, giving me some rope and moving towards the man that had run. I went toward the one who had used magic, trying to sense how strong his power was. His magic felt strange and I realized it must have been stolen from others.
He started to come around as I tied his wrists. The combined spell had been enough to knock him out. He narrowed his eyes at me and I shifted into a better defensive position. He muttered something and before I could react his head rolled to the other side.
I cried out and Jace came running. "What is it?"
"He's dead," I gasped. I stood, swaying slightly.
Jace caught me around the waist to keep me from falling. "What happened?"
I shook my head. "It's an awful spell. How could anyone…" I put my hand over my mouth, nearly retching.
Jace moved me away from the body. "It was the act of a desperate man." He grabbed my shoulders as I slid to a sitting position. "Keish, look at me-- you didn't do this. You couldn't have stopped him."
I nodded mutely. He made me stand again and led me to where we were camping. Then he went and dragged the other two men nearer. He had taken cloth and gagged them both. The spell had worn off, but Jace had tied them very securely.
We spent a very long night debating what to do. As my revulsion wore off I became more and more angry. The old man must have known something he didn't want us to find out. There was nothing we could do about him now, but we could get information out of the other two.

After breakfast this morning I removed the gag of the man Jace had fought. "Who are you?" I demanded.
He looked away.
I raised my hand, preparing a spell in my mind. "You may speak voluntarily or be forced," I said; my voice was so icy it surprised even me.
This was a man of the sword-- the threat of magic was enough to loosen his tongue. "My name is Omle," he said fearfully.
"You are a Narl." I didn't make it a question. "What do you want with us?"
"We were sent to find you, Lady Brio." Being addressed that way felt odd.
"And take me as you tried to take my cousin. Why?"
"The Master decided the pictures of the other Brios were enough, but he wanted you."
"Why were the pictures taken?" I asked, though I feared I already knew the answer.
"Pictures contain a part of the subject's soul," he responded superstitiously.
I felt the blood drain from my face. I've read about that kind of magic. It's very dangerous, for everyone. "Why?"
"The master has wanted the Brio magic for a long time, Lady. He has been trying to take it for nearly 25 years."
"Who is the Master?"
The man shrank in terror. "We do not speak of him," he whispered.
My temper rose and with a flick of my wrist I made the man sleep.
I removed the other man's gag. "Why does the Master want the Brio magic?"
The man looked terrified and I almost felt bad. "To conquer kingdoms," he whispered.
"And what does he know of the prophecy?"
The man shuddered at the tone of my voice. "They say a Brio child can call back the power and make it so that the Master cannot ever take it."
I knew he wasn't going to tell me who the Master is, but I asked one more question. "Who killed my mother?"
The man cringed again. "The Master," he practically whimpered.
I flicked my wrist again, causing him to sleep as well. I moved away from the men and sank to my knees, covering my face with my hands. My tears were hot on my face.
I don't know how much time passed that way. Jace put his arms around me and just let me cry.
Eventually I was out of tears. I wiped my face on my scarf and stood facing Jace.
"There is a spell of loyalty on both men. If I release them they will remember nothing of the Narls."
He nodded. "Should we wait until tomorrow?"
I glanced around. The sun was already getting low in the west. How had the whole day passed? I nodded and Jace began preparing dinner. I sat down and started writing this letter.
Jace and I have been talking as I write. I want to try divining to discover who the Master is, but Jace thinks it's a bad idea. I've used so much magic in the last two days, maybe he's right. And yet I don't feel drained at all.

December 8th
It's morning now. I decided I had to risk trying. Jace was clearly concerned, but he finally agreed as long as I was careful. I didn't really learn much. The Master must have spells protecting him from such things. I did learn one thing which could prove helpful-- he's a fairy, one that's left the ring.
I hope you'll talk to Brynn about all this if she's still with you. Perhaps it will help her think of something important. I also thought that the Narls trying to drain Brio magic for so long could help her with figuring out your magic. Especially if they're using the picture of you now. If they've been after Brio magic for 25 years it could have affected our grandparents and parents also.
I released the two men from the spell, but made sure they will not wake for several hours. That way we will not be close. I feel strongly we will reach the cave in just a few days. I still don't know what I'm supposed to do, though.
I'd better end this so I can send Hermes back to you. You will probably be anxious.
I know Uncle W. doesn't like her, but you can trust Brynn, Arri.
May you find the truth you seek.
Love always,

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Arri- December 3, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

December 3, 2003
Dear Keish,
Mendel is not a good match! If you read the whole letter that he wrote me, you would know that. As soon as my adventures are over, I hope that I can go back to avoiding him, or helping the prince set traps for him, or something else. Even Treany agrees with me. Although you wouldn’t like her reasons. The Westridges are a landed family, and since land has to stay all in one piece, only Sean can inherit anything. Mendel will get a gentleman’s allowance every year after he turns eighteen, but that isn’t enough money to marry. He could have gone into the army, but he didn’t—I don’t know why. Treany says he can’t pursue a career, because it would be a disgrace to his family, so he hasn’t any prospects at all, and isn’t a good match for anyone who is already nobility. Treany says Mendel will come to no good, because that’s what usually happens to gentlemen of leisure. I asked her what she thought he would do, but she said it isn’t good for ladies to talk about it. I asked her how she knew about it. She said they teach it in Feminine Politics. I asked Clara if she knew anything about it and she said it was a lot of nonsense—that Mendel had more sense than that. Mendel and good sense don’t normally belong in the same sentence, but since I still don’t know what they’re talking about, I can’t say much.
Prince Tulson is too busy to be anyone’s match. And he has a lot of choices, because he will become a duke one day and be given a manor to live on. Besides, he orders me around too much. I like him as a friend, of course, but that’s all.
We’ve had a visitor recently.
I first her saw from Liop’s bedroom window, which I was washing. She appeared walking along the road that runs by our house. I didn’t recognize her.
She was tall and thin with a spring in her step and a straight, well-proportioned figure. She walked with confidence like the high ladies in Rousha. She stopped at the gate, seemed to look the whole place over, and then admitted herself as though she belonged here. She wore a long, red lady’s dress with a lacy black shawl and wide-brimmed black hat that cast a shadow on her face. I don’t know much about fashion, but I think Treany would have been impressed. I stared so hard I dropped my cleaning rag and didn’t remember it until much later.
She was coming to our house! I didn’t run to the door like I normally do. I ran to my bedroom to take off my apron and splash water on my face. It was late morning and I had already changed house-dresses once (having splashed stable mud on the first one). At least the current dress was clean, and my second best. Then I sat down on the bed and waited, just as she was knocking at the door. I didn’t want to answer it. If I was lucky I wouldn’t have to do more than say “how do you do” and curtsey.
I listened to the sounds of Uncle Winthrop leaving his study and going to open the door…then the sound of the door opening. An odd length of silence. And then…
“What are you doing here?” demanded Uncle W.
“I’ve come to see Arri,” said the woman with cold civility.
“She’s busy.”
“You will not get rid of me until I’ve seen her.”
“She’s a child!” I couldn’t decide whom I wanted to win the argument. I was dying with both curiosity and intimidation at the same time. No one who dressed like that could be easy to talk to.
“This isn’t my fault, Winthrop, and you know it. At least I came to the front door like a decent person…” she seemed to be insinuating that she could have done something else. I shut my bedroom door as quietly as I could and tried to pretend I wasn’t there.
“What do you want with her?” Uncle Winthrop’s strong voice carried through the door, but the woman’s did not. I considered opening the door again.
“I don’t want to hear it! Arri can only come to harm.”
I put my ear to the door and heard a man’s footsteps on the staircase. The knock at my door startled me. I jumped, tripped, and made too much noise to stay hidden.
“Arri?” Uncle W.’s voice was frustrated.
I opened the door.
“Brynn Garrard is here to see you,” and he turned and walked away without another word.
I hurried down the stairs and stood before her, looking up. I couldn’t say anything; she didn’t look at all like I imagined her. Her face was full of fine wrinkles that added more grace to her character than age.
“It’s good to meet you again, Arri,” said Brynn with a smile. She took off her hat and set it on the armchair in the parlor, revealing a flourish of dark silvery hair with just a few streaks of color. “Of course, you won’t remember the last time we met—you were just learning to walk. I’ve thought many times that I’d like to look at you again, and so I have come.”
I didn’t say anything. Brynn cocked her head to one side and looked me up and down.
“Keish says that you’re a chatterbox, but right now you seem more like your quiet father. I can see his nose, and the way you stand is the way he stood in the line at their wedding reception. You’ve got your mother’s eyes, and your height… that must come from the Etautca side somewhere. You’re not as tall as your parents, but very pretty all the same.”
She looked very pleased.
“Did you know my mother well?” I asked, finding my voice.
“No… and yes,” said Brynn thoughtfully, “Shall we take a walk outside? I don’t think your uncle will mind if he can’t hear us. I’ve only met him once, briefly, and I don’t think this dress is as intimidating as I hoped.”
“Uncle W. doesn’t intimidate easily,” I said.
“That’s very wise of him. You’ll want a shawl to keep the chill off.”
We walked out into the garden, looking at the barren trees and dormant ground, which Nacks was clearing for winter.
“You knew Aunt Ellean well,” I said.
“Yes, that I did,” said Brynn. “You can ask as many questions as you like, but I may not answer.”
I considered this.
“How did you come to tutor Aunt Ellean?” I asked.
“She was eighteen and living with the Condies in Adya. Your grandparents sent her there so that she could study astrology under Master Jaxinamy. Of course a female tutor was desirable, and your grandparents were making inquiries. They didn’t hire me, mind, but I heard about the inquiries and followed my own thoughts on the matter. It seemed that even though Lord Bastion Brio’s magic was waning, his second daughter had the gift of divination.”
“Grandfather’s magic waned? Why?”
“I don’t know; there are many ways magic can wane. Lord Brio was not known for practicing his skill. Perhaps it was just neglect. Those were quiet times…”
“Like Flora’s family,” I murmured.
“Anyhow, I arrived at the court of Adya in time to see the beginnings of Ellean and Sir Adlen’s courtship.”
“Why did you go?” I asked.
Brynn just shook her head at me, “Who would pass up the chance to tutor a daughter of the Brio lineage? I was curious—to say the least.”
But why didn’t you talk to Lord and Lady Brio first? I thought to myself.
“What is Marigold’s real name?” I asked instead.
“Ask your uncle,” said Brynn tersely.
We walked in silence for several minutes. I tried to imagine Uncle Adlen as a young man going courting.
“What kind of flowers did he give her?” I murmured to myself; the idea was wonderful.
Brynn heard my whisper and laughed.
“Wildflowers and daisies and anything else he could get his hands on,” she told me, “although I think young Lady Ellean would have preferred swords. He was head over heals in love from the first day he saw her. If it hadn’t been for conventions he might have proposed on the spot, but they managed a proper, if rather eccentric, two years of courtship. I’ve never enjoyed watching anyone court so much in my life. If Adlen wanted to get married, Ellean was too busy learning to tell fortunes, looking for mischief, and generally having fun. Then the roles would suddenly reverse and Ellean would be pushing for elopement while Adlen worried about tradition and their age difference. He was almost seventeen years her senior. The other girls didn’t know what she saw in him—he was thin and lanky, beginning to bald—not at all like the dashing young suitors your aunt liked to spurn. He collected beetles and telescopes.”
“Then why did she marry him?” I asked.
“Well, Ellean loved astronomy. They could talk about it for hours. Adlen had a good heart. He wasn’t interested in taking advantage of Ellean’s magic or family connections, both of which things were motivating her other suitors. He loved her for herself, and he let her have her way in almost everything.”
“Was it a good match?” I asked.
“Not many people thought so; they thought he would spoil her and she would take advantage. But it was a good match, Arri. Ellean made herself a perfect wife for the not-quite-young, star-struck astronomer.”
I sighed.
“I would tell you about your own parents’ courtship too, but I’m afraid I don’t know much. I first met them at their wedding reception a couple of months after I started tutoring Ellean.”
“Father rescued Mother from a dragon,” I volunteered, “She was out gathering herbs by herself when she accidentally disturbed a great green dragon. Father was patrolling and he heard the dragon roaring, so he went to investigate. And he found Mother trying to bury her herbs before the dragon could get to them. Father always laughs when he tells that part—a young lady in fine gown kneeling in the moist dirt and digging in front of a fire-breathing dragon, more concerned about a handful of dead plants than her satin dress. Of course that isn’t the first time they met, but that’s usually where Father starts when he’s story telling.”
Brynn chuckled.
“I’ve heard that one before, and I’ve always wondered what she was doing so far south.”
I looked up at Brynn in surprise. “I don’t know—I never thought about it.”
“She would have had to be very near the southern border of Elcaro to meet up with both a great green and a border patrol; that’s a good journey from Rousha, but it probably doesn’t matter.”
I didn’t know what to say to that.
“Tell me about your father’s illness,” said Brynn.
I told her everything that had happened to Father since Uncle Winthrop first found him. I ended with the words: “Can you heal him?”
Brynn sighed, “I’m not a healer, Arri. My skills are in divination and some of the more practical sides of magic.”
“Healing is practical,” I responded, “couldn’t you get a book and learn?”
“It would be better if you did that,” Brynn responded, “that’s why I’ve come. I want to get you started in your training. I can’t do more than that; I don’t know enough about your kind of gifts, but I can get you started and then point you in the right direction to learn more.”
“You’re going to tutor me?”
“Only for a few days, then I must return to Taty.”
“Is Taty still in Adya with Gretel and Liop?” I asked.
Brynn smiled. “Liop is with me. I have him at the Odsreq inn, guarded by the Mistress’s daughter who is on orders to tie him up if he tries to leave. I wanted to speak to you alone first, but I’ll bring your brother home this afternoon. He’s very anxious to see you— hoping to show off some of what he’s learned.”
Brynn did bring Liop home. He was a little sulky about not getting to come with her in the morning, but we were all so glad to see him that he couldn’t sulk long. Nozama clung to him like a baby to its mother for the rest of the evening. Cook came out and insisted Brynn stay for dinner, but what a cold meal that made. Brynn and Uncle W. didn’t say a single word to each other. Imato and I felt awkward and embarrassed, but really I wasn’t sure who was behaving worse— Brynn or Uncle W.
It’s so good to have Liop home! He showed me the new spells he learned. We put the newts and their crystal bowl in my bedroom and pulled the curtains so we could watch them flash lights around the room as we talked. It felt nice sitting with Liop and Imato and talking until Liop’s head drooped with sleep, and Imato carried him back to their room. I curled up on the pillows on my window seat and watched the moon rising over the trees. I fell asleep and dreamt of the hart, tall and proud in the forest.
This morning Brynn came after breakfast. She was dressed in dark blue wool this time with a white shawl. Uncle W. shut himself up in the office without a word. I had already walked Liop to school (he didn’t like that, but there have to be some consequences for running away). Imato was off with his own business, so Brynn and I went out into the garden. Kestrel came with and curled up on the bench to watch. Brynn had a satchel with her that she set on the bench next to Kestrel. She rummaged through it for a minute, finally retrieving a small sphere, perfectly clear and hollow. She handed it to me.
“A crystal ball?” I asked, wondering.
“Of a variety,” said Brynn vaguely, “it will help me measure the strength of your magic. Hold it out in your hand— whichever one you write with, elbow straight, fingers curled so it won‘t slip.”
The sphere felt cool in my hand as I held it out towards Brynn. She put her right hand on the top of the ball, closed her eyes and began to murmur a kind of chant. Almost immediately the sphere shattered, sending crystal shards in every direction. Brynn and I both let out cries of surprise, hers somewhat louder, and pulled our hands back into ourselves. My hand was perfectly fine, but I could see that Brynn’s was covered, even dripping, with blood. She pulled a handkerchief from the satchel and began wrapping the hand tightly.
“Well that’s never happened before,” she said calmly.
“Are you all right? What happened?” I asked.
“I’m a bit cut up, but I don’t think it’s serious,” she looked over at my unharmed hand thoughtfully.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what I did. What happened?” I repeated.
“It isn’t your fault, I’m sure. Something about the spell wasn’t compatible with your magic,” said Brynn slowly in a tone of uncertainty.
“Was the magic too strong?” It seemed unlikely, but it was the only thing I could think of.
“No,” said Brynn, “I didn’t even finish establishing the connection before it broke, so I don’t think strength had anything to do with it.” She watched a spot of blood slowly seeping through her handkerchief.
“Do you know how to make a poultice?” she asked.
“Yes, and I have all the ingredients, but I can’t get the healing spell to work.”
“Well, we can work on that together, although I’ve never managed that spell either,” Brynn responded.
We went into the kitchen. I mixed up the herbs and water to make the poultice and spread it over Brynn’s palm. She had me recite the healing spell as I worked, but I couldn’t get any magic into it. Brynn said that just the herbs would have to be enough. Then she spent the rest of the morning questioning me about all of the spells I’ve ever tried to perform and what happened when I tried them. She seemed more interested in the spells that failed than the few I succeeded at. I asked her if she tried to use the crystal ball with you, and she said that she had and that the strength she felt behind your magic was the strongest she had ever encountered.
“Did the crystal break for Keish?” I asked.
“No,” said Brynn, “that’s partly why I don’t think what happened to you had anything to do with strength. The connection didn‘t even complete, so the crystal never felt the full force of your magic. What little it did feel, I felt too, and it wasn‘t so strong as Lakeisha‘s.”
I didn’t know what to say. I just sat and stared at my hand, wondering why the crystal shards hadn’t cut it too. Brynn left before lunch but promised to return the next morning after she had thought through what happened that day. It made the day seem long, wondering what was wrong with me that my magic would break a crystal sphere.
December 4th
When Brynn came today she carried the same small satchel and another bag, made of netting and full of oranges. She was dressed in the dark blue wool with a wide white apron.
“Well,” she said matter-of-factly handing me an orange, “shall we begin?”
I looked blankly at the orange. Brynn shook her head at me.
“Hold it out like you did the crystal,” she instructed.
“The orange?” I asked. Brynn sighed.
“Yes, the orange.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked, feeling stupid.
“The same thing I did yesterday, but this should be much safer. No more questions, Arri, just hold it out.”
I held out the orange and closed my eyes so I wouldn’t get juice in my eyes when it splattered. Soon I felt the weight of Brynn’s hand on the top of the orange. Then everything went blank.
“Arri… Arri,” Brynn’s voice broke through my brain. I opened my eyes and found myself lying on the ground, flat on my back with Brynn kneeling over me. She looked worried. I lifted myself onto my elbows and looked around, feeling disoriented.
“Are you all right?” asked Brynn.
“Yes,” I said, looking around, “where‘s the orange?” I shook my head, sitting up.
Brynn laughed, a kind of short bell sound that sobered quickly. She handed me the orange. It was perfectly round and whole.
“I should have know better,” she said finally, “when you rejected the spell the first time I should have left it alone.” She held out her left hand for me to look at. It was the same color as the orange. I looked at my own hand, but it was perfectly normal.
“What happened?” I asked.
Brynn shook her head, all the merriment vanished. She looked grim.
“I don’t know, Arri,” she said finally, “there’s something wrong with your magic. It felt like shredded paper.”
It’s hard to know what to say next, Keish. I guess that’s why I have such a hard time with spells. Maybe I need a healer too.
Prince Tulson left, but not before I got your letter. He said (smiling) to ask you: “What exactly are you implying by saying I should know a lot about mental homes?” The fact is that he doesn’t know much. However, he will make inquiries about healers, and he says that he will inform the King about Father’s illness, and that you’re right, he will want to help.
It’s nice to finally know what your father knows about everything. Maybe he can help us now.
I’m so glad to hear that you are well and that your magic is growing, although it would be better if you could control it. It must have been amazing to tell so many fortunes and know that they were true. Perhaps as your magic grows you will be able to control it better and use it to solve all the mysteries we’ve been finding out about. I wish that Darius had told you more about the book. It seems like we have too many secrets already, but hopefully you’ll get to where you’re going soon and know that you’re there when you get there. I wish you had a griffon to guide you. At least then you’d get there, even if you did have to find your own way back.
I hope Darius finds Marigold if Mendel doesn’t. I’m worried about her.
I will write to Gretel and tell her not to worry about Liop. He’s happier than he’s ever been— no one’s ever let him try out so much magic as you and Gretel did.
I’m at the end of my six sheets of paper again. May good weather continue to be before you.
Love,

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Keish's Letters Home- December 2, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

December 2, 2003
Dearest Father,

I'm so sorry about all of this. Are you angry with me?

I know Brynn has told you everything that's been going on lately, so I won't take the time to repeat it here. I've enchanted this paper, so hopefully it's safe to write this.

We're going into a large village today, to get supplies and post these letters (one for you and one for Gretel and one for Arri). I also have to find something for Jace's birthday-- I completely missed it yesterday. Can you believe that? He's off gathering wood since even magical fires don't cook without it. He hasn't said anything and I don't know if he's realized it or not. I feel awful. It's the first time we've actually been together on his birthday and I forget all about it. It's inexcusable, but I guess most of my behavior lately has been.

I'm sorry I ran off without telling you-- and while you were sick. I'm sorry I didn't take care of you at all. I didn't think whoever's doing this would go after you. They killed Mother and now through my carelessness I almost lost you too. I don't know what I would do.

Things should be safer without me there, but please be careful. It's hard to know who can be trusted. We don't really know who the enemy is.

I miss you, but when all this is over I don't know that I can ever bring myself to live in the castle again. I've met people I want to help, and I can do more living among them than I can at the castle. I'm sure you'll want to discuss all this when I get back, but I'm serious.
I don't have any idea when this will all be over. I hope to be back for your birthday.

Please stay safe. I love you.
Love always,

December 2, 2003
Dear Gretel,

I'm so sorry about everything. I know I've been horrible to you lately. Thank you so much for caring for Father (and Liop). I'm so relieved he's doing better (Father, not Liop). I was so worried.
When I get back you'll have to let me know how I can make all this up to you. I've been such a wretched friend.

We've come to a large village and I decided I will risk posting a couple of letters. I wrote to Father also. He's probably very anxious.

I know Brynn has been telling you what I've told her, so that doesn't leave me with a lot to say. I thought I should write and apologize, though. Can you ever forgive me?

We're getting close to the cave. I can feel it. I have no idea what to do when we get there. I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

I'm sorry you aren't getting to spend more time with Imato. Hopefully things will settle down soon. Do you think you'll get to see him for his birthday? I don't remember what day it is, but I'm pretty sure it's soon.

I'm sure you'll be frustrated not to be able to respond to this. If you wanted to I guess you could send something to Arri and have her send it on to me. I won't expect a response, though.
I have to end now… We need to get supplies today and I need to … never mind, I'll tell you another time.

Love always,

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Keish- December 1, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

December 1-2, 2003
Dear Arri,

It's the middle of the night and I can't sleep.

It was Jace's birthday today. I missed Jace's birthday! We've known each other for 6 ½ years and I've always sent something for his birthday-- now the one year we're together I completely miss it.

He didn't say anything. Honestly, with all the traveling I'm not sure he realized the date. I'll get something tomorrow in the village that we're close to, but I feel awful.

I was 12 the first time Jace came with his father (Master Garen Pren). His father would come at least once a year. I guess viewing conditions are better in Adya for some things. I know Father traveled to Rousha sometimes when I was a child.

Jace was 13 and we wreaked havoc around the castle grounds. (Tearing around at top speed either on or off a horse was one of my favorite pastimes.) We also played tricks on the stable hands. I remember how much fun it was to have a "partner in crime." (I didn't know Gretel yet and didn't really have playmates.) A few months later, for his birthday, I sent him a box like the one I left for Tulson a few months ago-- rice explosion! Inside was a wooden horse. He mentioned the other day that it still sits on his desk. I don't know that his mother liked the rice, but he liked the horse.

He sent me a pretty scarf for my birthday. Wrapped up in it was a note saying his mother picked it out as "a gift appropriate for a young lady." His contribution was a capsule of ink that exploded when I pulled out the note-- splattering an interesting pattern on the scarf. I actually packed the scarf for this journey. It's warm and I'm wearing it now.

He wasn't able to come when his father visited that year, but we had a letter prank war. You wouldn’t believe how many things you can put in letters to explode all over the recipient. I don't think Father really approved, but it kept me from terrorizing the stable hands, so he didn't interfere. Jace's father seemed to find it funny. (Again, not really sure what his mother thought.)
I sent him a nice set of quills for his 15th birthday-- but they were all stuck together. He said it took him two weeks to get them apart. He sent me a bottle of ink that was completely sealed. I still haven't gotten it open.

He came with his father a couple of months later and we caused a scandal by having a mud fight in the courtyard… With Prince Tulson. (I told you there was a major prank war, right? Well, after having several days of more or less everything he touched exploding, Tulson had had it and started throwing mud.) Yeah, it didn’t go over too well. We weren't allowed to leave the tower for the rest of the time he was there. We were 14 and 15 and such behavior was deemed completely inappropriate. It was fun though. And Tulson did start it. Not that anyone believed that.

After a couple of days stuck in the tower we decided we should maybe act a little more mature. We called off the prank war (for the most part). We spent a lot of time reading to each other and making up stories and just talking.

At the end of the summer, he and Taty both came. We rode horses and had picnics. We were very well behaved… for the most part… okay, so there was something about a frog…

I sent him a book for his birthday that year and he sent me one too. It was a volume of poetry. Really interesting stuff about life and philosophy, not the sappy dreadful stuff the young men at court read to young women they fancy. I can't stand that awful sap.

That year Jace was 16 and expected to start taking his studies more seriously, so he couldn't come to visit. We wrote letters and I sent a couple of pranks to lighten things up. I sent him a book of silly poems I had written, all making fun of the love poems at court and court life in general. He said it was a great present.

He sent me a miniature dagger in a jeweled sheath. You’ve seen it-- I use it to open letters. He said he'd have sent a real dagger if he thought he could get away with it, but he thought someone would ask questions.

I didn't get to see him that year either. I was lonely and we wrote lots and lots of letters about our studies and court like and all the things we wished we could change. I remember telling him about all the things I wanted to do-- acting with a theater company, writing plays, archery, stuff like that. He told me about wanting to live in the country. I got him thinking about acting and he thought that would be fun , too. You should see him when we go into these villages to tell fortunes-- he's a natural, almost as dramatic as I am. He introduces me and lines up potential customers, gets people excited. It's been fun, really.

Anyway, I sent him an amazing carving of a dragon-- it was his 18th birthday and the intricate dragon was perfect. (December is the month of the Dragon, after all.) We hadn't seen each other in almost 2 ½ years, but he was pretty much my best friend. Outside of family members he was definitely my best friend.

He surprised me by showing up for my 17th birthday. He brought me the dagger that he had talked about the year before. It is a beautiful, elegant piece. I've kept it put away, even my father would object to a young woman owning such a weapon. I have it with me-- put away and enchanted to look like a simpler knife. It's comforting, but it's almost more comforting because it's from Jace. I know he would protect me if anything were to happen. I probably wouldn't end up needing the dagger.

Jace was able to take a break from his studies for a few months and visited several times that year. We spent hours riding in the forest north of Adya. Jace went with Gretel and I into the city. We all dressed as peasants for the market days.

Once we took a picnic to the sea. It was a wonderful day. We waded in the surf and collected sea shells. I love walking barefoot through the waves. It was one of those perfect days-- the kind you want to never end. We ended up watching the sun sink into the sea and got back to the castle really late. We tried to sneak back in, but of course our fathers were up and noticed. We were taken into separate rooms and lectured by our respective fathers.

I think it's about the only time Father's ever really lectured me-- usually we debate. That night he went on and on about the dangers of making such a journey through the woods and such at night. "Why if you had run into robbers or bandits…" he started.

"Jace would have protected me," I interjected. "He's a very good swordsman."

"But he's only one man," Father started again.

"Then I should learn archery," I suggested. "That way I could help."

He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. (I was probably being a bit silly, I was getting quite tired.)
"That is not appropriate," he huffed. "And another thing-- how could you go off like that without a chaperone?"

Now I looked at him as though he'd lost his mind. "Why would we have a chaperone?" This caught me totally off guard-- I was honestly baffled.

"It is not appropriate for a young man and a young lady to go off for the whole day-- let alone half the night-- without a chaperone!"

I had never seen him so worked up about something like this. "But it was Jace," I responded. In my mind it explained everything. Jace and I were friends-- we had been off riding alone before, why would we take a chaperone now?

I think Father realized I was completely confused. He almost seemed disappointed, but I wasn't sure why. He sent me to bed.

The next day Jace said he got a similar lecture-- very heavy on the subject of not having a chaperone. When I expressed my confusion to him he seemed almost disappointed too and didn't
pursue it.

"I have to leave first thing tomorrow," he said. "My father's decided I've taken enough of a break."

I immediately forgot about everything else-- even trying to figure out what I had said that had disappointed him. "Tomorrow? Can't you stay just a few more days?"

He shook his head sadly. "I had to argue just to stay today. I never argue with my father-- you're a bad influence," he said, lightly hitting my arm.

I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but we were both pretty sober all morning.

In the afternoon, we decided to make the most of his last evening and snuck out into Adya. We watched a theater company perform in the square and later we acted out our favorite parts in the tower library. I think we stayed up most of the night.

He left early the next morning in spite of the late night. It was the very end of summer and the morning was beautiful. I couldn't enjoy it, though. I spent the rest of the day shut up in my room. Jace's father was still with us-- he felt bad and came to talk to me. He said he was sorry for sending Jace away but that Jace really did need to get back to his studies and his mathematics tutor was available again. He said it would be hard for Jace to break away for a while, but that as soon as he could he would certainly be allowed to come back to visit.

A few months later, I managed to find a mask from the play we'd seen and sent it to him for his birthday. He sent me a book of plays that included the one we'd seen. I still don't know how he managed to get it-- they're very rare.

Jace didn't get to visit again until the end of this last summer. I wrote to you about it, remember? We spent a lot of time just talking and riding. I think Taty might have gotten bored with us.

And now here we are. Off on our own, except this time it's not a picnic on the beach. I wonder what our fathers think now. It's not like we could have brought a chaperone, though. Taty sent to their parents so that they wouldn’t worry. Jace says that being from Rousha they're used to hearing stories of Brio adventures and so his parents won't be too concerned. I hope they aren't. Jace has sent a couple of letters to Taty and one to his parents-- with enchantments to keep them from being suspicious-- so they know he's safe.

I guess I should stop rambling and sleep. I can't figure out what to do for Jace's birthday. My options will certainly be limited, even if it is a large village. I'll try to find something and then do something to make up for it when we get back to Adya.

Speaking of birthdays, isn't Imato's soon? Father's is next month-- I hope I can be there for it; I'm getting tired of this adventure. After all this, I'm not sure I ever want to live in the castle again, but I do miss my father. (And my nice soft bed…. And other conveniences…. I guess if I don't want to live there again I'll have to get used to going without some things)

I'd best sleep-- we probably won't really travel tomorrow since we need to replenish our supplies, but I still need rest. Besides, I've been using magic for light and heat this whole time-- I should probably stop. I had things so under control for the first part of our journey but now I can't seem to not use magic-- again. We just have to hope that the Narls don't notice. I don't know if they can detect it or not.

Do you ever look back over a letter and realize things you've not noticed before? I noticed a couple of things looking back over this. One thing I find interesting is that I'd never told you most of this before. I've mentioned Jace to you, but never said a lot. Even when I wrote to you in September I think all I said was that Jace and Taty had visited and I couldn't remember if you'd known Taty in Rousha. I think maybe I also ranted about not wanting our parents to arrange a marriage between us. I don't want a marriage arranged for me at all-- I want to be allowed to fall in love and make my own match. I think somehow that kind of arrangement takes away from the relationship, even if you like each other a lot.

I also realized that with all my grand ideas and all the things I talk about wanting to do, the trip to Odsreq for your birthday is probably the furthest from home I'd ever traveled until now. I never even visited Jace in Rousha. Somehow that makes me sad. When all this is over, I really should go to Rousha and let Jace show me around and everything. (Could be a good opportunity for some more pranks on Tulson too.)

Now I really need to sleep. I'm going to need to be on top of things to find something for Jace tomorrow.

Thanks for "listening"
Love always,
　

Oh, I forgot! Brynn said the other night that the castle gossip says that the prince is getting married! You remember the one that wanted me to sit for portraits? With Gretel's help I had finally gotten one of the other girls in his path (Vanessa) and apparently they're betrothed!

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Keish- November 30, 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Britt) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

November 30, 2003
Dear Arri,

I'm sorry your feet are so sore-- I have leather peasant boots that are quite sturdy. Jace and I decided that we must dress as commonly as possible so as not to draw suspicion. Brynn helped us get what we needed. There haven't been many real roads for a while now. We were just following forest trails-- now we cut across fields or follow the farm paths.

Tell Imato you'll adventure as much as you please. I have a feeling this really isn't over yet, so you may have the chance to get used to it. I am glad you've arrived safely.

It was very good of Uncle W. and Imato to include you when the doctor explained things. You had every right to be included, of course, it's just not something those two tend to remember or acknowledge.

A long-term committal? Would they allow you to bring in a healer? Your father must be seen by one. I know that Uncle W. and Imato are dismissive, but I keep having this feeling that it's terribly important. I've even dreamt about it.

Last night, after reading your letter, I dreamt of your father. He spoke to me-- told me that while the doctors would do no harm, a healer must be called for, preferably one with a background in magic similar to your mother's. That's what he told me. I fear his memory loss may not be strictly due to head trauma. I know Uncle W. especially will not like the idea that there's magic involved, but we can't ignore it, especially considering the circumstances.

Is Tulson still around? Because you should really probably ask him about the mental house. He should know more about it and may know about getting a healer involved. Jace says he's never heard of them working with a healer, but he's not sure if that's because they won't or simply because there are so few. He does say, though, that the doctor there is one that the king himself relies upon, so he must be a good physician. But your father didn't ask for a physician in my dream, and Jace points out that a physician is not a healer in the sense we need, no matter how good he is or who he's connected with.

I know Uncle W. doesn't want help paying for things, but you may want to suggest to him that because of your father's position, the king has every right to be involved and may be upset if he's left out of things. Jace says he's the kind of man who feels a responsibility to men like your father and would insist upon it-- and it's not like you're going to be able to keep all this a secret from the king.

One possibility has occurred to me. If Brynn brings Liop to you, she could help. She has the background in magic, certainly. Communicating with her last night, she insisted that she's not really a healer in the sense I mean, in the sense that your mother was, but she would be willing to do what she could. Actually, she said that if she could work with you to develop your skills, you could perhaps be the healer we need. Just something to think about. She of course can bring Liop to you, but it would be best if they were sent for, since people may ask difficult questions otherwise. We wouldn't want to try to explain to people who she was communicating with, let alone how. Gretel's mother would absolutely not stand for her doing it, but Father is doing better and she can tend to him. Brynn promised to speak with him today, so perhaps I will talk with her tonight before sending this off. (Jace laughs when I say I will talk to Brynn, as if I were going over for a visit or something.)

Speaking of laughter, Mendel's letter made me laugh! (Jace says it's good to hear me laugh again. Traveling has improved my mood and I've been able to break through some of the gloom.) Mendel must have been worried Imato or someone might read it. (Though Imato really should know better-- would he like you to read his mail? Honestly.) Though, can I ask why Imato doesn't think Mendel a worthy suitor? I mean, he's the prince's cousin-- I would have though Imato would like you to find someone in such a position to marry. (I'm not saying I think you should marry Mendel, I don't know him. I'm just surprised at Imato's reaction.)

I also find it really funny that people thought that you and Tulson had eloped! That's great! You've got to tell him- he'll love it! Hmm, maybe it will give him ideas… Just teasing. (Though that could be a good match too.) Sorry, I can't help it, it's all too funny. (See, I told you I'd broken through some of the gloom… I'm being mischievous.) I suppose it'll be interesting when I finally get back to the castle to hear what everyone thought. Of course, they must think that Jace and I have eloped. I wonder if they'll be disappointed.

If we ever get back. I mean, surely we will, but it seems like this is going to go on forever. We're getting close to the Midaeans, but what do we do once we get there? And where do we go next? There are so many unanswered questions-- it feels like it will take a lifetime to sort everything out. (Sorry, I've broken through some of the gloom, but not quite all of it. Sometimes my emotions are on a roller coaster.)

Perhaps Marigold is headed in the same direction we are. I don't know how fairies find their way to the cave. Maybe they don't; maybe fairies like Darius seek them out and bring them back. That cave is pretty far east, so I don't know that Marigold would be drifting that far. I feel like we're approaching a convergence of sorts, a center of power, but I don't know if it centers in a place or a group of people. I suppose, considering the prophecy about a convergence of power, that it could center on just one person, but that child wasn't born. Maybe it means our paths will all cross.

I don't know. I guess I'm rambling again. I'm good at that. I wish I had something more interesting to tell you, but nothing interesting has happened. Maybe something will happen today. I will put this away for now so that we can start out and write more later.

Something interesting did happen today. Actually, we're debating what it means… and if it's a good sign or not. I've told you we make our way telling fortunes-- well we came to a town of sorts today and were plying our "trade". Usually I just act dramatic and make some broad statement that would be true for anyone, but today I couldn't. The magic took over and I gave real fortunes-- real divination. I tried to stop it, causing me to hesitate with each new person, but I couldn't control it. I've been trying so hard not to use magic. I've not wanted to draw attention to us, though I don't think anyone from the palace would look here and I don't believe there are any Narls in this part of the country. Still, though, I've kept it to little things like preserving our food or making it stretch a little further. Little things.

I don't know what happened today. We caused a stir, though. We couldn't turn the people away, and everyone in the town wanted a fortune told. We declined the offers to stay the night, however, just in case. We put as much distance between us and the people as we could. It's quite late now, since we had to push hard, and I am writing by a magical light while Jace watches, looking worried. I cannot sleep, though, until I write more. Again, I can't seem to help the use of magic.

I had been doing so well, too. I know Gretel told you about the last days I was at the castle and how I wasn't always able to control it, but since leaving I had been doing well. Suddenly the power is growing quickly again. If I cannot control it we shall just have to hope that all will be well. This attitude does not comfort Jace, but I feel calm, much more so than I should, I'm sure, but I can't seem to help that either.

Don't worry, though. We are close to the mountains now. I can feel it. The caves are close.

Dec. 1st

I was finally able to sleep and I spoke with Brynn. This was a difference too, for it was not as draining as it has been up to this point. Anyway, we discussed so much, I don't know where to start. It seems so odd to finally have Father know everything.

First- the Narls. It seems they are a group bent on possessing magic-- generally by stealing it from others. Father says, and Brynn confirms, that the Brio family's magic is strong enough to be a very coveted prize. I think that may be part of what Uncle W. meant about them not realizing your importance. They wanted you to persuade him to part with his magic-- they didn't realize you have your own. Someone in the castle, one of King Menion's advisors or something, must be involved with them. Other than that, I don't know. Brynn admits that she spent some time trying to find out more about them, before she came to teach me, but has been unable to learn much. They are a very closed society.

About Brynn's prophecy, and a possible older prophecy, etc.-- Father puts it all together as a Brio child will bring together the Brio powers to conquer some evil that threatens the kingdoms. Clearly this evil seems to be the Narls, or at least associated with them. Bringing together the powers must mean a cooperative effort of sorts, for it doesn't seem that there's any indication that all of the powers will be centered in one child. I think the Narls misunderstand this part.

About the cave Uncle W. talked about in his letter, that my mother suggested- Father says that Mother thought that the lioness would protect us if something happened. I guess Mother said that it would be the best place for one of us to go if or when the trouble indicated in the omen started. (Okay, so just for clarification, since I'm not sure I'm keeping this straight-- there's the old prophecy of a Brio child, etc… the omen my mother discovered 10 years ago was a sign that it would soon come to pass and then Brynn's prophecy was that the cycle was closing, etc etc.) I wonder if the book Darius gave me is the key to all of this. (I still don't know what it is. No spell seems to work. I did have a vision though, the other night as I held it, of myself reading from it. I was in a cave and there were other people around me. Maybe I just have to wait until that time comes.)

Father is still very tired, so I told Brynn not to bother him about Marigold. He did mention, though, that Mother always liked having a fairy around, first Brynn, and then Pricille (both house fairies-- which Brynn confirms are those that choose to leave the ring for whatever reason but retain enough memory to be comfortable in our world). Brynn just sort of appeared at the castle just after my parents started courting (as you know, my mother had traveled to Arella to study with the old astrologist, mostly out of a sort of boredom, I think. A restlessness that I seem to have inherited.) Anyway, Brynn taught my mother, though Mother's powers were already rather developed. I'm rambling again, aren't I?

About my father's letter to Uncle W., which Uncle mentioned-- Father thought that perhaps the family member to be found was Pricille's child. (Distant cousins, remember). He never quite believed that the child was dead and thought perhaps that would solve the whole mystery. He admits that this was wishful thinking as he wanted the consequences to be at a distance from all of us. Obviously, the boy would not be a Brio child, but Father convinced himself that it could be. He and Uncle Winthrop disagree mainly because Father thinks the whole thing is important, just doesn't necessarily want me (or you or Imato or Liop) all that terribly involved. He seems to almost hope that it will all go away if he continues to ignore it. Uncle W. on the other hand, thinks the world is on it's own and that our family has given quite enough. (You'll have to ask him what exactly that means…. Though keep in mind, this is from Father's point of view, so it may not be exactly what Uncle W. thinks.) They disagree on the politics, so to speak. Neither of them really wants us involved and each in his own way has been avoiding dealing with any of it or telling any of us anything. Father at least realizes that this was foolish-- that we are involved whether we like it or not and that we should have been told more sooner. He says Uncle W. should be telling you everything, but I don't know if Uncle will agree. As much as they like each other, they don't seem to see eye to eye-- Father used a couple of interesting phrases…. I think camel-minded was one of them. (Just for the record, I've always found that to be an excellent phrase. I used to use it nearly every day. What would Imato say to that?!)

I think that's really about everything Father had to say. He is getting much stronger, and though he's very worried about me he knows I really couldn't have done anything differently.

Oh, Brynn did say that Gretel is suddenly nervous about how she's been caring for Liop! She's worried that she was presumptuous and took too many liberties making decisions that should have been yours or Imato's or something. She's all flustered about it. She told Brynn that I have to tell you she's very sorry. I think she's worried she crossed the line somehow. She's too nervous to write you herself.

I must close. We're not getting any snow, but it is getting cooler. It's still comfortable though.
Keep safe, but don't let that stop you from living.
Love always
　

Oh, by the way, tell Imato that he'd better write to Gretel. Brynn says she's not heard from him in many days and is getting anxious (probably part of the concern over her treatment of Liop). If he sends for Brynn and Liop and doesn't write to her she's liable to come bash his camel-minded head. (Yep, I said it again… I do like military slang.)