14th day of Orupeim, in the year 451 of the Third Eon
My dear Vanera,
I hope this letter finds you in a better temperament than I left you. Even though our parting was bitter and filled with many a harsh word, you are still dear to me and that is the reason which compels me to write this letter. I shall try to keep it short knowing that you are unlikely to read it otherwise.
As you know I headed out to seek my own fortune, the reason being--well you already know the reason. I found myself in the North, in the town of Karet Cheykor to be exact, two days ago. I was approached by Lt. Samlon. He is the right-hand man and aide-de-camp of Sir Ralus, commander of the River Forts. I must say he is not unpleasant to look at.
Apparently one of the River Forts, Hural Yalir, has been rather low on supplies of late due to the winter and raids by the Nalshbori. Since the river has been rather swollen this time of year, the idea of taking them supplies by boat was unthinkable. So, they sent them supplies by land, only they never made it. Then, Sir Ralus himself sent another load that was ambushed and only two men survived (more on them later).
Sir Ralus is now raising a group to go as escort for the next shipment, and the payment for it (should I not die first) is nothing to turn your nose up at. So, I agreed to go.
Today I met the rest of my soon to be companions. You see, when I first arrived in Cheyker I met a man named Tanurendal at the Cracked Beaker. He was with me when Lt. Samlon made the offer. But before I explain any more let me back up. You know that I’ve come in search of treasure, so I thought that since there are tombs of the Stone Kings in this area, that perhaps it would benefit me to investigate them. I stopped at the Norinlakor to see what documentation there might be that would help me and met the scribe who works there. His name is Palfeinan the Scholar, a strange man who seems obsessed with his work. Although I really don’t know how he can do his job properly. First, the building is very small and simply filled with parchments and books. Second, he thinks he has some type of organization system that might have something to do with the calendar? I really could not figure it out and found myself flustered when he asked me to help by carrying books in a circle for him.
Well, all that to say, I couldn’t get the book I wanted until that evening because it was in Autumn. As I was coming out of the dusty building, my eyes lighted on Tanurendal who seemed to be interrogating a group of well-armed individuals. I stepped up to the group sensing that things would become hostile if I didn’t step in and smooth things over and suggested that we all get drinks at the Cracked Beaker. Perhaps the fact that I mentioned that Tanurendal would pay for drinks all around helped.
While at the tavern, Lt. Samlon approached the newly arrived group and extended an invitation to all of us to sup with him. We all joined him, and he made the offer to the rest of the group to join us in guarding the caravan. Lt. Samlon told us where we could find the two survivors of the second caravan and we went to ask them questions about the attack.
We found the two survivors Thorinta and Verekan in the Market square talking to what looked to be identical twins. We approached them and I, being the fairest of speech and looks, was voted the spokeswoman. I must say Thorinta seemed to be quite charmed with me and spoke rather freely about the ambush. How much of it was truth, I know not. I fear most of it was boasting, but when relaying the accounts of battle to a lovely lady what else can a man do? When asked why they wanted to return as the drivers for the caravan, Thorinta said for vengeance, but something about it does not feel right.
This letter has been far longer than I intended, and perhaps you will never finish reading it. Farwell, brother. I hope to see you again.
Hasanyah
P.S. I have included a copy of the parchment I copied from the parchment on the Stone Kings. Please read it and improve your mind.
By Hope/Hasanyah
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