Fall/Winter 451 TE on the road to Sencankarr.
Delays! That is all we have had on our way back home! We were only four days into our journey when we ran into our first one. In the distance we saw smoke raising which turned out to be the remains of a merchant caravan. It appeared that some great force had overturned wagons and crushed them to pieces and piled all the bodies in a great mound to burn them. We found a young man under one of the wagons, Laran, who had set out for Cheykor with his sister Kjanle in the hopes of making a new life for themselves on the Marches of the Cheyth. Tanurendal did his best to search the pile of bodies for Laran’s sister, who happened to be wearing a gold bracelet that had two dolphins gracefully forming the band. He had no success, but we were able to count the bodies and came up one short which gave Laran hope that his sister might still be alive.
We spent two more days searching for Kjanle. I secretly was against spending so much time in the search. It was only delaying me from getting back to see my Talarja and saving her from her mother and Neras Garini. Turning up no clue as to her whereabouts, we headed to Ralakarr where Laran hoped the governor would help by sending the garrison in search of his sister. I thought we should have gone to him in the first place so we could be on our way, but after having met the governor for myself, I see that it would have been useless.
We had been on the road for nine days total when we reached Ralakarr. It could have been seven. We stayed at the Crossed Candles, where we heard of a tale of some minors who had broken into a “cyst” in the ground and unleashed some sort of pestilence that killed them all. Only one of the men survived to tell the tale before he too died. While listening to this story, some of the governor’s guard came and began asking questions before asking Laran to come with them to answer some more questions about the caravan at the governor’s palace. Reiana and Tengelbur, who had met the governor before, both decided to accompany Laran. I felt something was off and had Tanurendal join me in following the group.
I believe Reiana and Tengelbur had some trouble getting in-- I was too far away to hear any of the conversation-- but at last they went in. I approached the gate with Tanurendal following. I spoke to the gatekeeper, a man called Verekan, and told him I had come from the Royal Library at Sencankarr for the yearly inspection of the governor’s library. He then went to get the librarian himself to verify this information.
The librarian was an old man named Neryaleth. He seemed gravely insulted that I would be here to inspect his library. As he sung the praises of his work at the library and why it did not need to be inspected, I was overcome by the strong desire to see it myself. It took a little convincing to make him realize I genuinely wanted to see his work, but he let us in.
We left Tanurendal outside the library, which gave him the opportunity to sneak around. I found the state of the library to be everything Neryaleth had boasted. He did an excellent job given the resources available to him. It would seem the library is not high on the governor’s priority list. It is really a shame. I am going to put a good word in for Neryaleth at the Royal Library. Perhaps something could be done for him. Maybe we could send him some ink….
I had asked Neryaleth if he had a favorite story, though I thought I already had a good idea. There were several copies of “The Wooing of Kanle” on his shelves. My guess had been right. At some point he made some comment about the wooing of women, and this instantly made me feel uncomfortable. He mentioned how he himself had a few notches in his quill, and I had to admit I had mine also. I feel people as a rule do not think of us scholars as being particularly of the romantic type, but we can be rather charming. Neryaleth then offered to read “The Wooing of Kanle” to me. How could I refuse? The poor man seemed so lonely.
The evening dragged on, and though I was enjoying myself for the most part, I knew I needed to get back to my friends. I finally made my excuses, though it was hard to decline taking my dinner with the old man. I do think he took a liking to me.
On my way down the hall, I suddenly found myself grabbed from either side by a guard, and I was escorted into the banquet room where my eyes were assaulted by the repulsive thing I believe I have ever seem in my life! Governor Neratsoan. He was the largest man I had ever seen. Not in height, but from side to side. He was enormous. I wish I had had my paper and pencil on me so I could sketch him to show my friends at the library. I do think they would all find it most interesting.
At this point I was still clueless as to what was going on, but Tangelbur was standing with his sword to the governor’s throat and making demands. Apparently Laran had claimed we had been the ones to ambush the caravan. He had been told to do so and testify in court if he wanted his sister to live. Tangelbur was overtaken when the governor batted him with one of his arms. At least I believe it was an arm. We were then all taken and locked up.
In the cell there was a trapped door that Reiana managed to open. Unfortunately, it was a waste chute for the palace, and the cell was flooded with all manner of unpleasant things. We did our best to climb on the iron bars to get out of it. My cloak that mother made me still smells of it. I have washed it at every stop along the way. I fear I shall have to burn it.
Thauthenai, the governor’s lady, came to the cell and made a deal with us. If we told her why we were really going to Sencankarr, then she would help us escape and find Laran’s sister. I truthfully told her why I was going. I had to go for a wedding. I did leave out that I was going to stop it. Tangelbur also claimed to be going for his sister’s wedding. Finally, Reiana told her our mission and she seemed satisfied. We were to make our escape in on hour when the guard changed.
In that long hour, Reiana asked me if I had someone at home. I told her I naturally had family. But she meant a lady. I did my best to brush aside the topic since Tangelbur stood less than three feet from me. He seemed to think I had a hard time with ladies and that one day I would find one to love. I must admit I found this amusing.
We made our escape and went to the house where Thauthenai told us we could find Kanle. As we approached, the overwhelming stench of mice castings and decaying bodies filled our nostrils. Tangelbur was able to get her attention through a window, and she made an excuse to the guard that she needed to relieve herself. He let her go out on her own, and we took her with us to meet with her brother. Then we left the city right away and bought horses in a nearby village.
We still have a long way to go before we reach Sencankarr. The nights grow colder as well. We cannot get there fast enough. I am impatient to see my lovely Talarja and hold her in my arm. Hopefully we will not run into anymore delays on our journey.
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