In Savir now.
I actually rather love it. Noticeably warmer than Lithmore, even if it’s not a tremendous change. Rolling plains with hills and valleys on the mountainous side, picturesque country.
The people are partially Farin-blooded, and so I don’t at all look amiss here; indeed, I look almost more like them than I look like other Tubori, with the darkness of my skin. I could have easily been born here, at least at a glance.
I speak enough Farin so as not to be caught out when they casually throw a word of it into their speech, too, though I can’t follow the street children’s pidgin chatter yet. I intend to take the time to learn.
And there are more things I don’t feel it’s safe to talk about in detail, not even here. You never know who might manage to steal your journal and break your elaborate, frequently-altered cipher, huh? So tired of hiding the best part of my life. Very soon now it will have been a year since I was raised to nobility. Isn’t that long enough? Ugh, let it go, Ari. You’re happy, even if you have to keep your happiness quiet.
Enough of that. Were I here at a better time, I might be loving every moment of it. But the events happening back in Lithmore preoccupy me, weighing so heavily on my heart.
Such misery and misfortune for Lien – it isn’t fair. I feel the weight of my obligations, the cost of my title, more than ever. I have to acquaint myself with the area and its business, speak to all of my stewards, put Castle Torem to rights; I can’t just run back to comfort her.
But my work here is drawing to a close, as I’ve packed it all into as little time as I could manage. I think very soon now we can set off on our way back to Lithmore City.
Part of me is angry that I can’t even get a month’s vacation without things going wrong. (Angry at the world in general, not Lien.) But it is outweighed by the part of me that is worried about her, that wishes to make it right.
Perhaps I’ve grown up a little. Can’t say I’ve grown up all the way until I finally get over having to keep my secrets.
