Lien le Storm

Date: Lunisda, June 1 354

Lien,

I don’t know. I just don’t know.

I can’t be your guardian and just… Ignore the things that’ll get you
into trouble. As it is I’ve ignored more and more of them lately just
because I don’t have the strength to fight over them again, but if anything
you’ve chafed more at my comments, seemed to feel I’ve been harsher and
harsher.

I’m not trying to punish you for that letter, but I can’t unread it. -Can-
anything fix this? If I can’t just let go of the desire to see you acting
as befits your station, are you able to fix the behaviors that bother me?
I mean, are you at all willing (in public) to wear long skirts and to watch
your words a little more closely?

And don’t think I’m not aware how much shorter that list has gotten than it
might have been a few months ago – I am, and I’m proud of you for it, I
truly am. But that’s the hell of these things, it’s a baseline that’s
expected, and failure to meet it can do all sorts of quiet damages to your
life and happiness… And to your lands.

It’s not as if you’re the only one who’d have to change. I’m willing to
negotiate. I hate being the bad guy who lectures at you all the time,
anyway. I’m sure there are some ways in which I could be looser without
actually compromising the basic idea of keeping you safe.

But we have to know if we can do this or not.

-Ari

This note is much more hastily written, the scrawl barely legible in
some places.)

Ari-

The Tubori sun. How can you not miss it? Are not the seas bluer? The
wines sweeter? The salt breeze more enticing? Do you not miss the
dancing, the freedom, the calmness, the siestas, the feasts and the
festivals. How can you stand Lithmore after this?

Lieny

Date: Lunisda, June 1 354

Lien,

Paradise is hell if you’re poor, and hell paradise if you’re rich.

-Ari

Ari-

Help. Sien is back. Warn Jei.

Lieny

(The writing has been hastily scratched on the parchment, which is torn and
stained with sea water)

Date: Solisda, June 2 354

Lien,

What do you mean, ‘Sien is back’? Do you mean in Tubor or in Lithmore? If
the latter, how do you know? Could you please give me a little more
information? And why was your letter so short?

-Ari

Ari,

She is in Lithmore. She wrote to me to tell me so. Pretending to be me
again. She urges me to give up and stop being Lien. Sorry letter was
short. Wanted to send off word quickly and I was a little.. Hungover.
Wild night. Wedding. Not thinking clearly. Still not yet. As soon as I
am able to, I will ride to Ducal Seat and book passage on the next ship
home.

Love
Lieny

Dear Ari,

I’m seabound for Sartez now, and have been for a couple of days. I feel
like I’ve been travelling for months, when in truth it has just been a few
weeks. I pray to the Lord of Springs that the winds favour us and we
return swiftly. And after that, if I can find one to rent, I might risk
travel on horseback if it will see me back faster.

Know, no matter how much I argue, no matter how much we disagree, or fight,
no matter how much we butt heads over the most innane things, I still love
you.

We will sort this out.

Love
Lieny

Dear Ari,

I’ve not heard from you in a few days. I do not know what that means,
if you are unhappy that I am returning? Do you not wish to be family
anymore? Do I have a home to come home to at this point? Should I of
stayed in Tubor?

I’m on the road now, bound for Lithmore. I wasn’t able to get a horse,
but was able to, for a hefty sum, pay for a carriage taking a direct
route without pause. It should not be long now. A couple of days at
most.

I love you.
Lieny