A very different Arin and a very different Raisse– not a journeyman butcher in Valdis reporting to the queen, but a Guild runner in Turenay (well, currently in Veray) reporting to the head of the Guild. Eirein Arin astin Hayan to Hallei Raisse in Turenay Dear Raisse, This time I’ll put my report in writing to make doubly sure that I don’t forget anything. I’ll be staying on for a few days to test my theories. I arrived in Veray at the tail-end of the wine fair, the cellar clearance. I should have known, of course, but I was so occupied with my assignment that I had barely noticed the time of year. It was convenient, because there were still many people left in town talking to merchants, waiting for the best deal or just staying to enjoy themselves, and someone going around asking questions wasn’t very remarkable. I did in fact buy some wine at the cellar clearance, a merchant’s last lot of four small barrels of pretty decent East Mill that needs finishing this year; one for us, one for Father and Mother, and two for Grandmother. I don’t know whether, after I left, the man got another […]

This young man is serious. Nicely different voice from Aidan’s! Note: Khora spells ‘Kheti’ and Aidan spells ‘Cora’, but Arin’s spellings are actually correct (or, at least, most true to the original). ‘Albetire’ and ‘Albatire’ are valid variants. Eirein Arin astin Hayan, in Turenay, to Rythei Jeran astin Hayan, probably in Valdis. Dear Father, Mother says to write to you, though she knows what you will say. Would you please give me your permission to ask Keti, a Síthi girl from Sarabal who is in the first year at school, to accept my hand in marriage? Not that I can give it to her yet, of course: she has three years and a season to go, and Orian is taking me on a training expedition right after the Feast of Timoine. I expect that I’ll see you before then, but I’m writing anyway, not the least to put my thoughts in order. Keti has been at the school since the beginning of the term, but I hadn’t really noticed her until two other foreign girls arrived, first Ebru from the Plains –Reshan sent her– and soon after Khora from Iss-Peran, a very young noble widow sent by Athal and Raisse […]