Sister;
If it pleases you, I ask that you receive these visitors as you would if I
myself had come to you with my own Hand. These innocents have much to
recommend them, and I speak for them as long as they do allow me.
Your eyes and heart may recognize the similarity of siblings in the four
Fingers of this Hand, and you would not be mistaken. These are the later
children of Rilea, introduced in order of age: Ryndall the strong,
Marcellus the pious, Mestea called Misty by her brothers (perhaps for her
attempt at a mysterious nature), and the youngest is curious Uscar.
These four emerged from the grove of Rilea this year, at her discretion.
The siblings were met nearly at once by my smallest hand, but regrettably
only after travelling a number of days with neither the wisdom of the Quaal
ancestors nor the guidance of Rilea! Although Ryndall has now the Swan of
Lorien, as well as the Mark of Quall given by me to his name, it was the
wisdom of his six score years alone which delivered his group to my hand.
I recommend the wisdom of our ancestors pass to these siblings. Nell has
nurtured Ryndall in the ways of the Quaal forests which were seeded by no
less than those known as the Hand of Orion. My priest Pius Luck has found
Marcellus an apt pupil, if remarkably ignorant of much of our ways (which
has taught Beryl a measure of humility--much past due I must observe!).
Brendan teaches Mestea a certain line of study begun by one of our own,
Foresh, who had some time ago left the wisdom of the Quaal ancestors behind
for the riches of the cities. And while Rilea seeded her youngest two with
her mage's gifts, Misty takes after Brendan and Uscar is very much kin to
Void, who you might recall from a crossing of your own path some six
decades past during the time of the death speaker (Void was the young lady
who spoke directly to you about destroying the scrolls without study!). The
sibling children of Rilea are worthy receptacles of much wisdom of the
elders.
These children of Rilea have seen but eleven decades, and I think they
shall see that same amount more if they do not conspire to visit Nolerak
immediately. I speak for them, and they listen to the Quaal ancestors, but
they may be bold at times enough to speak their own minds. Please do not
hold their ignorant words against them. Do not forget they are not of the
Quaal or Swan, but children of Rilea, and we have seen only one such child
before.
-
The Thumb, Dor Shall, had the pleasure of meeting Rilea's children before
they were introduced to the Hand I had sent as their first discovery.
Dor Shall comes to you through Quaal but born a neighbor, from Brein, with
no less qualification than being receptable of the teachings of honored
Thorizen. But prepare yourself to have a serious discussion with this young
Bladesinger. It is with heavy heart that Dor Shall displayed to me his
burden includes the Midnight Sword, for his teacher sings no more. Yes, it
is so; my seer Coriander assures me that she has seen with her own sorcery
Thorizen's act of giving up the Midnight Sword to Dor Shall's care. We have
sorrow.
Dor Shall will have come to you through Fernan Solar, for I have given D. a
letter of introduction for her, also. I granted Quaal's young Bladesinger
leave to take up Thorizen's burden, and recommmended the wisdom of the
Quaal be shared with this young Dor Shall. I have no expectation that F.'s
teacher will appear after so long an absence. It is fitting that the
Midnight Sword once again dance next to the Oaken Sword. Ah! Would I only
have the leave from my duties to see this happen under the Sun of Nolerak!
Perhaps after consideration of this entire letter you could share
information with Mikael; it may be that he would grant these two young
Bladesingers the presence of the Ivory Sword of the Swan for a lesson.
If time and events permitted, I certainly would have come myself to deliver
my greetings as well as a personal obersavtions about these guests.
Unfortunately, recent times have conspired to produce many strange events
throughout the forests which our beloved Nolerak has left in my care. I
have been utterly distracted from hosting these new visitors now before
you, because of the events I am about to relate.
In the last moons, no fewer than twenty hands have returned and reported
interactions with the Traveller's kav elfars! There have been visits by
kethi from as far as Braith holdfast, as well as a numerous recent meetings
with our mutual neighbors the Glowstone. Apparently the Braith have
accepted a Black Decade mentioning a certain heir of one outrider village,
a small enclave just recently visited by Anaka tribe Orcs on their journey
to and from Bird Keep, where they collected souvenirs and retreated swiftly
to the sea. Lorien has seen the village in question, and no doubt has
pondered the lessons contained therein.
It is fortunate that Grisnok's people were offended by the Anakan
Pellinese, for Grishnok himself came from the desert leading his people
displayed openly in numbers such as could be counted on at least 50 hands,
The two-eyes had their vision set south where they took passage on
Phoenician vessels, presumably towards Josten Port itself. You may recall
that Grishnok and Rilea are well aquainted.
One of my smallest hands has also reported activity in the vicinity of
Rilea's home, about the time of her children's departure. Damon Maker's
gargoyles appear to be flying nights, perhaps searching for a lost comrade
or surviver of a raid. Other strange and wonderous events are occurring at
the moment, but I refuse to bore you with details when your own concerns
are no doubt able to distract you as these concerns plague my attention.
-
If you have time in the next days or nights, I shall ask of you the trivial
favor that you turn to your famous library and examine certain records of
the past. Rude as it may be, I have an insatiable curiousity, as you well
know, and recent events have given me cause to have need of and call upon
your vast written resources. If you could find a generosity of spirit which
allows you to examine the histories on my behalf, I have no doubt at all
that some moments in repose and research would immediately serve you as
well as myself.
The legends of ta'veren, the dreamers, concern me. It causes me interest to
know that there may possibly exist persons in these forests who at once can
learn from dreams as well as people who cause the world to change in
exercising their simplest desires. My meagre memory delivers to me a belief
that there are two styles of dreamer, the Iahklu, or "candidate," and the
Er per'henne, or "reinforcement." It is thought that these species of
creature are extinct, but I am ever skeptical.
If a Hand were to possess even one finger to reinforce others, that Hand
should know no bounds. If a Hand were to be comprised of no less than two
Iahklu and three Er per'henne, then Nolerak's enemies might fall in great
numbers, while even Nolerak's friends might tremble at their very glance.
Dear sister, I shall speak no more of my own needs. Be of good cheer. Peace
fly with you.
Brother Q.