Finally finding herself with some time to try to word another note that she was finding difficult, Adriwyn set at the desk again, putting quill to parchment.

Dear Luna,

I hope that salutation is one you find sufficiently appropriate, at least, considering how often you’ve objected to “Lady Lancastir” in the past.

But enough of that. The reason I’m writing is that I finally got time to reply to your baby announcement. Congratulations! I’m sure you’re still quite thrilled with your little girl. I suppose this means that your practice is on hold or greatly reduced, which dashes my hopes of having you be the physician to our little girls – but for the best of reasons.

So, congratulations again, and may you enjoy each other in the best of health. I know you’ll make a wonderful mother.

Love,
Warmest Regards,
Adriwyn Jardin

Peeking around the drapes, she realised it was much too late now to ask her cousin’s help. She went out and down the stairs, and found Thomas running bedding around. She enlisted his help with delivery, and went back up to see to her wives and daughters.

(( @lunalancastir ))

Finally sitting at home in her rooms in the Salma District, the Grenthite picked up her accumulated pile of correspondence, and blew a bit of dust off it. ‘Well, now, what have we here… society notice, attempted business scam, society notice – oh! Something from Luna… oh my! I wish I’d seen this sooner!’

She dug up some parchment, ink, and a quill, and set to a reply.

Dear Lady Luna,

I was so pleased to see your note regarding your new baby girl. I’m sorry that I’ve been away so much that it only now reached me. I’m thrilled for you, dearie, and I hope you won’t hesitate to call on me if there’s some way I can assist you, such as in the making of baby clothes – or new ones for you, for that matter.

Congratulations on your new baby, and may she bring you much joy.

Regards,
Alyssia Dore von Durheim

She set the note aside to dry while she addressed the letter, and waited for her apprentice, Orchid, to return home. ‘Age has its privileges,’ she mused to herself, ‘and sending the younglings out to the post is one of them.’

(( @lunalancastir ))

Taking a moment when others were asleep, including the new babies, Adriwyn cleaned up more of the mess the birthing had left in their suite and sat at the writing desk. She had some missives to draft and send.

I could use a little less excitement now… if we hadn’t had the help we did, we might have lost Mirex… no! Focus! You can’t fall apart yet!

Shoving those thoughts back for now, knowing she really was going to fall apart soon, she started writing. The first envelope she addressed to Brevet Bloodband, then started on the note.

Dear Midna,

I got my expedition sorted, though it was eventful enough and involved a lot of bad timing – well, you don’t need to hear my excuses. But I’m home, and now helping to take care of three crinkly little helpless but occasionally squawling babies, whom I adore very much.

Between babies and visitors, I can’t promise I’ll have uninterrupted time enough for any decent letters soon. I’ll try to write again within a week anyway, but it might take two.

I really hope things are going better with you and yours. I care more than I’m any good at saying, and I’m sorry for that latter part.

Love,
Adriwyn

The second envelope gained an addressee of Steward Gixx, and then she wrote out that one, taking less time to fret over it.

Honourable Steward,

While my ability to undertake field missions has already been notably limited thanks to other commitments, it’s now simply out of the question, as we’d previously discussed. The babies have arrived. I’m still available for translation work, or anything else my odd talents suit me for, so long as it’s something I can do from here. In a while, even short trips out will be possible, but not right away.

Magister Adriwyn

The third envelope she dithered over even how to address before finally settling on Chancellor Luxelen.

Dear Lux,

In case no one else has yet told you, Mirex delivered our babies in the early hours of this morning. She gave us rather a scare, but everyone is now resting up and doing fine. Of course, this means I’ll be even more scarce around the Refuge than I’ve been of late, since our girls will need me here. I’m sure we’ll manage some visits out with them when we can, but it may take us a little while before that’s possible. You’re certainly welcome to visit us! But I’ll understand if the time just isn’t really available.

Love,
Adriwyn

After sanding the notes to be sure the ink didn’t run, she put them in their respective envelopes and sealed them.

<Tori, are you still up?>

<Is it sunrise yet?> The answering tone from her cousin was lightly teasing, and as bouncy as usual.

<I’m not quite sure, honestly. The drapes here are quite heavy. But I need help getting some letters sent, if you’d be so kind?> She was about to try to explain, but the answering thought interrupted her.

<Of course! On my way. I just took the room down the hall for now, anyway.>

It was barely any time at all before Tori Valdis slipped into the suite and bounced along to her cousin’s desk, and held out her hand to take the correspondence. <And you, dear cousin, should be back in bed. But you know that. So hand them over so I can find some ravens, and you can get back to your babies and wives, hmm?>

Adri giggled softly as she handed the missives over, standing and coming around the desk to do so, then stretching up to kiss the redhead’s cheek before letting go. <Thank you, Tori – for all your help. And yes, back to bed for me.>

The necromancer nodded with a smile and skipped out of the room to arrange the deliveries.

(( @luxelen @itsfiendishroleplayingstuff ))

Sitting at her cousin’s desk, Adriwyn looked over the report she’d received from Derek, and pieced it together with her own notes from her excursions of the day.

Orphaned at six months. Parents died in a fire that consumed their house. He was found in his cradle outside. No clues were found as to who rescued him – and only him. The father, Seraph corporal Thomas J. Ulthuan, had made some enemies by gathering evidence against corrupt magistrates and arresting them. The mother, Mary, was a teacher with no known enemies of any sort.

The orphaned Zane was raised by the monks in Eldvin Monastery. He has performed his duties there in ways that give him high enough regard there. He showed talents for martial activities, and gained some skill in protecting people. His aptitude was such that the monks raised funds to get him specialised training. Over time, he has also volunteered as a composition and literature teacher at the Queen’s Heart Orphanage, and also as a helper in the Palace Gardens.

His specialised training at a school in Rata Sum seems to be over, and this seems to be why he’s suddenly looking to change his routine, becoming a guard for a noble House. His training is mostly in the nature of personal bodyguard, rather than the more usual House guard. In preparation for this, he has resigned from his volunteer positions at the orphanage and in the gardens, which rather leaves him at loose ends until he gets a position.

She looked it over again. She knew her cousin had seen the man at tea, and that he’d apparently talked with Alex after Val came home. And then there’s the matter that Val saw him around the Settlement, too, though he seemed to her to just be getting the lay of the land, so to speak. Preparing for his position here, in a way. She sighed with a shake of her head. Maybe I’m just the least picky noble he’s approached, and the only one even to say “maybe”? That really seems like it. Still, Alex and Mirex should get a chance to have their own interview with him. If that doesn’t settle their minds, well, we’ll see. But Derek is satisfied, at least.

She chuckles as she puts the papers in order again. And Val says he wasn’t even expecting to be paid… a monkish task, more or less. Well, we’ll see how long that lasts….