22 Aurim 77th Year of Iono



Dearest Zanantia–

With reference to your letter of the 9th instant Parthis, Mother sends her best and thanks the Twelve for your continued good health. Do think of her in your own devotions. She will not speak of the particulars but I know some of her investments are unsound, and she has drawn a rival’s blood only once these past five months. She frets that she is grown gray enough that sharp words are now excused, or else her accustomed rivals are all grown so timid that none will call her out. I do wish someone would be good enough to pull steel on the dear old bitch and either slake her bladelust or confine her to sick-bed. Nursing her effusions of blood is ever preferable to weathering her self-pity.



Now, speaking of duels, I know you complain of boredom in your distant station; here is some drama which we have in surplus which I gladly export for your appreciation. Did you know the Marrows have a new king, this Vencezla Long-Summer fellow? Apparently it’s custom to send around a sort of traveling ambassadorial feast after the crowning. Their legate and his entourage received a to-do at Amberglass in the usual fashion, with dear Dona Vorchenza handed the reins. She must have blinked! Between courses the Vadran legate, who was enjoying several kinds of Verrari wine in close sequence, made disparaging remarks about our calendar. Some Alcegrante twit seized the chance to take offense, and before anyone could intervene it was knives and shirt-sleeves on a balcony. Our hero disparaged King Long-Summer’s legate in the throat quite directly and now the city is positively with child to see if someone shall hang or if we shall have war etc.

Intriguingly, Countess Amberglass herself confided to me that this is not the first time a Vadran ambassador has found trouble in Camorr for rude comments about our sacred calendar of the Twelve. Nor if I understood her is this even the first time one of them has been slain over the matter. Our friends in the north do cherish the finding of fresh troubles on this continent, do they not? I shall keep you appraised of all developments.



Good fortune, sister mine; may Gandolo note your troubles and send you threefold recompense. Until you come safe home, you shall never find me stinting in my affections. You are first in my prayers, excepting only Mother.



Your most devoted sister,

Lizaveta Cerulea

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(Excerpt, personal papers of Zanantia Indira Cosa'dima, Camorri textile factor of Tamalek and Espara, circa 77 Morgante - 78 Nara)

