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Wed 15th May 2024 10:16

Letter to Luke 4

by Hayley Thomas

My darling brother,
 
I am sorry to hear that the romance with Kyra did not end well. I liked the girl, and I fondly remember the two of you stopping by the village here. Finally I got to celebrate your luck with you and I think we ran out of wine at some point. The evening might still be a bit hazy in my memory.
 
So your instincts about Lyra have proven to be true. It saddens me to hear that some people just live to take advantage of the gullibility and goodness of others. At least with the nobles and the fey you can see it coming. But you once again did the right thing in letting her go and returning the stolen property to the Ravensong family.
 
I know you are in no state to stay in Keralon or return to Amarra or your studies, but know that you are welcome here. I could always use someone to look after Bill and Bob (the goats) while I am in Lorewood for a few days. Over the past year the trouble with the fey has increased manifold.
 
The stories about Ulther have emboldened them and more and more are coming closer to the edge of the forest, causing all kinds of trouble. Luckily they tread carefully when they see my signs and wards. It also helps that a number of the draconians and kobolds front he Fenhunter’s army are still hanging around these parts too. Ever since I helped them after the battle, they have been grateful, and I can rely on them to help me if some fey gets too cocky.
 
Most of the dealings with the fey have been unremarkable except for one. I have included a drawing of a rune worn by one of them. Does that icy sylvan symbol look familiar to you? It should. I know your knowledge of the language is limited, but I am sure that this belongs to Vivienne, or at least someone close to her line!
 
Verris he called himself, slender elven boy with long white hair and an arrogant elegance to him. Hunting at the edges of the Lorewood, and not just for foraging, but also for fun. Because it was not just deer he was hunting. He had killed one of the villagers and injured several others, just for sport. The wounds were horrible. I have treated some arrow wounds before, but these were not just normal wounds, all of them had frostburn! And you know what that does if it isn’t treated immediately. Curse those monsters!
 
So I gathered some of my new allies, a draconian named Saphira and a kobold tracker named Zem. Together we tracked and hunted down Verris. It took several days to find him in the forest and we had to be careful, avoiding other fey in the vicinity. But finally we cornered him at a small lake. Usually I would offer the choice for him to return home and leave us be, but seeing that arrogant smirk on his face when we confronted him, I couldn’t help myself.
 
I cursed him, my evil eye sapping his resilience before Saphira charged in. Weakened by my magic, he didn’t stand a chance. I took this rune from him, but we left his head on a pike as a warning to others of his kind that these woods are off limits.
 
Since then the troubles have lessened a bit, but some of the fey are simply not intelligent enough to get the warning.
 
Either way, next time you pass this way, I will introduce you to Zem and Saphira. I am sure you will like them very much. And who knows, maybe Saphira is a more steadfast companion for you than Elsa, Emily or Kyra ever could have been. She has a bit more scales and a little less hair than a human woman though.
 
But you’d certainly have my approval!
 
Your loving sister,
 
Hayley

Continue reading...

  1. Entry one: The trials
  2. Entry two: The bramble
  3. Entry 3: Rosebloom
  4. Entry 4: Hearts and Dreams
  5. Entry 5: of ghosts and wolves
  6. Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae
  7. Entry 7: mysteries and pastries
  8. Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse
    6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree
  9. Entry 9: A betrayal of satyrs
    7th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  10. Entry 10: The fate of twins
    8th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  11. Entry 11: Cursed twins
    10th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  12. Entry 12: Loss and despair
    11th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  13. Hayley's rules to being a Witch
  14. Entry 13: the price of safety
    12th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  15. Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower
    13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  16. Entry 15: A trial by fire
    14th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  17. Entry 16: Keralon
    15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree
  18. Letter to Luke 1
  19. Letter to Luke 2
  20. Letter to Luke 3
  21. Letter to Luke 4
  22. Letter to Luke 5
  23. Letter to Luke 6
  24. Entry 17: I shall wear midnight
    1st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  25. Entry 18: peace in our time
    2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  26. Entry 19: Caern Fussil falls
    3rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  27. Entry 20: I see fire
    4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  28. Entry 21: Cultists twarted
    10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  29. Entry 22: Ravensfield
    14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  30. Entry 23: The Hollow Hill Horror
    15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  31. Entry 24: Burn your village
    16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  32. Entry 25: Ravensfield burns
    17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  33. Entry 26: There will be blood!
    21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  34. Entry 27: A happy reunion
    22nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  35. Entry 28: The embassy ball
    23rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  36. Entry 29: The fate of Robert Talespinner
    24th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  37. Entry 30: A royal summons
    28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  38. Entry 31: of Dogville and Geese
    29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  39. Entry 32: A boggle named Pim
    30th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree
  40. Entry 33: A deal broken
    1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  41. Entry 34: The cost of doing what is right
    2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  42. Entry 35: A dish best served cold
    9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  43. entry 36: Cornu returns?
    10th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  44. Entry 37: A letter from Amarra
    11th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  45. Entry 38: The case of the (not) missing villagers
    14th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  46. Entry 39: A curse broken
    15th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  47. Entry 40: Into the Lorewood
    18th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  48. Entry 41: Cabin in the Woods
    19th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  49. Entry 42: Myrdin and Anaya
    20th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree
  50. Entry 43: Into the Immerglade
    21st of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree
  51. Entry 44: A tale as old as time
    22nd of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree
  52. Entry 45: The truth
    23rd of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree
  53. Entry 46: Luke's Ordeal
    24th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree
  54. Entry 47: The festival
    26th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree
  55. Entry 48: Trouble at the Cathedral
    2nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  56. Entry 49: Quinn's court
    4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  57. Entry 50: onwards to Latebra Velora
    5th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  58. Entry 51: Where is my cow?
    6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  59. Entry 52: Here be dragons
    7th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  60. Entry 53: Dragon hoard with a side of scarabs
    8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  61. Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone
    9th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  62. Entry 55: Return to Ravensfield
    10th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  63. Entry 56: The needs of the many...
    11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  64. Entry 57: Dreams of Sister Willow
    12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  65. Entry 58: wetlands be wet
    13th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  66. Entry 59: Baron Perenolde
    14th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  67. Entry 60: Talebra Velora and the lady Morenthene
    15th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  68. Entry 61: Cypria
    16th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  69. Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight
    17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  70. Entry 63: Return to Talebra Velora
    18th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  71. Entry 64: Your presence is “requested”
    19th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  72. Entry 65: I stand alone
    20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  73. Entry 66: A day of normalcy
    21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  74. Entry 67: Into the Neverhold
    22nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree
  75. Entry 68: The Warg King
  76. Entry 69: Chased by birds