A Riverside Ruckus

Dear Mother Morgant,
 
The Gods are quite mysterious, but they teach lessons to us all in their own time. These last two days I've been clever, persuasive, classy, cheerful, helpful, and complimentary. I've also been lost, frightened, burned, panicked, pained, and, well...punctured. Several times. Once from our own archer. And I was the second one. I've also been brave or foolish. Maybe a little of both. But I live and I've learned well some hard lessons. The scars will heal, dresses will be mended, and mistakes forgiven.
 
We ended up interrogating the goblin, Oh, yes. I forgot to mention it. The thieves were goblins. I'd never seen one before save for those in the ancient stories and children's books. The reality is most vile at first appearance, but I feel that under the surface they are not evil. Just easily led, intimidated, and fatalistic. Simply trying to survive in the only way they know how. Which unfortunately is to prey on others.
 
That said, I believe there is a goblin nest around town where these three were recruited. I intend to inform the authorities about that. Indeed they are most loathsome, but we spared its life for information. We recovered what it had stolen. And then Jak let him go. Meanwhile the Novitiate Esyllt and I returned the stolen merchandise to its owner with the caveat that they keep the recovery secret for a couple of days. You see, the goblin was hired by an outsider. An elf we thought. The next day we followed its instructions to find this elf. Your gifts allowed me to see its heart and it both feared us and its employer. I understood its fear of us, but only later did I truly understood what made it fear its employer.
 
As an aside, I got a chance to practice Minyan with Esyllt. Tell Mother Alice that I thank her again for the opportunity to learn about the Minyan people and languages. My cousin the Viceroy has an interest in Esyllt and in forging relations with them. This might be something I was born to do. We'll see.
 
The next day we made our way outside the city to follow the path the goblin provided, led by our elven archer, Rathani. She expertly led us to the rendezvous through a few trials and errors (goblin directions are not precise), but I think I learned a bit watching her and helped a little. We did get waylaid by an angry goat, but that is for another time. By evening we were only a few miles from our quarry. We camped the night and tried to stay warm and dry in the rain. My magic helped here somewhat.
 
It was on the trail that following morning alongside the river when it all made sense. I cannot go into the details here, not yet, but suffice to say the stolen object was one commemorating the destruction of the Lantican Armada. We were facing one of the Ancient Enemy. I must confess I froze in panic. Esyllt made me strong. She didn't see scared at all. Nor were the others, though Jak I think felt my fear and hesitation but didn't understand it. If he had, I imagine he would have turned and walked away. I almost did. Instead I chose to let the Gods decide.
 
Soon enough we spotted the elf and indeed it was the Enemy. A sorceress most vile. We talked over a number of options and eventually decided to use guile and a certain legerdemain. Jak snuck above the villain's redoubt while I impersonated the goblin by calling on the power of a mirage of light and sound. I believe the disguise worked until the filthy thaumaturge questioned me in the goblin's language and the jig was up. I should have then run.
 
I didn't.
 
She called me out. I knew we were likely severely outclassed and likely would fall if I ran or stayed. There is an old saying, if the fall is the only thing, how you fall matters. I would fall well. I stood up to her and then called her out. She commanded me to sit, I refused. I commanded her to surrender. She refused and then cast a spell on me. The training in will power proved prescient, and I survived. I tipped my hand that I wasn't alone. She believed me and like the coward she and all her wicked kind are - or seem to be - she fled into thin air. But she left her minions to fight on. A mankin of my father's people who cast magic and several tiny dragon-men. One of which was quite formidable. I must also report that there must be a pack of these things around.
 
Jak attacked. Leaping from above upon one of the dragon men, killing it.
 
And it was on. The fight went so fast. Arrows and blades flashing. I am no fighter, but I held my own for a time. Then it happened. The sorcerer. He spewed flame at us, wounding Jak and searing my shoulder. The little dragon men died in the backdraft. One of Rathani's arrows hit true on him and I took the chance with the Voice, disrupting his mind to madness and leaving him dead. Through the fiery torrent the remaining dragon creature, one who bore a shield, leaped through and ran me through in the belly with a spear.
 
It was odd Mother. I'd had a burn in my life. I'd been stabbed. I was stabbed in the abdomen. Yet it felt like nothing but pressure in the beginning. When I noticed I had blood dripping from my hands as then tries to pull the blade out. My blood, I became upset which was really a feeling that trumped any pain I felt at the time. After a couple of moments I began to feel a pain that didn't even allow for me to cry. I almost laughed, thinking back to the absurdities of stagecraft duels. I screamed at the beast and it hesitated, missing with its further strikes.
 
Then Jak, like some hero of legend, threw himself into the fray and attacked it. I crumpled to one knee. I heard an arrow hit Jak and he fell. Were we surrounded? They must have had others. But it was a miss. Such is the danger of combat and we are all so very green. Despite that, I yelled the Words back to Esyllt, inspiring an attack, but another wayward arrow of Rathari's struck my shoulder. As I tumbled to the ground, I felt nothing. The pain was replaced with shock. I think I laughed then. But not long as darkness crept over me and I lost consciousness for a moment.
 
Still. I fell well. I suppose that was something.