Conversation with Raila and Jonne
Raila, Jonne, Ella and Joth are all waiting for you when you come into the community meeting hall. Raila looks nervous, in fact they all do.
Why don't you all sit down, we've something to tell you. Something we've been waiting 20 years to tell you. We know it's going to be a shock so remember we love you all very much.
The six of you arrived here almost 21 years ago as infants we took you in and raised you as our own and only now can we tell you the truth and the extent of what we know.
You were brought here by two young women both of whom appeared to be in their mid twenties.
One of them, Aenwyn Thenan was incredibly sick when she arrived. We tried everything we could to save her but sadly she died 10 days later. We still to this day have no idea what the sickness was, it didn't appear to be contagious, no one else here developed it and none of you showed any signs in the weeks that followed.
The other girl called herself Sirenna Caryn and apart from some slight malnourishment seemed healthy enough. She would tell us nothing about where they had come from, or who or what they were fleeing. She asked for our help and we gave it, freely.
The following morning she had gone, she left no note but spoke to Duri as she left in the early hours, telling him she was heading for Calatan where she believed there was someone well connected who would be able to help her find who she was looking for. She told Duri no more than this so we don't know who she was seeking.
Jonne Salmi went after her later that day and enquired discretely in Calatan to no avail. We don't know if she actually went to Calatan or if that was simply something she told us to hide her true intent, whether she did intend to go there but never made it, or whether in fact she arrived, got help and moved on. Jonne didn't advertise too widely why we were looking for someone, the strangeness of your arrival made us uncertain about who or what else was involved.
Aenwyn struggled with a fever that would have killed most people far more quickly, towards the end she rallied slightly and her first thought was to ask about you, how you all were, whether any of you were sick.
She asked for Sirenna and we explained she had left and not yet returned, it had by now been over a week and Jonne had returned from Calatan with no news.
When she asked for pen and parchment we hoped she might write down more of her story, whilst she had strengthened a little both Paie Dannell and Miall Dannell were not hopeful of a recovery.
She wrote something and sealed it, asking that we keep it for you until you reached the age of 21. She made us promise to take you in, tell no-one about you, and treat you as our own which we have done.
She slipped back into unconciousness and two days later she died, thankfully peacefully at the end though she had been in great pain.
We buried her in the Bay of Stones, you may have seen her grave when you've helped bury others.
Over the years we've kept our eyes and ears open for news about Sirenna but heard nothing. No-one has come asking about two young women and six infants.
You must have questions, we may not be able to answer them but we will try, and this belongs to you....
Raila hands you a small piece of folder leather tied with with a leather lace. It contains Aenwyn's Letter and an Engraved Brass Coin
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