To the Scorpion

[Rance]

It was before dawn that she made her way to the mill. She did not trespass long; she knew it was not her ground to walk upon, and felt with every step as though she were wading through invisible membranes simply to reach her destination. But at the manor's door, she paused, stuffed a folded note between its boards, and then turned, running quickly off as if she'd never come in the first place.

Dear Miller,

I should first like to thank you because without your bravery a lot of children includeing two which are very important to me would not be alive, and word travles quickily around Myrken Wood amid which is your name though I cannot spell it,

I shoult wish to write you this letter also to entreet you: you witnessed as did some others this bawdy humor of a trial which has recently occurred here, I have no love for the Storyteller as she has done unforgivible things to my head, but also I come from a place where despickible things are done and it would have been very despickible to me had Mna. Olwak been allowed to go on through her little trial without a balance,

I am not an advocate by trade I am almost fifteen years old, also I had some matters with the Storyteller to resolve I would not like to discuse, but what I am writing to you is this,

I do not think Rhaena Olwak is to be trusted, you see, for she has got wants to play in the minds of people, I know this to be true for she has meddled in mine and perhaps in that of Elliot Brown, speak to him and you will know, everyone agrees, and I have spoken to Marshall Emory of this and she shares similar sentiments,

I would like to ask Cherny to not continue lessons with Rhaena Olwak when she returns to her teaching, it frightens me that children could be exposed to her, i have ended my lessons for this reason,

I heard very well your story of a scorpion and frog and your warnings at the Storyteller's trial, I am no fool girl and understand your sentiments, but you are a clear-headed fellow and I think it might be worthwhile to heed my claims, Rhaena Olwak is a very pretty poison and if bad justice and fiddling in minds is how it starts then surely there will be more than ELEVEN CHILDREN to mourn when she is done,

sincerely,
Gloria Wynsee

[Waldemar]

A letter addressed to Miss Gloria Wynsee, currently resident at the Broken Dagger tavern.

Miss Wynsee

Your thanks are kind but unnecessary. I acted as any decent soul should, and fiercely regret that I was too late to keep more innocents from the creature's jaws.

In all frankness I do not entirely understand why Sera Olwak saw fit to place the Storyteller on trial in the first place. Such spectacles are usually performed as publically as possible, so that the mob might slake its thirst for revenge and witness the ability of those in authority to enact punishment.

If a trial's conclusion is already decided before it begins it would be better to dispense with it entirely than to hold such a mockery in private for the benefit of a select few - who were, if I judge the meaning of their tokens correctly, already loyal to Sera Olwak and thus needed no convincing of her presumed authority.

The Storyteller itself deserved no trial once its identity was determined; one does not place a wolf that mauls a child before a magistrate - it is a beast acting according to its nature, and there is thus no recourse but to see its life swiftly ended. The Storyteller is more dangerous than any wolf, as I am sure you realise.

As to the matter of Master Brown, in the past I found him to be an insufferable lout most likely destined for the gutter or the gallows. If Sera Olwak has made something worthwhile of him then perhaps this business is not a total loss.

Your warning is noted, in any case. My dealings with Sera Olwak have been minimal to this point, and I have no doubt they shall remain so. I do not place constraints upon my workers provided they attend to their duties in the mill, but will pass on your concerns.

In the meantime, you might inquire about town as to why the halfbreed child of the dark elf Jirai and the poisoner Suede Roschen - wanted murderers both - has been permitted to attend Sera Olwak's school, particularly given that one of the eleven deaths that day took place at Roschen's own hand. I am sure that the parents of those children who remain would be intrigued to hear Sera Olwak's reasoning. I imagine the Marshall would share their interest.

Sincerely

Marek Waldemar

[Rance]

Dear Miller,

I shoult tell to you a truth that weighs heavy upon my heart:

I have got a knife. I wished for the Storyteller to die. As a friend she betrayed me, she put my friends in danger, I am the oldest of them and it is my task to keep them safe if I may, I am not good at much,

but I wished to be the one to do that deed, not Rhaena Olwak, not GOLBIN, not fate. Me. With my knife.

A girl shoult not have these thoughts, and she certainley shoult not admit them to a miller, but you must know it.

She paused at the mention of the dark elf and the poisoner; she considered Waldemar's letter for several minutes before she responded, though the phrase wanted murderers both stuck in her conscience like a broken cork.

If I may be bold, I am less concernt for the presence of halved-bred boy in the school; are we to be held responsible for the decisions of our bearers, Miller? Shoult I be flogged for all the wrongs done in my homeland, and you for the trancegressions of your parents, ser. No, what I am displeased of?

What I am displeased of is that a halved-bred boy does not just show up to a school. Surely his parents must have entreeted to have him there: does this mean that Mna. Olwak has colutted with two known murderers? Have they been in the school, I wonder, has she had tea with them.

I am unsettled.

I wish you well, thank you for giving my brother

The word was omitted and replaced with a less-questionable title.

my FRIEND a job and caring for him, Cherny is the best thing that has ever happened to me, it lightens me when he is happy.

Yours in respect,
Glour'eya Wynsee

[Waldemar]

Miss Wynsee

That the Storyteller is incarcerated will have to be enough for now. "Living well is the best revenge", as the proverb has it; it is my hope that you and, indeed, those who were spared the monster's jaws will take your revenge thus. You are a bright girl, and it would be wasteful to discard your future merely to deprive such a creature of its own miserable life.

My concern over the halfbreed is not for what flows in his veins - for all that it is likely venom - but the poison that has been planted in his mind, given such parents. Cruelty comes easily to children, even those of the noblest parents; imagine, then, a child to whom cruelty might be taught as a virtue. There is also, as you say, the matter of what agreement must have been made by Sera Olwak to allow his admission.

Cherny is a conscientious worker, for all that he seems to get himself injured with disappointing regularity; I would take it as a personal favour if, as his FRIEND, you would do your best to see he remains hale; his fellow apprentices do not share his commendable diligence, and I have a mill to run.

Sincerely

Marek Waldemar

P.S. Once introductions have been made it is considered polite to address one's correspondent by their name rather than their occupation, unless that occupation is, e.g., a military rank or noble title. "Mister Waldemar" is entirely acceptable in this case.