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Dear Jek,
I have absolutely no idea where or even if this letter will find you, but this news is so desperate it simply cannot wait for a more reliable way of communication. Years ago, just before Boy-O was born, you came to us bearing grim tidings of our poor Amber’s failings in love. In our letters we have often feared for her together, in her yearslong silence and absence from Bingtown and our correspondence. But I write to you now to say that she is alive, and has her paramour with her!
I say alive and not well, for she has obviously had a very hard time of it. I know that you have had some very unpleasant things to say in the past about her man, a certain Tom Badgerlock, he who shares my ship’s face, but all of his reportedly abhorrent behavior will surely make sense in light of what I have to tell you. This man is no common guardsman, as you had been led to believe. He is none other than Prince FitzChivalry Farseer, of your own Six Duchies.
Brashen and I have only just met the man; I write this mere hours after his and Amber’s boarding on Paragon. Brash seems to be warming to him; he seems much cut out of the same Duchy-cloth that you and our Clef are, to be frank. As to their reasons for sailing with us, I must divulge yet more news, though not so happy. Our poor Amber and her Prince have had a child, and lost her. They go to a far-off land now, for revenge upon those who destroyed her.
The horrendous absurdity of all of this makes me wish for your company on-board more and more. Our first voyage on Paragon was anything but easy, anything but simple, and yet I long to be stuck in our cramped little cabin, listening to Amber whittle away at a bit of driftwood. I know that you have found new employment, but as I ever have I shall remind you that you are always welcome on Paragon.
If you have a reply for Amber, make sure that it is something that you are alright with having read aloud to her, by me or her Prince. At the moment, she cannot read it herself.
Always your friend,
Althea Vestrit
Addressing King Dutiful Farseer, of the Six Duchies, direct missive from Queen Malta Khuprus of the Dragon Traders of Kelsingra.
May Sa bless you! We here in Kelsingra hope to find you, your queen, your children, and your dowager queen mother in excellent health. I say, on a personal note I hope you will forgive, that the Dragon Traders of Kelsingra are certainly in excellent health, for perhaps the first time since we set sail down the Rain Wild River. Your Prince has worked miracles on the people here, on the children here. He has healed my own child, Ephron, who is my life’s joy. FitzChivalry is now a name here spoken with reverence.
I was raised a Trader of Bingtown, and so I hope you will recognize that I know the art of the deal very well. And now that you know this, please also know that I am in your debt, personally, as a mother and a Trader. And now, a queen. Kelsingra would be honored to host you at any time you wish, and to return in kind what your Prince FitzChivalry has given so graciously. We would be honored to enter trading agreements with the Six Duchies.
Queen Malta Vestrit Khuprus
Dearest Althea,
I must confess that when I saw Amber’s name on your last missive to me I almost tore the paper in half in sheer anticipation. How glad I am to hear that she lives! Less glad am I that she seems to have fallen upon disastrous times, and even less glad am I that she has chosen to stick by the side of that worm.
You must trust, knowing my good nature, that everything I have told you about the man who calls himself FitzChivalry Farseer is true. Neither you nor Brashen are Duchy, and little Clef wouldn’t have been old enough to remember what a Red Ship looks like, but I am old enough to remember the Witted Bastard going to his grave. Whatever that idiot Tom Badgerlock has told you, I pray that you do not believe it. That one is a pure imbecile, and now surely a liar. My employer will surely know of the true nature of his deceit; I shall send a line to him immediately to rectify the situation and deliver you the truth.
All of this, I hope will go without saying, should under no circumstances be read aloud to Amber. My opinion of her choice in men is not indicative of my respect for her, which remains absolute. Please, tell her that I think of her often and miss her company greatly.
As for you, Althea, stay vigilant. There’s no telling what a truly stupid man will do on the open sea.
Your faithful friend,
Jek
To Queen Malta Khuprus,
May Eda and El alike bless you! The Farseer family is truly touched to hear how you value our skills, and as a father myself, I understand the relief you must feel to have your child healthy once more. We are overjoyed here in Buckkeep at your offer of trade delegations, and would be delighted to begin a professional relationship, as well as, if you would permit it, a friendship between our families. We have hosted Traders in Buckkeep before, and well understand what an offer like this means.
My mother, the former queen of the Seven Duchies, Kettricken, is adding an addendum to this letter. I will hereby leave you with thanks and many well-wishes.
King Dutiful Farseer
For Queen Malta Khuprus,
My son is a wise king, and a loving father, but I am a mother. And so I wished to write you, mother to mother, and express my deepest joy at the news of the healing of the children of Kelsingra. And to hear that it is our own FitzChivalry, one of my dearest and oldest friends, who has brought you such relief is enough to make this old woman weep for joy.
I am told that you have aided him and his companions on his quest, which I cannot thank you deeply enough for. You surely make an excellent queen, to sacrifice your own comforts for their mission. This letter will reach you along with a retinue of Skill-healers, who shall hopefully be able to elaborate on the work that FitzChivalry has done, and to heal any who are ailing.
I understand now some of the Trader ways, but I am of Mountain stock and must admit that I am not so willing to change. The ways of thrones are complicated, but this gift is not. I give it to you and yours to ease the suffering of your people, with no expectation of reciprocity, and hope in so doing we may build a fast friendship, to improve the lives of both of our peoples.
Kettricken
Dearest Althea,
I have made inquiries to my employer who has, quite annoyingly, declined to answer. However, in the process of asking, I have discovered that while I was away the return of the Wit-Bastard to Buckkeep has become decidedly old news. I have never much minded the Wit, which I suppose will mean little and less to you, Bingtowner that you are. I doubt that Amber will explain anything to you straightforwardly, which leaves me to make it simple.
It is the same common idiot, wrapped in a royal coating. I wouldn’t care for a flying fig if he were the Satrap himself, with the way he made Amber weep. We’ve gone on tens of years from then, and I still remember her pitiful face, so obsessed was she with his opinion of her. Well! So he’s a prince now. He’s still got his face plastered onto a boat, at the end of the day. I like the ship decidedly more.
How fares the voyage, anyhow? I sent my last letter by way of Bingtown, though mayhaps I’ll try for the Pirate Isles next. Send a reply to me when you can, and let Amber know that I’m thinking of her! Let her tagalong know that I have my eye on him, as well, even if I can’t see him.
Your loyal friend,
Jek
Dear Jek,
Haven’t much time to write, as the world is upside down. I haven’t received any reply that you might have sent to my last line, but it’s no matter. We’ve been moving faster than I thought this ship could. I’m sending this with what is perhaps the skinniest, poorliest bird in the Pirate Isles, for I cannot be away from the ship for long at this juncture to look for a finer rookery. I simply wanted to let you know that you were right about Amber’s man; he is startlingly stupid in a way that I am sensing borders on malicious. Amber’s not right at all, either.
I would say that you’re welcome on Paragon as always, except that there might not be a Paragon at all this time next year. Ask me about it later—when I have these people off of my ship.
Your friend,
Althea Vestrit
To Lady Kettricken, of the Seven Duchies,
Your words are near as great a comfort to me as the healers that you have sent. I cannot begin to thank you as this deed merits, so instead I will say that anything which is within my power, I will grant. Your family has helped mine in ways that can never be repaid.
When you receive news of Prince FitzChivalry, Lady Amber, and his retinue’s quest, please think to let us here in Kelsingra know. Many, including Reyn and I, pray nightly to Sa for his safety. We have had no correspondence from those in my family who are assisting him in his quest since they departed. My brother was once in training for the priesthood, perhaps I should ask him for a special favor. Oh, nevermind my rambling, I beg of you, I am simply so overwhelmed. Young Phron sends his special thanks, with a newly strong voice.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
Queen Malta Vestrit Khuprus
For Queen Malta Khuprus,
Your thanks have been received and passed around to the family. My son’s wife, Queen Elliania, wishes for me to tell you that if you ever have a daughter she would be honored to foster her at Buckkeep. I can assure you that the keep has grown since the days of my own youth, and I have it on the highest authority that it is a fine place to grow up.
The latest news that we have had from Prince FitzChivalry is that of his own wellbeing, which is fair. There is not much more that either of us may be able to do at this junction, other than to think of them and pray, but your concern means much and more to the Farseer family.
I must ask; who is this Amber that you mention? I have never known an Amber at Buckkeep and neither, to my knowledge, has FitzChivalry. Did she join him in Kelsingra?
Your friend in Buck,
Kettricken
Dear Grandmother,
I cannot wind my way around small talk, so happy am I be penning this to you. I will simply tell you without delay: Phron is healed! Our old friend Amber has brought Paragon’s facesake to Kelsingra with her, and in doing so revealed that he is a Farseer Prince of the Seven Duchies. I still do not understand how he did it, but he healed Phron with some sort of ancestral magic and now he eats, sleeps, breathes, and runs like a boy his age should. I look at him and am overcome with my hope for the future; he has grown long weary of my joyous weeping.
Amber and this prince have taken ship with Althea on a quest for their own child, but took the time to heal mine. The Farseers have sent yet more healers here, to ease the sufferings of our people. I have offered them, being the Duchies, trade with Kelsingra in return. I do not tell you what to do, but I believe that there is only good to come out of opening relations between the entire Cursed Shores and this wonderful, backwards northern country.
I must admit also that I had seemingly forgotten the number of Duchies there, for it was very gently and embarrassingly corrected in the first letter sent to me by their king. Has it always been seven? I could have sworn that it was six!
Your loving granddaughter,
Malta
P.S. Phron has included a drawing that he made for you. I am sure that it would please him greatly to have it appropriately fawned over. He has energy now for drawing, what joy!
Dear C,
Your silence is deeply troubling, as is the news of the return of the prince. Please advise on further action. This is the fifth missive I am attempting to send! Has the network been compromised?
Jek
Dear Althea,
I am sending this on the next barge to depart from Kelsingra, as Tarman and his crew are taking a break from the river run, so it will assuredly take its’ time to reach you. All goes well with yourself and Paragon, I hope. Leftrin and I are sensing some deep unease from the dragons and the barge alike, and poor Sedric tells me that Relpda has been in an absolute state.
These northern folk, if unrefined, are incredible healers. They’ve sent yet more of their magic-users here to heal the people, and not only the children. How badly we have needed their help, all of these years, and never knew to ask!
Never forget that you have friends in Kelsingra and on Tarman, no matter how far away you sail. Please, be safe.
Your friend,
Alise Kincarron
Dear Lady Kettricken,
I must admit my confusion; is the Vestrit family’s old and dear friend Amber not married to FitzChivalry, and the mother of his child? She has been long known to us, even carving the liveship Paragon’s likeness to match your prince on his first voyage under Captain Brashen Trell.
This puzzlement aside, I am honored to receive the queen’s offer. If Reyn and I are ever blessed with a daughter, she will surely be raised in friendship to the Seven Duchies. Even, if I am bold enough to say, perhaps some day connected by marriage. Forgive me, my dreams for the future outpace the present.
I eagerly await your reply, and an answer that is sure to come with some clarity regarding the Lady Amber.
Your friend in Kelsingra,
Malta Vestrit Khuprus
For Malta,
Is the Amber that you speak of pale in mien, blind, and scarred? Attaching this note to an official dispatch in the name of efficiency.
Your friend,
Kettricken
Dear Kettricken,
Indeed she is pale, and blind, and scarred. She has on one hand silvered fingers, and a gift for woodworking. Has this been a simple bit of miscommunication? It would be of great relief to me to hear so. To add on to my questioning, have you any news of the expedition? The dragons here are in an uproar, and fly out soon to join your prince’s quest for revenge.
Your friend,
Malta
Dear C,
I suppose this note will be ignored like the rest, but I feel that I must tell you that the dragons of Kelsingra are flying en masse to Clerres, to wreak their revenge there. The air here in the city is, to put it mildly, tense.
Jek
For Malta,
Then indeed I do know Amber, and you should have no reason to fear! There must simply be an error in translation between us. I have had no news as of yet. What is this about dragons? Your letter was delayed by weather, so any news between your penning it and my reading it is unknown to me. Do you know anything about FitzChivalry’s wellbeing?
Your friend,
Kettricken
Dear Malta,
We are coming upriver, for Silver. The Farseer Prince is dead, but his daughter yet lives, and has healed Boy-O of grievous wounds. Would that I could share with you my emotions now, but there is simply no time. I tell you again, we come upriver, for Silver.
Your Aunt Althea
Dearest Sedric,
There is such comingled joy and sorrow aboard Tarman that I can hardly stand to be with him. Your child, I know, was healed by the Farseer Prince. I grieve to tell you that he is now dead, and leaves his own daughter alive. Such a child, I have never seen. It breaks my heart to behold her. And now the liveships are becoming dragons! It is incredible to see them soar, but I cannot help but think of Tarman, and what Leftrin will do if he goes with them. Life is bewildering nowadays.
When all of this is over, I shall bring Leftrin and we will come and visit you and Carson. As selfish as I sound, knowing that my misery pales in comparison to that of those around me, I crave your companionship and comfort. I hope that Relpda, if indeed she was there at Clerres, fares well. I send this with a runner, for it is surely not a smart idea to leave Tarman at the moment.
Always your friend,
Alise
Dear Kettricken,
I do not know how to begin this letter. It falls to me to tell you, though I do not know yet if the news has by-now reached you through those stones, the horrible truth.
Prince FitzChivalry is dead. His daughter as well as Amber are safe, but he perished during his quest. Please forgive me for intruding upon your sorrow with my own, but know that all of Kelsingra grieves with you. He saved my son, who will forevermore know exactly to whom he owes his wellbeing. Know that you are truly my friend, and that we will honor him always.
Your friend,
Malta
Kettricken,
Bee is alive. Fitz is gone. We will be home soon. There is nothing to bury.
I remain a fool.