To My Dearest Friend.
First of all, my last Loremaster to D4, taking your Dragon... But yes, I did notice that your archer will be taking my Everqueen in your next move after I lifted my hand, But I'm not too fond of cheating, so that's game. The first move of the next game is yours.
I must say, Mathy, that while I know when I introduced you to the current trend of High Elf(Asur, yes?) chess and its rules, you would be beating me in short order. But I at least wanted to win the first few games. You are a tyrant, I say! How can you be so cruel to your old friend?
So to start in earnest.
I'm glad to hear that you are in good health and that your project with the wood elves (was that Enoir or Eonir, I would hate to get it wrong if they are truly trying to make friends with us.) is going swimmingly, Though I do wish you could actually tell me what it's about, writing that 'there was a problem in Ostermark, I fixed it, so Kislav agreed to send me their magic wielders' is more worry inducing then illuminating. And don't think I don't know you are doing it on purpose. While I won't hide that it would be my wish to have you back in Striland with myself and Wil, at least King Iornhammer was happy to let you reveal your projects and adventures.
Speaking of Wil, she is in good health as well, But if you have the time, it would be a good idea to see her. she would never say it, But the empty house is hitting her much harder than it did when her boys left, she lives in her office these days, and not just because she is as bad a workaholic as yourself.
In other news: You will be glad to hear that ' wizard chic' has finally started to die out, at least in Stirland. Having so many actual wizards running around getting offended by it seems to be finally getting to the youngsters. (odd, to say 'the youngster's, the time has truly flown from that day crowding around the one good fire.) but I'm happy to say that a new, and more personally mortifying for you, trended has replaced it.
One day, as I was in Wurtbad to sort out some issues with double taxing some of the shepherds whose roams cross a border with one of my neighbours, good old Gustav von Jungfreud, still as wilded and active as ever (I would think he had a wizards condition if his waist-band wasn't losing ground to a gut that is at odds with the muscles of his arms and legs and still dark hair) sits down next to me to share a drink in one of the new lounges (the room was the one Greatswords found that monstrous badger nesting in the corner) to share a drink. And as we talked, he let me know of a funny new tradition among the Pistoliers.
It seems that the young lads and lasses have come up with the idea that whenever one of them has to ride a message past a village or town suspected to have necromancer or vampire sneaking around (so most of Sylvania still), the rider will be given use of the fastest black stead, stuffed into a long grey cloak and hood, and have smoking wick-ropes of hemp tided to themselves and the beast to create a hazy effect around them.
They would then ride passed the place, possible stop and linger menacingly insight of the place if it was safe enough, before riding off; later removing it all and putting it into a bag before the next town so that the figure seemed to just disappeared.
Most hilariously, it has worked at least two times, the villains revelling themselves in their hasty attempt to escape 'The Riders'.
If you have a message to send to them about this, I would be happy to deliver it.
As for myself and Blutdorf, All is peaceful, barring that issue around overtaxing those poor shepherds, but these types of 'two-step forward, one step back' issues seem just to be a part of running an estate. We struggled to make sure that the taxes were paid. The young Van Hal is struggling with all taxes being paid, including the stupid and destructive ones that should have gone years ago. But I got it sorted and sent them some old bottles of wine from the cellar.
They can sell it and make their year, or drink it if they prefer, but I do think they are happy now.
Dad is doing well, a little less with me every day, But happy and enjoying his hunting.
I could use your counsel on something; Reinhild has been a bit cold the last few weeks or so after a visit from her father; I was honest when I said that I am content with our special friendship, But I also do not hate the idea of it changing in the future if things just happen that way, I just don't see the need to chase it.
But she most defiantly hates the idea, possible the very concept of marriage and children itself. I think she may have grown up with the assumption that it would be the death of her dreams and ambitions, and while I would hope that I never give such an impression that I would take her first love from her, that gut revolution has stayed.
Funny that we are at our closest, when the things that could bind us are farthest away.
If this cold shoulder goes on, I would ask you, do I confront her and assure her that I have no intentions on vows and contracts and would never go behind her back to make dealing with her family in such a way? Or do I just stay back and let the storm blow over? my instinct has always been straight honesty, But I am wise enough to now know that my 'legendary' charm was ignorance mixed with luck; I'm not so sure the luck sticks when I know what's wrong.
Waiting for your reply, and news about your planned date through an actually magical forest.
your loyal friend.
Anton
