Scraps of Parchment

H,

I do not even know where to begin, so I’ll just start with an apology. To say that I am sorry would be a huge understatement. As I set quill to parchment, I realize that you probably have already forgiven me a thousand times over, but nonetheless I am genuinely sorry for all the trouble I have caused you personally. I think of you often and wonder how you are. If P had allowed me to bring you, I would have, but you know that it was probably for the best that you remained home. When I decided to write this to you, I had no idea how I could possibly get a letter to you. I think the simple task of sitting here contemplating all the things I want to ask you is more therapeutic than anything. I can actually see you sitting here with me as I write, or at least I can vision the woman you have become. Hopefully these ramblings will shed some light on my life at the present. Why not spill the whole sordid affair of my life since I left home? Silly, I haven’t got that much parchment, and you surely do not wish to read an entire book about me.

Who have I been traveling with? I had spent so much time wandering around alone, it seemed rather odd to find myself with actual companionship for a while. It was probably a combination of luck and boredom that brought the group together. Upon actual reflection of those events, it seems by some sort of fate that set our group along the path we are recently traveling. You know how much stock I put in gods and their plight, but I can’t help shake the feeling of some divine hand dabbling in things it shouldn’t. Yes, of course you would approve of them. For the most part they strike me as the “adventurous” type of people you were fond of. We did have a short run with a dragonborn. When I met him and actually found out what he did for a profession, I could not believe it. Having never seen an actual warrior of faith or a dragonborn… to say the least, I was quite amazed. All the tales we were told of their savagery were not entirely true. Savage… Like the land I used to live in. Are you still there, or did you leave as I did?

I miss the harsh cold sometimes if you can believe that. I miss watching the winter wolves in their endless migrations back and forth in search of prey. I miss watching the moonlight illuminate the snowflakes as they gently fell from the night sky. I miss hearing you laugh. I hope you still think of me.

Anyhow… where was I? My companions: Dwarves! How we always had a good laugh with our beloved U. Everything she said was true, by the way. I am positive that my new dwarven friend would love to share a meal or two with her… not to mention several tankards of ale and then her bed. As I mentioned earlier, faith and divinity and other such matters have again intertwined in my life. This fine example of dwarven kind is a truly righteous force to be reckoned with. His short stature is belittled by the enormous amount of conviction and faith that emanates from his presence. No, he is nothing like our ancient T. T was indeed a great man of faith and conviction, but did he ever venture far from his own chapel? Clangeddin Silverbeard’s justice is served mightily to all those in need. I owe my life to my new friend. Times are dangerous in the realm, but do not worry about me. You probably are more aware of the cruelty and slanderous ways of our times. Our father’s informants are second to none, but I digress… Let me speak more of my fellow adventurers.

There is an eladrin that is traveling with us that will one day pen the epic tale of our journey that will be told a thousand years from now. We’ve seen our fair share of traveling performers at the keep, but none could hope to have as much talent as this charming individual. He and I get along like a house on fire, and then we have a drink as the ashes rain down from the sky! I’m sure you would fancy him. Most females do. Most men do as well! Strange times we live in… You should hear some of the yarns this guy can spin. He could convince royalty to eat their own children and then shit on their remains! Seriously, I’ve never seen him pay for anything. Somehow he just does as he pleases an no one complains.

We also have a multi-purpose killing machine that we use to slay our foes! This guy is like a walking armory. He should have probably taught us combat skills instead of M. I hope M is still doing well. Saying his name out loud makes me remember that time I sparred with P. Do you remember? That day will probably stay with me until I die. That day I decided to put on a suit of our finest chain mail in hopes of impressing her. It’s funny looking back on that moment knowing where things stand today. I still feel the surge of power and invincibility as I did even back then, but I have seen the bloody turns that battles can take at such short notice. Experience is something that every adventurer of every class thrives on. Without it, we are simply overzealous students that are eager to prove our stupidity. I remember she was smiling and laughing at me as I donned each piece of armor. “Do you want to lose a toe today?” she asked. I didn’t understand where she was coming from with such a question, so I just shook my head. This made her laugh even more as she chided at me, “We shall soon see, my strapping young warrior.” She gave me a playful cuff on my shoulder and sent me to the practice yard.

A large crowd had gathered around the practice yard. It seemed as if everyone was eager to see what P wanted to demonstrate. Everyone cheered as I exited the armory and placed myself in the midst of things. I pulled my short sword and riled the crowd up. Echoing in the small practice field, their rallying cries boosted my adrenaline even more. Trying to remember each exercise with Marklin, I began to put myself through my lessons to show-off my extensive training. She seemed to only be wielding a small iron rod as a weapon, but I knew she held something else concealed somewhere. I wasn’t entirely stupid, but then again, I’d never faced a female opponent before. My mind was a mix of emotion. Should I make light of the situation? Would she have me come at her with everything I have? I really did not know how to play against her, but that would soon change.

Our match lasted less than a few seconds, yet it seemed to stretch for hours in my mind. Calculating within my mind that I should disable her mobility somehow, I lashed out with my sword in a broad arc towards her leg. In one fluid motion, she evaded the blade, drove the iron rod through the toe of my mailed boot with her right hand, placed her left hand on my head and shoved me along the rest of my attack towards the ground with my own momentum sending me to my doom. As events played out in slow motion, I kept wondering if Marklin had set this up or was it really an attempt on my life. I felt gravity as I had never known before. It was as if my own body had betrayed me. I was stuck in a crouched heap of useless armor with no means to retaliate. I heard the crowd gasp as I felt the blade pierce the mail on my back. Before P or myself could act further, M tried to take the situation into control. “Release him at once,” he shouted at her. “Do not worry, boy,” P purred in my ear, “You are safe with me.”

I actually shiver as I recall those events. Well, I have bored you enough for now.

All my love,

O