[ There's a stiffness to it, to be sure. In Byerly's best dreams about how this would go, he'd envisioned an almost impossible generosity - an enthusiastic, joyous flood of words, as if not a day had passed between then and now, as if she were still the sweetly loving girl she had been. It's certainly not that. But nor is it the cold rebuff he'd feared. Instead, it's - ]
My dearest brother,
I was very pleased to receive a letter from you. I was even more pleased to hear that you are doing so well. I am not surprised to hear that the Riftwatch admires you so much. I am sure you serve in this war both loyally and bravely. I am also glad to hear that you have such excellent companions who treat you well. I hope that you shall tell me much more of them and how you met one another.
I fear that there is no such excitement here. Or perhaps I am pleased to report as such. The war reaches here only in small ways. We have little sugar due to a lack of trade. As Elia's name-day was last month, and she was forced to have a tart made with treacle instead of sugar, the household is in some great disorder.
[ She talks a bit more here about her family. About her daughter, Elia, and her son, John. Her husband, a merchant named Thomas, who trades primarily in fabrics - linens and wools, good practical things. She talks about the garden she's sowing. It's all very surface-level, reporting rather than sharing. Rather akin to what would tell a very distant relation. But it's written warmly enough.
Finally, she concludes: ]
But perhaps you already know much of this. Gossip seems to flow northwards far more easily than it flows south. I pray you will respond with more - I should like to hear of your adventures.
no subject
My dearest brother,
I was very pleased to receive a letter from you. I was even more pleased to hear that you are doing so well. I am not surprised to hear that the Riftwatch admires you so much. I am sure you serve in this war both loyally and bravely. I am also glad to hear that you have such excellent companions who treat you well. I hope that you shall tell me much more of them and how you met one another.
I fear that there is no such excitement here. Or perhaps I am pleased to report as such. The war reaches here only in small ways. We have little sugar due to a lack of trade. As Elia's name-day was last month, and she was forced to have a tart made with treacle instead of sugar, the household is in some great disorder.
[ She talks a bit more here about her family. About her daughter, Elia, and her son, John. Her husband, a merchant named Thomas, who trades primarily in fabrics - linens and wools, good practical things. She talks about the garden she's sowing. It's all very surface-level, reporting rather than sharing. Rather akin to what would tell a very distant relation. But it's written warmly enough.
Finally, she concludes: ]
But perhaps you already know much of this. Gossip seems to flow northwards far more easily than it flows south. I pray you will respond with more - I should like to hear of your adventures.
Your sister,
Nadine.