Are you certain what you wish is what you want?

[Kylerryth]

There, on Rhaena's pillow: a folded scrap of parchment. It said:

SUSTAIN THY MIND
ABJURE THY HEART
CONSOLIDATE
PREPARE

I remember you.

And below in a corner, the text a tiny, nigh-illegible scrawl:

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et in semper, et in saecula saeculorum.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

[Glenn]

Some of the night was a blur. Much of the rest had been full of rationalization. If anything, he had tried to keep her out of danger, had partially succeeded, had ultimately failed (though he hardly knew that) and in the end, was in a great deal more himself.

THAT was a typical day for Glenn Burnie in Myrken Wood if there ever was one.

He really had to stop endangering the people he cared about. It had just been so blasted long since he had ANYONE to care about...

Speaking of protecting, well, the note was rather censored, or at least focused more on personal matters. Regardless, it'd arrive to her with the morning.

"Rhaena,

It's fine. I don't have much regard for my parents either. They did what they felt they had to. I've seen a lot of different places and peoples in my life and there were unique things about my homeland that led them to act how they did. I don't blame them for it but I can't say I look back fondly, on them at least, either.

For what it's worth, if your family doesn't give you credit for all the good you've tried to do lately and how helpful you've been to everyone, well, then I'm not going to have much regard for them either. Granted, that's because you're spending so much time with me instead of Agony, right? I'm legitimate now. Ask Cinnabar.

We make it through all of this over the next few weeks with the Fiend and Vraal and crazy ex-constables, and the war at our doorstep, and whatever else, and I'm buying you a horse. I can probably just about manage that now.

Be safe, yeah?

Glenn

[Jirai]

The small note on her pillow would be a source of confusion for the girl. Still, it would be placed carefully in a pocket, instead of joining the growing pile of letters on her desk.

~~~

Glenn,

You didn't answer my question!

I wrote letters to my family last night - hopefully, they'll receive those before Kals has a chance to complain to our father.

Speaking of Cinnabar, he is fine, right? He was much better when I left yesterday, but you know how that can go.

Duke Burel hasn't made it to Myrken, has he? I suppose that means I've lost my bet with Agnie. Fortunately, Agnie is out at the wall, maybe she'll forget.

Oh, I found a strange note on my bed last night. I have no idea who it's from. It is very odd. It says "I remember you," among other things.

I'll stay safe if you don't do anything stupid.
Rhaena

Of course, she had no idea what had occured last night, nor had it yet occured to her to wonder. Her mind was well taken with thoughts of yesterday - with Cinnabar and Alastir. There was much there to think on.

[Glenn]

It was another day of running around Myrken Town and its environs for Glenn, partially just to try to figure out what was going on.

Rhaena,

You can imagine that I don't like the sound of that note. Any ideas? You know that I have very little idea what happened in the last few years here in Myrken. I only know what people tell me and you haven't told me anything at all.

What were the terms of that bet again? I think you said that you had to do something.

I haven't been able to make it to Cinnabar today. He seems to be wherever I'm not. I must be just missing him. Either that or he doesn't want to talk to me. Can you PLEASE tell me what happened yesterday?

I won't do anything stupid if you stay safe,
Glenn

[Jirai]

Glenn,

Most of what happens in Myrken does not make for nice conversations. Plagues, drow, bizarre dreams... But I have no ideas about this note. "Sustain thy mind, abjure thy heart, consolidate, prepare," it also said. And something else that's hard to make out. I think this is it: "Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et in semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Gloria in excelsis Deo."

As to yesterday, didn't you know what he was planning? The Governor decided he would be better able to deal with Teron if he could understand Penroll. Or something like that. The short of it is that he now has some of Penroll's memories. The pleasant and the unpleasant. And let me tell you, that was quite interesting on my end of things.

The bet, well. I have to do what Agnie says.

I shall stay safe and you shall not do stupid things, deal?
Rhaena

Questions were easily ignored in letters - it seems she would have to bring up that subject in person.

[Glenn]

Oh.. hell. Calomel did it. The reply to the note had been quick. He had been waiting for this letter.

Rhaena,

You're alright? He's alright? Alastir's alright? I didn't think it was a good idea. I didn't want him to ask you to do this. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you more before. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help. I'm going to try to find him now.

As for the note, I don't know, but just prepare. Prepare for the worst, alright? Maybe I'm just paranoid after all of this or worried about the deadline ending or whatever, but I want you to be more careful from now on. And THAT I will have you promise me. I don't care if it means just doing a light scan around you most of the time for hostile thoughts or what... you know, if you can do that. Just something to be more careful. If everything Cinnabar suspects is true, and I think it possible, I wouldn't be surprised if Teron came after you, if he knew our connection or that you had helped Calomel.

I will try not to do anything stupid and you will please try to stay safe,
Glenn

[Jirai]

One might hope that this letter would arrive -after- he'd run off to find Calomel. Because he probably wouldn't like it.

Glenn,

I am fine. He was fine when I left, and Alastir was asleep. Cinnabar does what he has to, and I certainly do not fault him for that. Speaking of which, he did mention that he wanted me to do something that would involve breaking my promise to you. He thinks it necessary, and I think it has a chance of working. Please understand.

I will do my best to be careful; I will also do this thing for Calomel.

You do not go to Snowstill, do you?

Staying safe,
Rhaena

[Glenn]

Perhaps she ought to have waited a time before sending it. Glenn had searched all through Esreaux for the man before heading back to his room and deciding to head to the Constabulary, again. Esraeux was, he had found out after the fact, where Cinnabar had been yesterday.

It meant that Rhaena got a response far sooner than she had expected. It was certainly in his handwriting.

--------------------
I do NOW.
--------------------

No, Glenn Burnie was not very pleased.

[Jirai]

Far sooner than she had expected, indeed. And the girl winced as she read those three words. Her response was quick.

Glenn,

Please do not. I do not go there.

Rhaena

[Glenn]

Unfortunately for perhaps everyone, THAT letter Glenn would not see before going off to find Cinnabar. Most likely he would not see it into well in the night, not until he spoke with all parties involved anyway.

[Glenn]

A letter would arrive to Rhaena Olwak, at the Dagger, with the dawn.

Rhaena,

Please do me a favor and try to avoid Alessandra. I've told you that I intend to do the same and I mean it. It's bad enough for you to get hurt but to have you hurt for my sake (and I'm going to blame myself whether you do or not), well, I really can't handle that too well right now.

Otherwise, I hope you're feeling alright now. I have no idea where we were in our letters. That experiment could have gone better.

Oh, speaking of experiments, I'm not sure if you remember Elspeth von Drakken, but she's the one who helped you to the Remedium and then helped to see you healed once there. I've managed to get us (being you and I) a tour of her workshop sometime soon. I know how curious you get about these things and have a feeling you will really want to come along with me. I've seen some of the things she creates and they're amazing. You should see this pen she's given me.

Anyway, stay out of trouble, right?

Glenn

[Jirai]

Glenn,

I must continue to remind you that to blame yourself for the actions of others is quite silly. Regarding the Lady Demarest, she spoke to me last night - this morning I received a letter from her. I shall not reply to it.

I may not remember how our letters had been going, but you do owe me an answer from our last conversation at the tavern!

It is good to be able to put a name to the Lady von Drakken's face. I have some memories of that night, and saw her again last evening but I was in too much of a hurry to remove myself from the Lady Demarest's presence. I would certainly enjoy a tour of her shop and the chance to thank her myself for her aid.

How is the Governor doing? I have a few questions for him, but do not wish to bother him.

Rhaena

[Glenn]

The reply came fairly quickly. Glenn had a lot of work to do today and he was easily found at the Government headquarters.

Rhaena,

What did her letter say? She's persistant if nothing else. Just be careful. I'm going to start wearing my sword, not that I'm ready, but I'd rather have it. I'm glad you didn't see me standing there over your body, facing off with Alessandra, with Cinnabar's oversized blade. It wasn't the smartest thing I ever did.

As for you, and I know you don't need my permission for this, but if you want to start learning how to use a sword, you'll have my backing. Just, I want Agnie to teach you. No one else. And if she refuses, I'll talk to her on your behalf. Promise me you'll wait until I at least get a chance to talk to her for you before trying to learn and I'll do my best to convince her.

Where did we leave things at the Dagger? How Myrken changed us, was it? What were we like before? When I ran away from home, I was a young brat looking for adventure, like in the stories I had read. By the time I reached Myrken, I just wanted to survive and I would do anything it took to make sure I lived another day. I think I was smarter then. Having people you care about changes a great deal, Rhaena.

Speaking of caring about people who should be smarter... the Governor. Cinnabar is on the mend. He is very lucky that Ariane and I took most of our agression and frustration out on each other before he woke up. He is NOT himself and this worries me. I fear that his gambit with Penroll's memories might have done some damage and that it should be undone sooner than not. In fact, I'll argue that point later today. Most likely, nothing will come of it. He listens to me sometimes, but never when he's set on things.

Glenn

[Jirai]

Glenn,

She said she had charmed you.

Agnieszka will be out on the border for a time, unfortunately. I shall consider this when she returns. I'm not sure what she'd say. I wish she'd come back sooner, really. I miss her.

You have said before that Cinnabar was acting strangely, and I say again that it might not be solely due to Penroll's memories - this is why I would speak with him myself. How would you see this undone, Glenn? I do not know that I can simply remove these things. There is - perhaps - another way, but it involves a thing that is difficult to obtain and dangerous to use.

Caring about people is a double-edged blade.

Rhaena

[Glenn]

Rhaena,

It was just two nights ago that I was standing in front of your body with a sword i barely knew how to handle ready to strike her down for what she did to you. I think that says a great deal about who is charmed by who, don't you?

I can't say I miss Agony, but I can say that if it's what you want, I'll argue on your behalf when she gets back. Or maybe in a year's time, I'll be good enough to start teaching you, if you can be that patient.

As for Cinnabar, I just don't know. I wish he hadn't done this in the first place. We need him whole and well. Trust me. We need him.

To live without caring is not to live at all. I'd rather die. That's why I'm still here, right? I just need to learn how to stop people from getting hurt because of my fool actions.

Glenn