Are you certain what you wish is what you want?

[Jirai]

Glenn,

I do not argue that. I simply tell you what she said. As I told her last night, actions speak louder than words. Her actions do not match the words she speaks so glibly.

Kals will not speak to me, and I no longer know how to speak to him in a way he will understand.

Perhaps we should both work on learning this thing.

Rhaena

[Glenn]

Time for one last, quick letter, before Glenn went off to check up on Calomel.

Rhaena,

Well, I don't think there's anyone else I'd rather learn with.

We'll talk soon, ok?

Glenn

[Jirai]

There was a small cottage in the woods. It was a rundown thing, the clearing around it overgrown - which was understandable, since its owners had died little more than a year ago. The building itself, the land it was on, were near worthless - no one paid much mind to it, save this young woman. Shortly after the disappearance of its owners (for there had been no bodies), she had been frequently in residence. That had ended abruptly, several months past, and she had not returned since. Until now.

When she emerged in the morning, it would be with a letter in hand, ready to be passed off to a child for delivery to one Lady Demarest.

[Glenn]

Very early this morning, a small, but certainly not inconsequencial amount of money was exchanged at Esraeux, the manor house and compound of Master Deost. About an hour later, a fairly similiar amount was exchanged at the stables by the Dagger. Hands were shaken. Something was left there, and a note to go along with it.

These two things would be awaiting Rhaena Olwak whenever she decided to arrive as Glenn had asked her to the night before.

[Jirai]

And she would arrive, be sure of that. What better way to ensure that than to tell the girl to be somewhere and give no reason? So the girl stepped into the stables, looking around curiously.

[Glenn]

The newest horse in the stables would look familiar to the Olwak girl, if only because she has ridden it once before. Of course, it was very likely that she wasn't paying all that much attention to horses, even though she WAS in the stables. There was a mystery at hand and that was the sort of thing that drew one's attention.

And it was not long before the mystery would be answered. A note was handed to her upon her arrival. It was almost impossible to mistake her for anyone else, given how she wad dressed.

Rhaena,

Sorry I couldn't be there for this but today is very, very busy. That's how Cinnabar keeps me out of trouble. He keeps giving me things to do. That's what I get for agreeing to that contract. And here's what you get for me agreeing to that contract.

I know we were just sort of kidding, but I got to thinking, and I decided that I wanted to do this, and so I have.

You might recognize one of the horses in the stables today. He was the one that you rode upon to meet with the Fiend. I had borrowed him from Esraeux then. This morning, I purchased him for you. His name is Steadfast (which generally means that he's not very quick and quite reliable), and I've made an arrangement so that I'll pay monthly for him to be stabled by the Dagger.

This is a gift, no ties, no strings, nothing. He's yours.

Look, Rhaena, you know that I came here knowing no one. I've been fortunate to find a few good friends, but it's been sort of hard on me ever since the Fiend's attack on Alastir. Since then, I've been lucky to have you as someone I can trust and count on. I know things are tough with Kals right now, and I'm sorry for that. Just know that you mean a lot to me and this is merely a way of showing it now that I'm making a good salary and I can afford to.

We'll talk later. If you take him out for a ride, be careful.

Glenn

[Jirai]

She would read the note that was handed to her. Oh, her expressions were concealed by the veil, but that did not hide how she moved over to the stall holding the horse, how she simply looked at it for long moments.

Glenn,

I cannot even find the words for this. Thank you is simply not sufficient.

Oh, I do not usually have this much trouble with words! It has taken me forever to pen this. You would not believe the parchment I have wasted.

This is a wonderful thing you have given me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I do not know what I can do to match it, for if I have been a friend to you, so have you been to me.

We will certainly speak soon.

Rhaena

[Jirai]

The letter would arrive in the early morning. It had been a busy night in several ways for the Trader.

Glenn,

I hope things went well last night, although I am not sure if "well" is the correct word to use in regards to an interrogation. Speaking of "well," though, Steadfast certainly is that. I had occasion to take him out last night, to visit Lady Elspeth. Truely, the best gift I have ever received. Nor have I fallen off for some days, now! I am told to ask you about a certain pen, as well. Elspeth has set a puzzle for me to solve, and I have already wasted some sleep in thought of it. No doubt it shall prove most interesting!

I know I said I would not apologize more, but I seem to have some trouble keeping promises of late, much as I might try. I would not see you harmed, and it grieves me that I have been the cause of some, however unknowing it was. And I must admit that I find it confusing at times when I cannot know what you feel, so used to that had I grown. Still, it is better this way, far better when you are able to be yourself.

I am sorry to have rambled on so much - and there I go, apologizing again!

Rhaena

[Glenn]

It had been a frustrating night, a particularly unpleasant one. That meant that finding a note from Rhaena would brighten his morning, even if the tone of her note wasn't overwhelmingly cheery.

Rhaena,

First off, what's done is done, and save for the fact that we can no longer connect in that way, everything is likely better for what happened. I KNOW I can trust you. I know it in my heart, without any doubt, because I have seen your inner self, and I see it every time I look upon you, no matter how many veils stand in my way. So stop apologizing, or else I might have to do something drastic.

As for Elspeth, I'm glad you went to see her. She IS new to Myrken and it seems that everyone who speaks with her so far, generally wants something. I'm fairly convinced that the only way to survive in Myrken is with the aid of one's friends. I know that's what gets me through each day.

We'll talk soon. Keep trying not to fall,

Glenn

[Glenn]

Lapses. He was having them again and for good reason. Rhaena had woken him up from his coma using her power but he refused to allow her to place the shield back up between them. There were so many reasons for this.

For one, he wanted back at that dreamwaking bastard and by keeping this, by getting something tangible out of the experience, well... at least they would have that.

More important was the closeness it created with the girl who held his affections. It was bliss, pure and simple. It was something they deserved. It was unfair not to have it, almost unnatural, blocking off what SHOULD be.

The cost, as it was... the cost was too high. His mind in tatters; Ariane's sword through Rhaena's flesh. Too high.

But there was another way: an offer from the most unlikely of benefactors and all it would cost them was a little trust... a great deal of trust, really, and some forgiveness and a few harmless lies. It was worth it though. For them to be together in this way, it was worth it. He would speak to the girl later today.