Silas My Love, I’m writing this knowing that I have no address, nor any means of delivery. I’m writing this because I cannot take thinking about it over and over. I’m writing this because, maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance you might read these words one day. Though when I look in Shaliera’s eyes I know I’m being silly for thinking this way. Gods! I had dreamed that you would pop open the lock on my door and I would see your smiling mug, but when it was Shaliera’s face, with makeup up so stunning it might as well be warpaint, I just froze, hugging our daughter tight, neither of us breathing. Her words still ring in my ears: “Silas sent me, lets go… We’ll are you just gonna stare at me like I’m a Medusa or are you coming?” Escaping Segwyr was terrifying. The crowned elf Illeah, tossing fire right by me, pushing toward the food stores, bleeding from where the jagged crown was biting her. We made our way down the Great Rise by the east stair, as there was untold chaos on the other side of the bridge. In our haste, I tripped and nearly tumbled off, my mother always said my clumsiness was going to be the death of me. How horrible would that be? To just trip off the edge after all the work you and Shaliera went to save me? Vynelli was so brave through it all, you would have been so proud of her. She pointed out those horrifying flying centipede like creatures, the first of which arrived just as we started our way down the stair. Even when beam of light burst the upper floors of Segwyr Keep, she didn’t cry, and we thought that was the worst. It wasn’t until the earth split, just west of the Keep, and the geyser of Hellfire and searing ash rose into the sky that she began to cry. To be honest we all were crying then, even if just from the ash. Thank the Gods the wind was blowing lightly to the east, if it had been to the south… I cannot even think it. I’ll never forget the sight of those flames, and that column of ash, so high I wondered if they would piece the heavens. Nor will forget the Great Tree of Segwyr burning away. Each night we thought it would stop, but it must have been a week before you couldn’t see embers burning away in the night. They say if you go up to the trunk, there are embers there still, though only the foolhardy dare such a visit. The river ran black with ash for days, so fortunate we were that there were enough holy men and women to cleanse enough drinking water for everyone. Kylantha Songsorrow formed a small pond from the river and purified the water in the pond, which really helped until Mr. Vatis could get the water vats set up. I hear her real name is Farenyiel, and that she has some relation to the Lord of Pride, but I guess that’s gossip you probably already know. We had to go hungry from time to time, we lost a fair number of men and women out in the wilds. I hear the lizardfolk aren’t particularly happy with us in their hunting grounds. There seems to be some bad blood there. Fortunately, a settlement north of Segwyr has sprouted up, and our braver compatriots have been able to trade our valuables for food. Some of the food they give us is fresh, likely whatever survived the searing ash, and some of it is the same rations that I was fed while captive. Since I’m told the Yamamoto is no more, I have to think Illeah was able to get at their provisions and survive the destruction of Segwyr. I miss Fairport... but now that the buildings are going up, and there are less of us huddled in the old Lumsden structures, which a feel a bit haunted, people’s spirits have been rising noticeably, and there is a real aura of community and togetherness that it’s hard not to get swept up in. Nothing like the oft callous streets of ‘our fair city.’ When many of these people left Segwyr, and it went up in flames, I’m told they left the curse of that place behind them. Now they have a second chance, in a town of orphans, where I think we are all seeking each other as family. Speaking of orphans, I’ve tried to help as best I can, and it seems that mostly means looking after the orphaned children of Segwyr, and teaching them their letters. School was apparently never priority in Segwyr, so I have a lot of ground to make up. I’ve been taking special care with a couple of little redheaded girls: Lana Littleburr and Ellis Rinehart. They are close friends, but they are starting to warm up to Vynelli. Little Lana is quiet, but one can hardly blame her for that, as she lost her mother back in Segwyr. She won’t talk about, but I know what happened because Sid won’t shut up about it. Ugh, Sid. My oldest and most annoying student. I’ve heard him tell the story around the fire more than a couple times, if Lana is around I always take her inside. Against the commands of his elders, Sid made his way into chaos of the town center, though I think he played up the amount of fighting he did and played down the amount of hiding. It seems he decided to risk everything for a girl by the name of Shella, who had long blond hair like mine, as he never misses the chance to point me out for comparison during his story. Unfortunately, Lady DuVantes’ Manor was impregnable, and Sid was unable to gain entry. He said he saw bloody angel statues emerge from the gates. Larger statues of Lady Duvantes and Vaun could be seen to the north. I must say, there is something unsettling about Lady DuVantes, though it’s nothing compared chills Mr. Riggerson gave me during our long trek. I shall not speak of that, for I know it would pain you, simply know that we were not harmed, no matter how unsettled we became. I’m rambling now, just like as if you were here with me. Back to the story then? The sewer cultists had fallen to the Ravagers, and the Inquisitors positioned at Lady DuVantes’ Manor had been flanked from all sides and defeated, while the rest of the Inquisition took position in the Keep and it’s surrounding fortifications. Unnaturally large, thorny vines were expanding slowly around the Great Tree. Ravagers were dragging women from their homes to the Halfway Inn. Sid couldn’t gain access to his young love, it was all he could do to keep himself from danger and wait. Suddenly, a blinding beam of light cut right through the vine, part of the Inn, and pretty much anything else it touched in the span of a breath. After Sid regained his vision he could see the beam must have come from what appeared to be a pyramid being held on a platform by twelve armored men. Exceedingly strong men, if we are to believe Sid as to the size of the thing. The Ravagers were scattered and Lilly took the opportunity to make a break for it, crawling out of the first floor window, holding a bloody dagger in one hand, with Lana and Ellis in tow. Rather than rally his men, the leader of the Ravagers, a massively ugly half-orc known as Bajen, chased down Lilly and the girls. Lilly sent the girls running south, and turned to face the half-orc. Sid says he we was going to save Lilly, but then realized that the children would die for sure if he let them just run through streets of Segwyr. The dead were rising, and he got to them just in time to lead them west, to where fewer lives had been taken, only then did they turn south and quietly made their way to the west stair, and down into the Lowlands, to join with the rest of the exodus. Even Sid won’t say how she died, only that he’s sure she did. Taken as a whole, you can’t get everybody to agree one way or another on anything that happened in Segwyr. I don’t know if it was the madness or what, but it was a troubled place, and from time to time you can see the old ugly hate that people had there over one thing or another bubble to the surface. Yet, of the people who have known Lilly, nobody has had anything but good things to say about her. That means something, and since I’ve been looking after Lana and Ellis, I’ve had no shortage of kind offers of aid from those who knew her mother. This town is still getting on its feet, but I think it’s already wonderful. The people here have been through so much, but they are unbroken, and truly from all walks of life. Vynelli and I are happy here, and you got us here. Thank you, my Love. I still meet people here from time to time that knew you. Just yesterday I finally got up the courage to speak with the sentient golem, Lotus, and he knew you as well. Though not everyone sings your praises. I sometimes wonder, My love.. I know you would go to any lengths to set me free. I just hope you didn’t have to do anything horrible along the way. When the Breath of Zalethrion blows over our little town, and I pull Vynelli tight to me, I feel you there with me, whispering that it will be ok. That we will all be fine. Come back to me my alley cat. My heart is not whole without you. With Undying Love, Tesha Frayter
