WOT Adv 40 - Nadira Sedai's Letter

--- The Wheel Turns ---
You set a watch for the night rotating between you, Keb, and Thenlir. The evening passes without incident, and the next morning dawns bitterly cold.

Thenlir, while packing his things, grumbles something uncouth regarding the unusually cold weather. And while the sun eventually stretches tentative fingers across the horizon, it brings little warmth. In fact, only when it is well after breakfast, about mid day, after you have packed up all your gear and the extra gear gathered from the dead, that the sun finally starts to melt the thin layer of snow and frost on the ground.

"It's cold!" Keb pouts, and shivers in her simple leather tunic, rubbing her arms and stamping her feet to keep warm.

You nod in agreement. It gets cold in the desert at times. But it's more often the heat that you remember than the cold. This wetlander cold is different, because there is usually so much water in the air it seems even colder.

"Yes," Maesln says between chattering teeth. "We'll need to get some more sensible clothing," Maeslyn comments. Perhaps in an outlying settlement, or if need be, in Aturo's Orchard.

You don't dare risk a fire, however, and so after a cold breakfast, your little troupe finally sets out, with you in the lead, following the hoof prints you found earlier. You find that they move cross country for a few miles and after a while eventually pair up with the road.

While the prints are more difficult to follow now, you still manage to pick out the tell tale signs of a group of horsemen moving rapidly in one direction.

Near the end of the day you eventually come to a settlement and there you lose the tracks as they mix in with the usual traffic.

"Do you suppose any of this Taraboner business has anything to do with your mission, Maeslyn?" you query while entering the town.

"It's possible. I really don't have any idea," Maeslyn replies as she studies the settlement. "I guess we won't know until we see her. For now, however, it's getting late, and we'll stop for the night here."

It's not more than a very small town, more of a collection of houses than anything else. There's not even an inn. There is a sort of general store. Although it's selection is limited and its prices higher than usual. Everyone purchases some more sensible cold weather clothing. Maeslyn pays for you to get outfitted as well.

"I still need a guide and I can't see very much good coming of anything if you turn into a block of ice," she tells you sensibly when she hands you the package. You nod your thanks, grateful to have the extra gear should you need it.

Maeslyn also manages to sell two suits of armor and two swords to the merchant manning the general store before he runs out of coin. He smiles a toothy, yet friendly, smile and launches into a long discourse about how such items would look grand above his fireplace mantle. "Why my gran pappy once used to tell me of a time when he fought..." and he starts into a lengthy tale.

Your party passes the night in the merchant's stable, laying out bed rolls in the loft. The night passes quietly and quickly and after a small breakfast, you again make ready to leave.

As you are saddling the horses in the stable, conversing with Keb and Maeslyn over strange wetlander customs, a young woman watches you from the door of a hooper's shop. After a moment or two, she approaches.

"My apologies for interrupting your business, my lady," the woman says shyly, approaching Maeslyn. "But I have a message, and I'm bidden to give it to one such as yourself." The young woman curties, presents a pouch and what looks like a folded letter, and then scurries back into the doorway as soon as you take it.

Maeslyn examines the letter, breaks the seal, and then reads outloud:

To Lady Maeslyn and Her Travelling Companions,

I hope that you have made it this far without too much travail. I regret the necessity of having you take the dark rode of the ways, but these are difficult times, require difficult measures. I regret that those travelling with Maeslyn have been diverted from their own business. Trust that my need is great, and that I offer recompense in keeping with your great worth.

I have reserved rooms at the Three Crowns Inn in Aturo's Orchard, which I hold for you now. Please come and visit as my guests, so that we may discuss this matter in more detail.

I'm sure I don't have to remind judicous persons such as yourself that my business is of some confidence. In these times especially, dangers await the indiscret, and there are those who would attempt to interfere with my mission should they learn of if.

I look forward to our meeting,
Nadira Sedai

Maeslyn examines the pouch and smiles toward Keb. "Ten golden crowns, Keb. They are yours if you join me for the remainder of whatever mission it is that Nadira has in store."

Keb's eyes light up when she sees the coin, "You sure you couln't make it a little more? After all, I am half way around the world away from home."

"Sorry, Keb. It's either this or come along for the fun of it. You might as well take the pay." Maeslyn smiles sweetly at her. Keb scratches her hair and eyes the pouch.

"Fine. I'll do it," Keb says with a pout. "You know me too well, Maeslyn." But her pout quickly changes to smile when Maeslyn hands her the pouch.

"Don't spend it all in once place." Maeslyn says.

"I just hope I stay alive long enough to eventually spend it." Keb replies half jokingly.

Maeslyn then turns and talks to the young woman in the doorway, asking her some more questions. Her name is Tamana and she says she was instructed to give this letter to one who fit the description of Lady Maeslyn should she happen to come this way. She informs you that Aturo's Orchard is some three day journey away.

Maeslyn decides to stock up on some more food and then leave in the morning.