Letter from a sister

Writers: Emma
Date Posted: 30th January 2006

Characters: Thanja, Kanydrin
Description: Thanja gets a letter from her sister
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 3

Thanja reached behind her, settling the cushion comfortably into place, supporting the small of her back. She gave a contented wriggle as she relaxed on the couch, before reaching out to a small side table and picking up a rolled hide that lay there. Slowly she pulled on the lace that held it closed, then smiling as she saw her sister's handwriting come into view.

"Thanja dearest," she read. "I hope Tollan found you okay in your new home, that dratted blue nuisance of mine was hard enough to train to carry letters in the first place, so sending him somewhere new was always a risk. Even so, if he finds you, he finds you."

The Hallsecond could see her sister's face as she wrote that, and she knew that Seecora didn't really mean it how it sounded. Even so, it brough back memories of her older sister scolded her as a child even though there were less than two turns between them.

"So tell be about your new home? Is it true what they say about the Weyrs and the strange ways of their inhabitants, or is it just a myth to scare the rest of us. I'm sure that dragonriders are people too, with all the same thoughts, feelings and desires as the rest of us despite those Harper Tales we all grew up on. But then I guess you would know, with my niece and nephew having joined that refined company!"

"And what's this we hear about a promotion! To the lofty rank of Hallsecond no less. My Husband said he always thought it would be Kanydrin, but I told him no, that you had enough ambition and more than all of us. You never chose to show it until you needed it, that's all, or that is what I told Ma and Pa. Ma agreed with me, as always. Pa just smiled, saying he knew you would always fall on your feet no matter what."

"He was right, you all survived that storm, and the move to Emerald Fall.
That place sounds simply dreadful and so backward! Jakrin's drawings were pretty though, I appreciated them. That lad has talent, keep an eye on him, the Harpers might steal him away to join them as an artist!"

That thought had crossed her mind. Jakrin was settling in very well with the harper apprentices, although apprentices of both crafts had been integrated together as much as possible. There was a certain amount in common between the crafts, and some cross crafting was being encouraged to bring the two groups together. It did seem to be working, but no-one had yet to formally make the decision to switch crafts.

"How are you dealing with being put above those Harpers?" continued her sister.

"I bet some of them are jealous, but too surprised to say anything. You know you can do this. You are as good as any of them, if not better. I expect they'll all be jumping to the rhythm of the printing presses soon enough, rather than those drums!"

Thanja had to laugh at that, which brought her the attention of her husband.

"What is is love?" he asked.

"Letter from my sister. Seecora is her usual self by the sound of it. She's congratulated me on the promotion, and wants us to keep an eye on Jakrin, to make sure the harpers don't steal him away to join them as an artist."

Her husband laughed. "Small chance of that, you know how happy he is tinkering with the printing press. He'll not give that up in a hurry.
Besides, have you heard his attempts to sing?"

"Give her my love when you write back," said Kanydrin after a moment. "Maybe they could visit us soon?"

"I'll suggest that," she said knowing he meant the offer. "We've not seen them in far too long, and we could get our two to earn their keep and go fetch them!"

"That I'd like to see!"

Last updated on the January 30th 2006

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Letter from a sister