Cal Soulshadow

Grimacing, Cal sat down heavily. She had decided to practise more with her axe, and her shoulders and upper back were aching abominably.
Why was it that she had gone back to using an axe, she wondered? Perhaps it was because she missed Kai.
Smiling faintly, she picked up her quill and began to write.

My dearest Kai,

I hope this letter finds ye well. Have ye seen action yet, or are they letting ye settle in before they send ye south to the forts?

Kelen returned to us last week, although it was for a short time only. He had come to say goodbye. I?m not sure how well ye recall yer time with Damarus, but do ye remember when he stabbed me in the side with the Hand of Xathos? The wound began to fester and it would only have been a matter of time before it killed me. To save my life, Kelen used his clerical abilities to take the wound unto himself and, not being a follower of Raza, he was able heal naturally.

It seems that the Council has become very interested in Kelen?s wound, though it is but a scar now. They have requested that he return to Gorimdor so that he may be observed. I would not be surprised if yer own transfer there is for similar reasons. Be careful, Kai. I fear that the barbarians are the least of yer worries.

Should ye need someone to turn to, contact my father (Havarian Soulshadow, not the father of my blood, who is the very last person anyone in their right minds would want to meet!). He knows ye and can help ye if ye need it.

Things are still fairly quiet back here. There is still a thick carpet of snow on the ground, and the Trinsic Rose?s second anniversary had to be postponed a week due to a blizzard.

Talon has stepped down as Viper Captain. He wants to concentrate on being a husband to Elise and a father to Keina. Rather unexpectedly (since she nay thought she could have children), Elise is carrying Talon?s natural child, and it will be born in the summer. I can understand Talon wanting to live long enough to see his child born, so I have relieved him of his duties as he requested. Fortunately, Sergeant McJepp has returned so I have promoted him and he once again wears the captain?s cloak.

Yew has been quiet, but I have a feeling that we are experiencing the calm before the storm. Last week, Vesper made an unexpected attack on Trinsic, leaving Kaldor in a difficult position, since we are allies to both. One of the Vesperians, a man named Lance Sanders, was in the stocks for an assault on two children, one of whom turned out to be Keina. Hanse Davion took exception to this and demanded he be released, but Kaelyn refused. A fight broke out and Vesper were beaten, and Hanse put in the stocks, so of course, once they had recovered, they returned and repaid the favour.

I had been called upon to treat Keina, who had an infected wound (not from Lance, but from some drows who tried to kidnap her, apparently), and when I went to leave Trinsic I found the Vesperians flogging Kaelyn in the stocks. I was furious, but fortunately they stopped when I appeared and I was able to get her to the healers and treat her injuries.

I hope Vesper do not persist with this war. It is futile, considering that they are at war with almost everyone else, including Cove. Their behaviour did not impress me and it is as I could do to restrain myself when I saw what they had done to Kaelyn.

The times ahead will be interesting, I am sure, but certainly not untroubled.

Write soon, Kai, and let me know how yer doing. I miss ye with all my heart.

Cal

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