Anais of Brightshire

Anais of the Stolen Road: Chapter 1

Dearest Anais,

I spent today's lesson time hiding in a cupboard in Mildred's rooms. She was quite agitated that she couldn't find me and complained to my mother. In response, my mother - normally such a sweet woman - has instructed that I stay in my rooms tonight and not attend the dinner or the festivities planned for Lord Reginald Pendragon's visit. I've enclosed with this note a rather pretty ruby pendant that Lord Pendragon gifted me last evening. Although it's very nice, I fear that he has given it to me for unnerving reasons. My brother is very sick, and there has been talk that if he dies I will have to break my betrothal to Thomas and marry some westerner, who will rule Barriershire through me. I don't like it at all. I think Lord Pendragon wishes me to marry his youngest son, assuming my brother dies. His son is awful and I hate him.

My love always,

Give my best to dearest Cedric,

Mediera Evangiline

Dearest Mediera,

I'm sorry to hear of your brother's illness. There have been many who have fallen ill in Brightshire, as well. Cedric says that Thomas is bedridden. I will ask the sister of mercy to pray that both Thomas and your brother recover, and that you never have to marry against your will. Thellium has been occupied trying to help Thomas, so I have been left with little to fill my time. Although, the truth is that even before Thomas fell ill, Thellium and I had been on difficult terms. I don't know what will happen to me if Thellium decides he no longer wishes to keep me as his apprentice. It's a constant unspoken threat and I can hardly bear it. I don't feel free to tell you in this letter about the details of the unfortunate situation that caused me to fall out of Thellium's favor, but when you visit, I'll tell you everything. Cedric and I are anxiously awaiting the summer and being with you once again.

All of my love,

Anais

Dearest Anais,

This letter has to be my last for awhile. I've begged Mildred to find a runner in the market to deliver it instead of using our post, for I'm certain my letters are being seized. Lord Pendragon returned to Ellshire, but he left his son Colin. My father named Colin Sheriff of Barriershire, and I'm certain my father is ceding too many decisions to him. Colin says my family must leave the Great House, that the country air will be better for my brother. He will rule the city in my family's absence. I think my father is making a grave mistake, but he will not listen to me. I fear I will not be allowed to visit Brightshire this summer. Do not send a letter in response. Colin has replaced all of the women in our household besides Mildred, and I think any word you send will be intercepted before it reaches me. I am scared of what the future holds. I will write again when I find a safe method. I hope this letter finds you well.

Give Cedric my love,

Mediera Evangiline

I never told Mediera about the spell that Cedric and I had cast so many months before. I hinted about it in the letters, but I feared that if she knew I had dabbled, she would hate me. I thought that if Cedric and I could tell her in person, we could make her understand.

I shook a pair of cold bone dice in my hands and threw them onto a wooden square we had set on my bed. Five and six. I smiled and placed my hand on the small pile of coppers.

Cedric rolled his eyes. "That's your sixth win in a row. You must be cheating."

I shook my head. "You're just having a run of bad luck. Another game?"