Letters to a Valkyrie

DAYS FOUR & FIVE

I'm finally up to Silverymoon, though about two days behind. The past two days have somehow not had a lot going on and yet have managed to be ridiculously exhausting. I am going to try cover as much as I can about them in this entry so I can stop playing catch up and actually get to sleep at around the same time the others do.

The day we got there wasn't too eventful. We arrived from Sigil about half a mile from the gates of Silverymoon, and the party decided that we needed some sort of cover for our appearance in Silverymoon during these troubled times, so I told them about my title, that I was basically a princess. Ciarnali wasn't too pleased by this revelation, but the rest of them didn't seem to mind. I changed out of my work clothes and into the festival outfit Tallulah got me that I had augmented with some of my Valkyrie ceremonial attire so I could look properly noble. Once that was done, we started off to the city and our first stop inside: the Vault of Sages, the massive Silverymoon library. Frieda, you would have loved it there. So many histories and epics for you to read. Maybe I can take you there one day.

We asked for any books they had on the Spellplague and the Time of Troubles, hoping they might have some clues as to what was causing these rogue portals.

Now, a lot of the buildings here in Silverymoon have these massive trees incorporated into their architecture. The library is one such building. Ciarnali decided she wanted to climb the tree. By the time we had gotten out of the library she was fairly far up there. So, to get down, she jumps.

Yeah.

She does all these flips and jumps on the way down from the tree and sticks the landing. Somehow, by the grace of Torm and whoever else is listening, I managed to keep it all together this time, avoiding a repeat of the Bugbear Incident. Though Talulluh saw my reaction and gave me a knowing nod. Ciarnali has no business being THAT hot!

Once we were done there started, we began to ask around for the finest inn we could find. I was a visiting noble, after all. I couldn't stay at any old drab inn.

Ugh. Being noble is exhausting. I'm not looking forward to it. Having to act like everyone is beneath you? I got enough of that from mother's husband. And many of the other elves there. Why would I treat others that way when I know what it's like?

We were referred to the Bright Blade Brandished by a guard and discovered that Ciarnali's grandfather was in Silverymoon as well currently, staying at another inn.

Once we reached the inn, we were greeted by a woman working the counter. We asked to see the largest suite they had, which wound up being surprisingly large. The sitting room I am writing this in could hold much of my father's tent. There's space for dancing. In our room.

They also had excruciatingly soft beds. I got sore just looking at them, so I decided to sleep outside on the balcony because the stars were gorgeous that first night and it was ridiculously warm inside. How do people deal with this heat? I miss the snow.

Turns out the lady who worked at the counter downstairs was Lochlin's mother, Leylana. She had been searching for him and had run out money in Silverymoon, so she had taken a job at the inn to get some more before continuing her search. It was really sweet to see them back together.

She didn't know who Crampernap was, so those two must have gotten together after he ran away from home. We still don't know why he left home as far as I know. He might by now, but if he does, he hasn't shared it with us.

I sometimes wonder if the Lady of Pain planned reunions like this to make things harder for us. Other times it feels like she is actually trying to help us heal. I really do not understand what she has in mind for us, I just know that I want to get it done and over with so I can come home to you. Somewhere I don't need to worry about feelings for others and I can just focus on loving you and leading my people the way I need to. I don't want more distractions from Ciarnali or Alexandra.