To His Speechless Talkativity, The Most Wretched Emperor of Dust, Exexexes X, Possibly Acting Bishop of Jolo's Perfectly Ignoble Boarding House
From Her Most Luminescent Cowherd, Deaconess-Baroness Zenzylina Q of the Discarded Mop, and the Outhouse of Brutal Serendipity
21 Eleasis, the Year before the Next
By the Mistshadow, O Humblest of Humbleness, I greet you.
I worry that Oleonor Rex has endangered the Outhouse by bringing the servant girl here, Your Mistiness. Were any vigilant eyes to have followed her, and were those eyes to report back to the lady, our already delicate standing in her dominion could be placed in even greater jeopardy. I dare not think of what she would do to us at her merest fearful speculation that the Church of Leira had somehow reached their fingers through the very walls of her manor.
But these three days have not been ill spent, for young Anneletta has only begun to open her ears to the Truth. I welcomed her into the sanctum and bade Oleonor Rex to fetch some sweet wine for her refreshment. And then I sat her down with me, and for lack of seeing my face, she seemed to focus on her own face reflected in my silvery mask. And with my first words of enlightenment to her, I knew that I had earned her rapt attention:
"The Truth is that everything in this world--including what I am telling you now--is a lie."
She seems so thirsty to find a higher purpose and desperate to learn what Oleonor and I have only begun to teach her, as if her very life depends on this enlightenment. In these three days, she has learned a few of our common prayers, she has partaken in our Rite of Dusk and in our Calling to the Mist, and she seems eager to share in our company, though she knows well what dreadful reputation we have in the lady's house. Though pleasant, courteous and full of welcoming smiles for us, there is a persistent sadness polluting her voice. The sadness ails me, and I would see it removed. May the Guardian of Liars see her safely through to wherever her destiny leads.
Tempted though she was to flee from Lady Corella's court once outside her walls, Oleonor persuaded her to return with him to the lady's estate. Were she to escape, Lady Corella would see her hunted like a fox before the hounds, whether for the sake of the lady's pride or for the threat which Anneletta and her knowledge would pose were this servant girl to find the lady's political enemies and give voice to all that she has witnessed.
Truth is a truly dangerous thing, is it not? Let us give thanks for the falsehoods with which the Mistmaiden shields us from this terrible reality.
Besides, I suspect that Anneletta has yet to play a greater role in this drama, and it would not do to see her quit the stage now. For her--and for ourselves--to know any peace, Lady Corella must play her own role unto the final act, and there she must fall.
This latest sacramental wine truly is delectable, and now our amphorae are growing scant and emptied. Lady Corella's vintner is always kind enough to leave with us a measure of whatever wine she rejects. I have not seen this vintner for quite a while, and I wonder when he will next happen by.
More word shall come soon, Your Grace.
By the Mistshadow,
Zee
From Her Most Luminescent Cowherd, Deaconess-Baroness Zenzylina Q of the Discarded Mop, and the Outhouse of Brutal Serendipity
21 Eleasis, the Year before the Next
By the Mistshadow, O Humblest of Humbleness, I greet you.
I worry that Oleonor Rex has endangered the Outhouse by bringing the servant girl here, Your Mistiness. Were any vigilant eyes to have followed her, and were those eyes to report back to the lady, our already delicate standing in her dominion could be placed in even greater jeopardy. I dare not think of what she would do to us at her merest fearful speculation that the Church of Leira had somehow reached their fingers through the very walls of her manor.
But these three days have not been ill spent, for young Anneletta has only begun to open her ears to the Truth. I welcomed her into the sanctum and bade Oleonor Rex to fetch some sweet wine for her refreshment. And then I sat her down with me, and for lack of seeing my face, she seemed to focus on her own face reflected in my silvery mask. And with my first words of enlightenment to her, I knew that I had earned her rapt attention:
"The Truth is that everything in this world--including what I am telling you now--is a lie."
She seems so thirsty to find a higher purpose and desperate to learn what Oleonor and I have only begun to teach her, as if her very life depends on this enlightenment. In these three days, she has learned a few of our common prayers, she has partaken in our Rite of Dusk and in our Calling to the Mist, and she seems eager to share in our company, though she knows well what dreadful reputation we have in the lady's house. Though pleasant, courteous and full of welcoming smiles for us, there is a persistent sadness polluting her voice. The sadness ails me, and I would see it removed. May the Guardian of Liars see her safely through to wherever her destiny leads.
Tempted though she was to flee from Lady Corella's court once outside her walls, Oleonor persuaded her to return with him to the lady's estate. Were she to escape, Lady Corella would see her hunted like a fox before the hounds, whether for the sake of the lady's pride or for the threat which Anneletta and her knowledge would pose were this servant girl to find the lady's political enemies and give voice to all that she has witnessed.
Truth is a truly dangerous thing, is it not? Let us give thanks for the falsehoods with which the Mistmaiden shields us from this terrible reality.
Besides, I suspect that Anneletta has yet to play a greater role in this drama, and it would not do to see her quit the stage now. For her--and for ourselves--to know any peace, Lady Corella must play her own role unto the final act, and there she must fall.
This latest sacramental wine truly is delectable, and now our amphorae are growing scant and emptied. Lady Corella's vintner is always kind enough to leave with us a measure of whatever wine she rejects. I have not seen this vintner for quite a while, and I wonder when he will next happen by.
More word shall come soon, Your Grace.
By the Mistshadow,
Zee
Corella d'Margo, arch-liar
Wyren Caul-of-Amber, alchemist
Tirah Het-Nanu, courtesan
Wyren Caul-of-Amber, alchemist
Tirah Het-Nanu, courtesan