On board the Maris Stella, 15th day
of Decimus 1668 AV.
Dear Melisandre,
How your last three letters worried me! It seems
there are truly terrible events taking place in Freiburg as we speak.
How I wish I could have been there to help you! I regret that my
letter reaches you so late, but I only received yours four days ago.
I had been away in the province of Wische, but more on that matter later.
Let me explain some of the details you had not been
informed of. The señora Salvadora Veronica Lopez y Rodriguez
de Ochoa used to be Lucas's fiancée. Her father, the marquis
don Rafael Rodriguez de Barcino was mayor of that unfortunate city when
it was invaded by the Montaignes. He was in a difficult position,
compounded by the fact that his wife was very sick with consumption.
Doña Veronica, however, had been visiting with her relatives near
uncle Andrès' estancia, and Lucas and her had had time to become
engaged, with the blessing of her parents.
However, during Lucas's travels through Théah
(I think I have told you the bulk of these adventures), doña Veronica
was called back to Barcino by her father. To make the story short,
he eventually gave her hand in marriage to don Marcao Ontivarès
de Ochoa de Torres as both a caving-in to blackmail and a means to ensure
her protection. When Lucas learned of it, it was too late.
He challenged don Marcao to a duel, but the man refused. Don Marcao
even said crudely: "I want two things from her: a son and a second son.
Once she has given me that, I do not care what she does."
Your description of the torments and the final end
of the poor woman shook me deeply. I had no idea she had such vicious
enemies. And that you should have to witness it so thoroughly, my
poor friend!... I grieve for you, and for her soul. May Theus
grant your his comfort.
I have also started receiving -- and returning -- letters
from Ferdinand. He seems quite in despair for someone to talk to
since he has been ostracized after his terrifying adventure. I can
understand the, shall we say "awkward", situation, but Juan vouched for
Ferdinand and I place great faith in my cousin. But between your
letters and Ferdinand's, I am very concerned about the events in Freiburg.
It looks as if all of my friends are living in separate little worlds full
of secrets, barely willing to work together anymore. I was most sad
that Baronet Vlad left without I had a chance to say goodbye. I pray
you, do not let Freiburg drive wedges between you all! Division must
surely bring all to defeat.
As for myself, as I mentioned earlier, I have been
travelling through the königreich of Wische with the Eisen
soldiers I mentioned in my last letter, the Roaring Drachen. Their
leader, Sergeant Wilhelm, told me Eisenfürst Reinhard von Wische,
in Siegsburg, needed the help of adventuring souls. Since I had to
wait for at least three weeks before the next opportunity to find Die
Zierlich, I impulsively decided to accept the invitation.
In Siegsburg, I learned that this miserable, starving
city was now the victim of a new ill: ghouls were preying upon the sick,
weak, and wounded. I will shorten the story and tell you that my
men and I made night rounds until we located and destroyed a nest.
We then found a second one that same night but the creatures took refuge
in a hole underground, so we came back the next day with the Roaring Drachen
to blow it up using gunpowder. It worked wonderfully.
After this, the ghoul hunt and myself had acquired
a certain notoriety, particularly when people discovered I actually had
money. There is no currency to be found in Siegsburg, "treasury"
notes are used instead. I had estimated that there were between eight
and twenty ghoul nests, and I did not have the time to find them all, so
I hired the people of Siegsburg and with the help of the Eisenfürst's
people, particularly Sergeant Wilhelm, we organized some 300 men into search
parties and I believe we were able to root out the ghoul problem for the
next several months at least.
After this a squad of Eisen soldiers, former Roaring
Drachen themselves, hired with the Maris Stella as marines, and they seem
excellent companions. Upon returning to my vessel I found your letters
and Ferdinand's, which boded ill.
Since then, I have found Die Zierlich and had
a bit of an altercation. I'm afraid Herr Dedrick's vessel will require
some refitting before it can sail again. And do not be surprised
if you see a very red-faced man claiming to be the Pösen ambassador
to Freiburg, in the next few days. He did not appreciate our encounter.
Now that there is little chance of finding slavers
for the next several weeks, I will venture again into the Trade Sea and
try to disrupt the Vendel trade with Montaigne. I hope to return
to Freiburg for wintering in time for Prophets' Mass.
Your friend as ever,
Constanza
