Part 12 LettersArka returned to her room with a small package of meat and fish. It was barely enough, but would have to do. Now for the letters. She opened a drawer in her desk and took out a portfolio. She was saving this parchment for her final manuscript, but that would not now be written, at least not by her. She took the first sheet and laid it in front of her. Dipping the quill in the ink, she began to write in a small neat hand:
Her Royal Highness
Queen Lolitra
High Royal House of Purrty
Your Highness,
I am immensely grateful for your help in recovering me to my current state. I wish I could say I was back to my old self, but I fear that may take a good time and plenty of rest to achieve. I am also sorry that I left your household in such a hurry, without a word of my destination. I hope you did not take this as discourteous or ungrateful; one day, I will be able to reveal to you the reason for my sudden departure. Suffice it to say; I had good intentions.
I shall be forever in your debt, for without the care and potions that were lavished on me, I doubt I would have survived the crisis of my illness. Now that I am recovering, I can reveal that the illness, as such it was, was indeed beyond the reach of the healing cures. However, the potions did keep me alive long enough to fight it. When I am stronger I shall write of what became of me after I left your household, but for now I must rest and take stock.
If there is anything I can do or give you, name it and it shall be done.
Your grateful servant
Arka Garam
Arka felt slightly ashamed of the pretence, but did not want Lolitra to worry about her. Least of all she did not want her trying to find her. She would only bring her back to Hydlaa. The letter was vague enough to give her the impression she had gone away to recover. Satisfied, Arka dusted the parchment with silver sand, folded it carefully and sealed it with a drop of wax, meted in the spluttering candle flame.
Now for Erelenga. Putting the Queen’s letter to one side, she started on another sheet of parchment.
Erelenga Karal
Dean of Stalactite Studies
University of Yliakum
From the Office of the Praesidior
Dear Dean Karal,
I find myself much recovered, thanks to your timely intervention. I have much to thank you for your quick thinking and care. I have decided to go away for a little time to recover fully, before taking up my duties again at the University. While I am away, I would like you to take charge here, call the staff and students together and make the arrangements for the new semester.
You will find also a letter for the Queen. I would be very grateful if you could see this gets to her. Please make sure she receives it in person.
Rest assured that you have my full confidence and authority.
Arka Garam
Praesidior of the University
Arka dropped wax at the foot of the letter and endorsed it with the University Seal. Again, she felt a little uneasy about misleading Erelenga, but the University must come first, and she did not want him chasing after her.
She waited for the wax to cool then wrapped both letters together in a third sheet of parchment, tying the bundle with string and sealing it with wax. She wrote Erelega’s name on the outside.
Now the difficult letter. She had to take care with this one.
She smiled to herself. That should slow them down a little! Of all people, Arka felt the most regret at leading Sarine on, but she knew she could trust her. She wouldn’t tell anyone else about this, she was sure.
She read this letter again, to make sure she hadn’t given anything away. Moving across to her jacket hanging on the back of the door, she took a leather purse from its pocket. Back at her desk, she emptied its contents onto her desk and picked up a scrap of parchment. She looked at this for a brief moment, remembering the trouble it had caused, before carefully folding Sarine’s letter around it.
She looked at the trias on the desk and another thought struck her. What if she died before she got to her destination? Another letter was needed.
She hastily jotted down a note ‘To Whom it may concern’ promising a reward if the person finding her body would carry out her wishes. Then she left specific instructions about where they should leave her body and the package of papers, and from whom the reward could be claimed. She sealed this, together with the coins and placed it inside her shirt.
Was that all? Arka was almost reluctant to leave, but knew that the longer she waited, the less was the chance of her making it alive to her final destination. She buckled herself into her armour, tied her precious axes round her belt, hoisted the knapsack onto her shoulders, buckled the precious satchel round her waist and fastened the cloak with the brooch she had rescued from her family home all those years ago.
She gauged the weight and decided that she could manage, if she travelled slowly. She would leave by the North Gate before the dawn. The guards were used to people setting off early on hunting trips; they would not question her. She would deliver Sarine’s letter on her way. Taking a last look around the room that had been her home for such a long time, she closed the door and set off on her final journey.
As the door closed, a light draft stirred the papers on her desk and Arka did not see her list of tasks fall to the floor.
