Dear Uncle Lucky,

Mum says we can write to you. Aidan and Bea cannot write. I will write for all of us. Mum says to keep letters short. Mum says you are busy but you want to hear from us.

We are fine. How are you? I learned how to fight with a sword and a shield today. Aunt Lyana (she is a warrier) is teaching me. It hurts my arm to hold it long. I do not like it, but Lord Keefe says it is important I know. I do not like Lord Keefe.

Aidan wants to know why there are not bloodsuckers (he means vampires but he calls them bloodsuckers) in Yransea. Mum says you are an eggspert in bloodsuckers and you would know. Aidan thinks it would be nice to have bloodsuckers because they could kill the cows and sheep without hurting them. Do you think when I am Baron I should have bloodsuckers come live here?

Bea sends kisses. Lots of them. I may have to put her in jail. Lord Keefe says kisses cause deezease ((word struck through)) disease. Mum says he was joking. I think he may be right. Do kisses cause disease?

Mum says I have been writing enough. I will not let her read it. You will not tell her I said I do not like Lord Keefe, will you? I am going to put my seal on it. That will make it secret.

Love,

Cian, Aidan, and Bea.
((evidently Cian thought it a good idea to put Aidan and Bea's thumb prints in ink underneath their names))

((all misspellings are on purpose and purposely random, sometimes right and sometimes wrong.))

Dear Uncle Lucky,

It is just me this time. Bea is sleeping. I like it when she sleeps. She is quiet and does not get in my stuff. Aidan is not sleeping but he is mad at me. He will not talk to me. When I try to talk to him he screams. It was my toy. What do you do when people take your stuff? Did Mum ever steal your toys?

((a big long, wobbly line and then rougher, larger hand writing)) HI UNCLE LUCKY! ((inky dribbles blotted at the side))

Aidan stole my pen and paper. I got them back. He bit my hand. I hit him. Mum is now fussing at us. I am in trouble. Mum just said so. I want to go fishing with you again. Wish I was there now.

I better go. Mum is stairing at me.

Love,
Cian

((again, all misspellings on purpose))

Dear Uncle Lucky,

How are you? We are fine. We are outside. Aidan is climbing a tree. Bea is using my boat in the fountain. We have lots of sun here. Is it sunny there? It is sunny but it is not as warm as it used to be. Mum said that the sun is visiting lands more south of us now. I like when the sun goes southish.

Did you know my birthday is soon? We do not have parties for birthdays here. We have to have quiet parties or go to Yearling Brook. Do you have parties for your birthday? Why have we not been to your parties? I would bring you a gift. I would bring you marbles. I heard Mum say you lost yours. I will bring you new ones. Bea says she would give you her pretty satin purse to hold them.

I have to say goodbye now. Aidan is stuck in the tree. I have to go get him. He says goodbye too.

Love,

Cian, Aidan, and Beata

P.S. Sorry about the water stains. Bea sends another kiss.

One letter is wrapped around a smaller one on top of a small box. The outer letter in a finer hand, though just as short.


Dear Brother,

I hope you are doing well. I am seeing these letters delivered myself, but will not venture further than the gates. It felt wiser to do so by my own hand than intrude upon your privacy with a runner. Cian wanted to write to you, and I wanted to let you know that none of your companions have come to me for any reason. I must fail in reporting to you of their welfare or if they have need of you. When I see them, there are artfully crafted masks in place. You and I both know how that goes, so I cannot fault them.

As to Kiema, I have not heard from her, but I understand the matter with which she was involved has gone as well as expected. It is likely she bypassed a stop here and returned directly to Anria. I will let you know if I learn differently.

Yransea is a tightening wire as the Embassy is being built. It has been thought wise I stay out of the official dealings as much as possible. I am, afterall, the influence of the foreign.

Enough of that. The children enjoyed their Wintertide, and so I leave you with Cian's letter.

Take good care,
Sylvia

And the next letter in a familiar struggling to be precise hand.

Dear Uncle Lucky,

Mum said she could get a letter to you even while you are away. I am writing to say Hi for all of us. Aidan is poking at the fire with a stick with Mum. He just likes to watch the sparks go up. Mum is far too nice to him. We are in Yearling Brook. We had Wintertide at home. I lit the first lantern again this year. I am supposed to light the first lantern every year. Mum says I can say someone else can do it if I want. I like lighting it. I want to next year, too.

Bea says Hello. She is leaning on the arm of my chair and eating candy. Mistress Penny made fudge this year here at Yearling Brook. Bea looks like she's muddy around the face, but I checked and it is just fudge. I am sending some to you with this letter. It is good.

Mum says you are holiday. Is it a fun holiday? Are you making snow fairies and having snow fights? I have beaten back the frosty devils many days this year with my brother and sister at my side. You should come see one of our battles sometime.

Love,
Cian, Aidan, and Beata

The last afternoon sun streamed into the quiet study, casting the hard spotlight upon the lone man. Overhead, the arm marked the measured turn of the clock's gears with a solitary tick, tick, tick. The man sat at his desk, his head held in one hand and the letter in the other.

Tick. Tick. Tick. The clock marked the creep of the shadow over the man's desk.

The hand holding the letter reached into the desk and pulled out a clean piece of parchment. The scritch, scritch, scritch, of quill tip of parchment sounded against the monotony of the clock.

The chair leg groaned against the polished floors as the man rose from his desk with parchment in hand. The study door moaned opened, revealing the servant waiting the man's emergence. The letter and few wrapped items were shoved into the waiting servant's arms, a few words of instructions murmured, then the door was slammed shut with a thud and silence settled once more.

Two letters were delivered to Seansloe. One letter accompanied by a small package. The first delivered to those caring for the children.


To the Honorable Lords and Mistresses Caring for the Young Baron and his siblings;

A formal request from their uncle and kin, to allow the Young Baron and his siblings to visit me at my manor. Please advise of all security arrangements necessary without delay.

Respectfully,

Lucien Viktor Mallorek, esq.


The other to the children themselves.

My Dear Cian, Aidan and Beata.

I miss you terribly and I hope that you are fairing better than the last time you wrote me. By now the snow should be long melted and the green promise of the coming spring peeking through. The trees in the orchard here are starting to show life, which I hope means a great harvest come summer and fall.

There are a few mares we are looking to foal in another month or so. Perhaps once they have grown a bit stronger, you will be able to come see them.

Sometimes, as much as I want to be outside, riding or running around, or sailing or just enjoying the outdoors, I find I must stay indoors for one reason or another. It is most assuredly an inconvenience of the most major kind. But, I have found that more often than not, I find myself involved in bigger adventures born of my own imagination because I was stuck indoors. Of course, with the help of my friends. So I send you my friends. Allow me to introduce you to Thaddeus...a strong, brave master swordsman, gentlemen and knight. The quickwitted, handsome, master sailor, Brigham and last, but certainly not the least, the lovely and wise lady Heloise. Do not make the mistake to put your guard down around Heloise, boys. She is silent and stealthy.

Adventure on! Be well and take care of each other. I hope to see you soon.

Love,
Uncle Lucky