Arinda - Erpheronian

Fallen Leaf 15, 1664

To the Commander-in-Chief of the armies of Voldar

Dear Sir,

We have reason to believe that a dangerous criminal is travelling towards your fair city. This criminal has killed two prominent members of our Nyermersian society in a most cruel manner, and should be brought to full justice as soon as may be. Let me first describe the criminal, to then disclose the full of this crime, so that you are made aware just how dangerous she is.

You read it right, dear Sir, that I used a female pronoun. This criminal is, in fact, a woman. She listens to the name of Arinda, though it is likely that she has taken on another name. She is about 20 years of age, and her appearance is pleasant enough. Her figure is rather petite, she can be no more than a ped, a fore and a few nailsbreadths, and her waistline is slim. With Adlemirene brown curls, dark Eophran eyes, pink lips and only slightly tanned skin, she will be able to pass as an average peasant girl, and with the right clothing – and we do believe that she owns such – even for a young noblewoman. One striking feature is the dark, almost black mole, which can be seen under her left eye. Rather than detracting from her beauty, it adds to her pose of nobility. I do beg of you, however, not to be fooled by the appearance of gentility in this woman. She might be able to hide it well, but underneath her civilised appearance lurks a vicious beast, ready to come out when she calls it. I cannot stress enough how dangerous she is. Please do heed my words.

With the help of a servant we have been able to determine that at the time of her flight, Arinda carried with her two dresses, one blue and one red. Moreover, she was wearing a green riding dress. The blue dress, as the servant describes it, has a wide skirt with a petticoat. All the hems are done with a floral design, while the puffed sleeves go around her upper arms, leaving her shoulders bare. The red dress's skirt is similar to the blue dress's, though this one is hemmed with a black line. The top is different however, more modest in appearance, a row of buttons closing it in the front, and with a high neckline and long sleeves. The green riding dress, which is likely to be the dress she wears most often, has a close-fitting skirt and the same buttoned shirt as the red dress. The servant confirmed that along with this dress she wears a green high hat, set to one side of her head. She has taken a horse from the stables of her victims, as well as a lady's saddle. Sir, I beg you, if you or one of your soldiers sees a woman that answers to this description, apprehend her and bring her to me. She must be brought to justice, and this as soon as possible.

I will now disclose the crime which this woman committed. She was the daughter of a minor noble in Nyermersys, who unfortunately fell into debts, as well as drinking heavily whenever he could lay his hands on anything alcoholic. He died when Arinda was six years old. She was taken in by Aerodin, a well-off merchant who had befriended her father some years previously, and who had taken pity on the small orphan girl. On the many public occasions where the merchant and his wife took the little girl, it was obvious that they gave her much love.
Little did they suspect how wicked their adoptive daughter would prove to be. Not two months ago, one of Aerodin's servants alerted one of our patrols that all was not well in his master's house. They accompanied him, only to find Arinda bent over the bodies of Aerodin and his wife, with a bloodied knife in her hand. The guards brought her to me for questioning, as you well understand.

During the questioning, a strange thing occurred. It seemed as though Arinda was several different people. I am convinced that she must be a very good actress, for she almost had me fooled. She even feigned complete ignorance of the crime most of the time. At some points during the questioning, on the other hand, she fully acknowledged her guilt, after which she changed again, once more maintaining her innocence. At times she acted like a small girl, barely six years old, talking to me as if I were an uncle. This was accompanied by playing with her hair and many diversions that had nothing to do with my questions – anything could gain her attention, for about five ticks. Then without warning, she would suddenly start acting as the most determined flirt, practically offering her body to me or whoever else was present. She would bat her eyelashes, laugh as if we had made the funniest possible joke, etcetera. At other times she seemed full of hatred, railing at me, at Aerodin, at the whole of Caelereth. These were the times when she would fully admit that she had killed the merchant, saying that she had very much enjoyed it.

Most of the time, however, she seemed like a well-behaved girl of good parentage, who was horrified at what we said she had done. If my men had not seen her at the scene of the crime, I would be almost inclined to believe her, so convincing was she. Therefore I beseech you again, sir, not to heed this wicked actress's words, for they are rather likely to be false.

The reason that I found myself obliged to write this letter, is as follows. We do not know how, but one night she was able to escape from the prison cell in which she was held. We can only suspect that she managed to convince one of her keepers that she was innocent, who then must have helped her. By the time we found out about it, it was too late; she had gone. In the course of our investigation, we found that she had gone back to Aerodin's mansion, where a gullible servant girl had also believed her tale of innocence and had helped her pack the clothes I have described to you, as well as providing her with a horse and a saddle. This is the girl that Arinda told her intention of going to Voldar to. As soon as I discovered this, I set about to write this letter; this is the current situation.

Again, sir, I most heartily ask that you apprehend this woman as soon as may be and send her to me, that she may feel the swift course of justice upon her foul deeds. Until such a time, I remain, sir,

Yours truly,
Caeron, Captain of the Guard of Nyermersys

Dearest Angela,

I know you must be wondering where I have got to, and what is keeping me from visiting you. In all honesty, I am afraid that I will not be able to see you for some time to come. Nyermersys is not safe for me at this time, and I fear that I will bring you to similar danger if I were to visit. You must have heard by now this dreadful thing that they accuse me of. But, dearest friend, I did not do it!

Or rather... I cannot remember doing it. That is the most awful thing of all. I started blacking out but recently, times where I know I must have been walking about, but that I cannot at all remember. What if I did do this awful crime that I have been accused of? What if I did take a knife and stabbed my dear foster father and mother with it, without realising it? This thought haunts me by day and night, leaving me trembling and afeared of sleep in the evenings, and restless and tired during the day. And even now these black-outs remain, and I am very much frightened of what else I might do when not in control of my own actions.

I know that your next question will be how I escaped from Nyermersys, when you know I was questioned by the Captain of the Guard himself. It is really rather simple; the man that was guarding me was still very young. You must remember how you and I both used to wind just such young men around our fingers, not even so very long ago. When I explained to him how I was wrongly accused – pushing away the while the thought that I might have been guilty – he agreed to help me. He opened the doors for me, and helped me make my way through town back towards the house. Once there I enlisted the help of Samara, who I also convinced that I was innocent. I gathered some clothes and things to help me on the way, saddled Agatha – do you remember how happy I was when first I was given her? - and rode away that very same morning, bold as can be.

As to where I am now and will be going – I cannot tell you the one, for fear of the Guards intercepting your mail, even if I trust you not to take this letter to them of your own accord. But the other, I can say. I am travelling to find a Mindsmoother, such as once we saw, a year or two back. He told us then that his order tries to help those afflicted, either by maladies of the mind or of the body. I believe that my blackouts are a thing of the mind, since my body is still hale. I am hoping to find such an Eyashene, and that he will be able to help me. Pray for me to the gods that I may succeed.

In the meantime, I am not wholly without resources – I brought from the house some money, enough to buy me rooms and food for some time to come, even if I should not choose the most luxurious of rooms or the most excessive of meals. And even when my money runs out, I still have some jewellery to sell, taken at the same time. I do not wear them, but they are for a time of need, should it arise before I have found help.

With this I must conclude my letter. Rest assured that I am well, if trying to evade capture, and that I will try to come to you when things have quietened down. For now, however, I must give my farewells; and that the gods may keep you safe from harm. I am and remain,
Your best friend,
Arinda

Wheelroad, Singing bird

Dear sir,

I find myself in need of calling on your goodness, and our past acquiantance, to ask a favour of you. I have for the past six years, since her mother died in childbirth, been taking care of my daughter Arinda. Although I have done my best in rearing her, I realise that I have not been the best of parents. What wealth I once had is gone, and I am indebted to a fair few people. I feel that my last days are approaching, and while I do not ask for money, I do ask that you will take in my Arinda and raise her as if she were your own daughter.

Ever since my wife was stolen away from me, I found myself drawn towards alcoholic drinks, in an attempt to forget. It shames me now to admit it, but there it was. I let my businesses slide, and what money came in from the estate went towards drink. Arinda, I fear, bore the brunt of it. In violent fits, I hit her. There are times that I cannot remember, taken over by the drink as I was, and when I came back to, she would bear another bruise. I feel the guilt and much more when I think what might have happened, had she not had her nurse to protect her from the worst of it.

I came to my senses only recently, when I awoke to my daughter with her arm in a splint – I had thrown her against the wall, and her arm was broken. I realised then that my own daughter was afraid of me, and from then on I shied away from anything alcoholic, trying to set my life back in order, so that I would not leave her destitute. However, my healer tells me that I have not long to live – the drink seems to have won in the end. I will not be able to leave her much, since all will be taken by my creditors, and if you are not kind to her, I do not know what will become of her.
Yours truly,
Cadon Fastfoot

King's Road, Fallen Leaf
My dear cousin,

Thank you for your letter of Burning Heavens last. I would have replied sooner, but you know how it goes. I do not know where the time goes, it flies by so rapidly. It seems only yesterday that my charge was first brought under my wings, and look at her now. Quite the young lady! As her governess, I am quite proud to say that she grew up to be as fine and gentle a lamb as any of the young girls I have had under my care. So shy and insecure she was back then, and all she had with her the clothes on her back and one beautiful brooch, enamelled silver with an intricate pattern, which she said belonged to her Mama. And now she moves in the master's circles as if it is nothing! Truly, I am prodigiously proud of her.

However, dearest cousin, I must get something off my chest. Pray do not talk of this to anybody else, as I do care to keep my job, but I must talk to someone. For a long time (and you will recall that I have spoken of this before) I have noticed a certain... coldness, in the behaviour of the master and mistress towards my lamb - more specifically from the mistress. This happened but in private, mind you. In public they were as loving as you could wish, but as soon as they were in their private quarters, there was not a thing that the poor child could do right.

At least the master tried to some extent to lessen the load on the girl, however little he did. Perhaps this was out of some lingering feeling of obligation towards his deceased friend. However that may be, I recently discovered that his attempts at helping poor Arinda were somewhat more... extensive, than I had previously supposed. I had gone on an errand, and when I returned it was to find the master in Arinda's bed chamber. Whatever he had been doing (and it does not take a genius to figure out what that was), he had all but finished, and was dressing himself again. I waited until he was quite done and then bustled into the room as if nothing had happened, intent on getting him out of my lamb's chamber. When he had gone, and I tried to talk to Arinda, imagine my consternation when she was acting the same way as when she had just arrived! An eighteen year old, acting as if she was six! Soon, however, she seemed to come back to herself, and she spoke no word of what had happened. Loath to bring the subject up, I left it like that. I did try to protect her from his advances since then, but I cannot be with her all the time.

I fear to think how long this has been going on. Did it start when she first came to live here with us on King's Road? I dearly hope not, but I cannot help the fear that it is so. If it is, my poor dear must have been thus used for twelve years... Can you imagine that? And yet she never gives any sign that she remembers it. But perhaps the strain of it has proven too much for her and her mind makes her forget? I hear that such things are possible. However it may be, I am debating with myself whether or not I should bring the subject up. She seems her normal well-behaved self most of the time, and still... I cannot forget the way she acted that one evening!

I apologise for taking the whole of this letter to only talk of my lamb, but it has been occupying my mind for quite some time now, and I needed to talk to somebody about it – and you are naturally the first person I should think of. Pray give my love to my mother and aunt, and tell them I am well. I will try to find a happier subject next letter.

With love,
Caytha

King's Road, Burning Heavens
Dearest Angela,

Do guess what happened now! Ah, nevermind, I bet you will never guess so I will tell you. I have gotten a horse! A horse, all of my own! And she has her own saddle and everything! Her name is Agatha, and I will tell you all about how this wonderful thing happened.

You remember last month, when I celebrated my Nineteenth birthday, and I did not get a gift from Mama and Papa? It turns out that this was the reason. Papa had placed an order at some horse traider's, and he could not get her earlier. Today, however, she arrived and Papa told me that she was for me. You could well imagine my surprise!

She is a beautifully slender Centoraurian mare, standing at Fourteen hands – or so the Master of the Stable tells me, for I have not had the chance to measure her yet. Her coat is a beautiful frosty white, and her mane silvery grey. I have already ridden her for a little while – she is a docile creature, no matter that she is still so young, no more than five years old. She is content to go where I lead her, and I find that a very good trait in a horse. I would not want a fiery war-horse such as we saw that one knight riding last year – do you remember? Oh, I love her very much already!

I must leave you now, but I will come around very soon, together with Agatha, and we both will ride in the country around Nyermersys. I remain,

Your true friend
Arinda

*** Author's note: I have not been able to retrieve more letters detailing Arinda's background. One more major event seems to have taken place, two years after this last letter was sent, as evidenced in the first letter. I did find one more curious thing, hidden among her things when they came to me, which can be found below. ***

Note to self, for when I wake up with a gap in my memory again – A list of items I am carrying with me. Make sure nothing is gone!
-Three sets of clothes, one worn and two stowed in saddlebags
-Set of needles and thread to repair clothing, stowed in saddlebags
-Pouch with some small change, carried on belt – still secured?
-Coins, sewed into different parts of the clothes and the saddlebags
-Tools to care for Agatha, stowed in saddlebags
-Mama's brooch, secured to red dress
-Various rings and jewels, sewn into small pouch – Only feel, do not take out!