Letters A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement

[Michiko Nishanti]

To the Dear and Distinguished Patriarchs of the House Silverblood,
From the Elite & Honourable House of Nashanti

Greetings Lord Silverblood,

May this correspondence find your House in health, and the lands of the Mystmarch within your grasp. I, the glorious and sun-bound Lord of Nashanti do with esteemed similitude and forthrightness enquire into the marital status of one Kaelen Silverblood, cherished and valiant of your line. Enclosed with this letter are reports and evidences of a vagabond House rousing across our borders and proclaiming that the House Silverblood is both menace and vanquishable foe. In good faith, I return to you those properties recently procured falsely by this clan, from your own ships off our coastline. It is with deepest regret that our diminished House was incapable of returning more of such goods marked with your family's esteemed seal.

Perhaps an accord may be reached, to increase the flow of goods between us, and stabilize this region before the threats upon us decide they are greater than they appear. It became known to us, that your brother Kaelen Silverblood is without spouse and without heir. We happen to have in our House a favourable and well-bred High-Born Lady, the Lady Michiko Kaho of Nashanti, last of her line. She is our dear cousin, and we love her as a sister, but perhaps a match shall be made.

Please respond with haste,
Your Honourable Friend in all Things,

Lord Zal Nashanti

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

Handwritten letter sealed with red wax with the image of a sword pointing down through a hearth.

Dear Lord Zal Nashanti,

The ancient and strong Silverblood House is always in good health. It is a fact this troublesome Mystmarch house will soon be learning. We do not look favorably upon piracy nor such petty political games. It will be a lesson for all. As for these goods belonging to our house, thank you for holding onto them for us. We will be coming for them immediately after visiting this little problem child of my fellow houses. I do hope you greet us warmly when we arrive. I would hate for any misunderstandings to come to pass....

For this proposal of marriage, I do not see the benefit for my brother nor for my family. We are in no short supply of new friends and new ports in which our goods are sold. While the prospect of trade with our eastern neighbors is one with some interest and merit, it alone is not enough reasoning to force an arranged marriage upon the most distinguished and highly regarded soldier in the Mystmarch army. As deep as my love and admiration is for my youngest brother, I write these words out of fact not flattery towards him. Perhaps you can provide reasonings as to why he should choose a Yamatakara elf over one of our own High Ladies of Mystmarch? Or better yet, why not allow her to meet with me in person and prove to me why she would be the best match for my most honored of siblings?

I do hope you respond to this letter as quickly as possible. There is offers such as this brought to my attention multiple times a day. It would be a shame if a better one is provided before one with you can be finalized.

With all sincerity,
Lord Cedric Silverblood head of House Silverblood, Guardian of Silverhearth Port and City, and Warden of the Silver Hills and Graywater Bay.

 

[Michiko Nishanti]

Handwritten letter upon the finest linen paper, with green wax atop sprouting shingiku blossoms, sealed with the Nishanti crest. Delivered by a cloaked rider on Horseback, with procession of convoy laden with goods, valets, soldiers & pack horses.


To His Lordship Cedric Silverblood, House Silverblood

From His Lordship Zal Nishanti, House Nashanti


My gratitude for the swift reply and action from your esteemed troops. I have taken the liberty of producing a convoy from my own stables with this letter, to return those goods which we were able to rescue to you. As a token of our appreciation for your fine House, please consider the servants, wagons, escorts and horses as a gift of dowry for House Silverblood, of which I remain confident will join in blood with House Nashanti.


In the interest of mutual understanding and honesty, I shall be delicate in the rationality for this match. Long are the bards’ songs of your esteemed brother’s victories in battle. Our dear cousin is somewhat of an oddity in our lands. The Lady Michiko Kaho, last of her line, is more archer than maid. While thorough education in the arts of femininity and a talent for healing magics sunk into her shoulders over the past century, she doffs the Lady’s garments and lyre for those of an archer in our force.


Beyond her talent for archery and the healing arts, a magic deep of blood settled within her and all females of her maternal line. The Lady Kaho’s most precious talent: empathy and the succour of emotional wounds.


Ladies of her line have been known for thousands of years to sway the emotions of others, to calm the raging seas of those whose anger or rage or melancholy was overcompensatable. We are an ancient house. We keep long histories of the births and passings of those families of note around us. It is with gravity I admit to some length of research through our chronicles, and took note of your honourable departed and the nature of their departure from this glorious life. The stories of your esteemed brother bear the silver hair and blessing of your blood. Would it not be prudent to procure for your brother a wife, who could with the touch of a hand, bear any burden of hand or heart? A woman who, both passionate in battle and healing of body and spirit, could be put to great use? While we remain ignorant of the cause, the pattern in history is clear. And I ask with all humility and no desire to offend.


Can you afford to risk your brother’s continual safety by procuring him a wife of some minor or greater House, who however skilled, can neither share his burden nor heal his wounds?


Unbeknownst to your Lordship, the Lady Kaho has been the messenger to lead these expeditions and deliver these letters to Silverhearth. You, fine sir, have previously met.


My cousin knows none of the contents of this situation I have desire to donate to a maiden, whose talents are wasted in our lands. She rode with most haste from our Wood, upon the mare Amato, bred and trained in the House Kierkegarde. Both horse and Lady are of invaluable quality, as bride, breeding mare and Warriors in your junior brother’s campaigns.


I petition you to inspect the Lady Kaho. Challenge and receive her as a Noble Guest of your House. It would be most unfortunate if, after your rejection, she were to be set upon the road by the brigands, which recently cost Our mutually esteemed neighbours House Kierkegarde their heir.


With every grace & respect,


Lord Zal Nashanti, Lord of the Nashanti Wood, Keeper of the Holy Relics & Fount of All Rest

Kaelen Silverblood