Vârcola: Arnfried's Journal: Cèitean 3rd: A near Departure

Arnfried behaves like a fool

Cèitean 3^rd

The time has come that the Baroness has begun to put affairs in order, in preparation to depart for the mainland where she hopes to pay homage to the Emperor as commanded. Pleased by this, I must admit that for a time my worries and hostility towards her was allayed, if briefly so.

I have had good cause for regret in that regard, as I soon discovered when not only did I soon discover that this was all part of some grand scheme on her behalf but that I happily fell into her trap.

The trap began with the Baroness adding suddenly on the 31^st, “My friend the time has come that we depart for across yon sea, therefore I must ask that you write a letter commending me to your Chancellor.”

Her tone was sweet, almost grandmotherly as she smiled. The trouble was that with her elongated canines she did not look so oily; so much as she had the appearance of a viper ready to pounce.

Smiling nonetheless for I suspected nothing, thinking that it was only natural I should write a letter for her, I politely corrected her. “Actually, it is the man who raised me Brother Friedhelm, who is to write the letter as he is a close friend of the Chancellor and Duke. I will however be sure, to commend you to him milady.”

“Ah that would be most excellent.”

“Very well, and who shall deliver the letter?”

“Yourself naturally,” She replied to me, aware of what words to use to manipulate me wholly and completely.

Pleased, since I genuinely believed that this meant that she intended for me to leave soon, and filled with gratitude I foolishly wrote the letter.

When she saw it, later that evening just before she was to climb up the tower to rest for the evening (I still have yet to determine how it was that Klove reached her tower to convey to her, her meals!), she was to instruct me. “Very good, Brother Arnfried perchance, if I may what might you say if you were to attach to it, any other personal letters and notes you have written to it. That the Brother Friedhelm. As well as any others you have been in contact with might better be assured of thy good health, and be made familiar with my family’s history?”

“I think that might be quite splendid, milady,” I said at once with such enthusiasm. “I shall prepare my effects for departure at once.”

Eager to leave the keep, I was to leave to do just that in my chambers, when all had been resolved I was joined by the elderly Baroness.

Keen to assist me with my affairs, she soon helped me to carry the few belongings down the stairs which brought me immense satisfaction. Pleased to be leaving, it happened that when the decisive moment was thrust upon us, she was to thrust also upon me a request that at first glance did not seem particularly strange.

“My friend, Klove valiant and brave as no other man is, has volunteered to take letters down to the local port-village where he will transmit it to a fisherman who will take it to Graugebiet. From there the man given over the letters will have them taken over to the mainland.” She explained to me, at some length, “If only because we do not know if the wolves have remained where they are.”

Acquiescing if reluctantly, I gave over several letters I had penned for the sake of the Archdruid and also Sieghild.

Pleased, the Baroness had them added together with several of her own, with Klove taking them away as he slipped out of the castle-gates.