from
Randor’s Pass when they arrived in Wildern. Dasen had, of course,
not been able to read it, but it was of great interest to Ipid.
What’s more, Dasen knew exactly where it was located in his
father’s bag. Unfortunately, his father never let the satchel out
of his sight, until now.
“ What are you doing?” Rynn
whispered. “Your father is going to skin you.”
“ I have to read this
letter,” Dasen announced as he pulled it triumphantly from the bag.
He unfolded it and immediately started reading the flowing script.
Rynn joined him, looking over his shoulder. Dasen quickly realized
that the letter was not in Tethina’s hand or voice – this was not
the writing of a young woman and was about rather than by her. A
glance at the bottom showed the mark of Tethina’s aunt and a
notation from the local counselor stating that he had done the
dictation.
He returned to reading but was
interrupted by Rynn’s gasp. “No!” he exclaimed. “She didn’t. By the
Order, this is going to be legendary.”
“ What?” Dasen desperately
scanned the words, now unable to focus on any of them.
“ Just read,” Rynn
suggested through the hand covering his mouth. Dasen had never seen
his friend so scandalized, and that was profound.
Dasen took a deep breath
and forced his mind to focus on the words before him. He scanned
past the opening pleasantries to where the letter was, for some
reason, discussing the recently completed district games. Dasen
realized he had missed something and went back. As she promised, Tethina competed in the games
today , the letter said. Dasen read it
again. Shook his head and read one more time. He looked at
Rynn.
“ Keep reading,” his friend
chuckled, “it gets better.”
I’m sure you won’t be
surprised to learn that she won five first place coins, the letter continued. I
didn’t get a chance to ask which ones, but she was very pleased
with herself. Unfortunately, it appears that the village boys are
extremely upset. I think they have finally had enough of her. I am
concerned that they may really hurt her this time, so the ceremony
becomes all the more necessary. Dasen
stopped. His mind could not even process what he was reading. How
was it possible that a girl had competed in the district games,
much less won against boys? He assumed he must have misunderstood.
He read the paragraph again but could think of no other way to
interpret it.
“ Keep reading,” Rynn
insisted when he saw that Dasen had stopped. He was literally
hopping with anticipation. “Either this is the best joke ever or
the Order has it out for you in the worst possible way.”
Head spinning, Dasen read. Having
covered the games, Milne mentioned a long overdue talk, in which
she had told Tethina about the proposed joining. Tethina’s apparent
reaction brought Dasen to another stop. “She ran off into the
forest?” he read out loud, questioning each statement. “I don’t
expect to see her for a few days? I have no concerns about her
taking care of herself? I am confident that she will return ready
for her new life?” He looked up at Rynn. “What is that supposed to
mean?”
“ Dasen,” Rynn turned
serious, “you say you knew this Tethina as a child.” Dasen nodded
dumbly. “Are you certain that she was a girl? Are you sure that
your father has not promised you to another man?” Dasen swatted at
his friend, but he just backed away and continued, “And one much
more manly than you. How many first place coins have you won?”
Dasen refused to answer. “Oh, yeah, the exact same number as me,
none. You’ve never even competed. And spending several days in some
forest. You wouldn’t last fifteen minutes without cobbled streets
and food carts. I mean you can barely manage in provincial
inns.”
Ignoring his friend, Dasen read the
rest of the letter. It gave measurements for Teth, which were
meaningless to Dasen, though they seemed surprisingly similar to
his own. There was a wish for safe travels and
Randor’s Pass when they arrived in Wildern. Dasen had, of course,
not been able to read it, but it was of great interest to Ipid.
What’s more, Dasen knew exactly where it was located in his
father’s bag. Unfortunately, his father never let the satchel out
of his sight, until now.
“ What are you doing?” Rynn
whispered. “Your father is going to skin you.”
“ I have to read this
letter,” Dasen announced as he pulled it triumphantly from the bag.
He unfolded it and immediately started reading the flowing script.
Rynn joined him, looking over his shoulder. Dasen quickly realized
that the letter was not in Tethina’s hand or voice – this was not
the writing of a young woman and was about rather than by her. A
glance at the bottom showed the mark of Tethina’s aunt and a
notation from the local counselor stating that he had done the
dictation.
He returned to reading but was
interrupted by Rynn’s gasp. “No!” he exclaimed. “She didn’t. By the
Order, this is going to be legendary.”
“ What?” Dasen desperately
scanned the words, now unable to focus on any of them.
“ Just read,” Rynn
suggested through the hand covering his mouth. Dasen had never seen
his friend so scandalized, and that was profound.
Dasen took a deep breath
and forced his mind to focus on the words before him. He scanned
past the opening pleasantries to where the letter was, for some
reason, discussing the recently completed district games. Dasen
realized he had missed something and went back. As she promised, Tethina competed in the games
today , the letter said. Dasen read it
again. Shook his head and read one more time. He looked at
Rynn.
“ Keep reading,” his friend
chuckled, “it gets better.”
I’m sure you won’t be
surprised to learn that she won five first place coins, the letter continued. I
didn’t get a chance to ask which ones, but she was very pleased
with herself. Unfortunately, it appears that the village boys are
extremely upset. I think they have finally had enough of her. I am
concerned that they may really hurt her this time, so the ceremony
becomes all the more necessary. Dasen
stopped. His mind could not even process what he was reading. How
was it possible that a girl had competed in the district games,
much less won against boys? He assumed he must have misunderstood.
He read the paragraph again but could think of no other way to
interpret it.
“ Keep reading,” Rynn
insisted when he saw that Dasen had stopped. He was literally
hopping with anticipation. “Either this is the best joke ever or
the Order has it out for you in the worst possible way.”
Head spinning, Dasen read. Having
covered the games, Milne mentioned a long overdue talk, in which
she had told Tethina about the proposed joining. Tethina’s apparent
reaction brought Dasen to another stop. “She ran off into the
forest?” he read out loud, questioning each statement. “I don’t
expect to see her for a few days? I have no concerns about her
taking care of herself? I am confident that she will return ready
for her new life?” He looked up at Rynn. “What is that supposed to
mean?”
“ Dasen,” Rynn turned
serious, “you say you knew this Tethina as a child.” Dasen nodded
dumbly. “Are you certain that she was a girl? Are you sure that
your father has not promised you to another man?” Dasen swatted at
his friend, but he just backed away and continued, “And one much
more manly than you. How many first place coins have you won?”
Dasen refused to answer. “Oh, yeah, the exact same number as me,
none. You’ve never even competed. And spending several days in some
forest. You wouldn’t last fifteen minutes without cobbled streets
and food carts. I mean you can barely manage in provincial
inns.”
Ignoring his friend, Dasen read the
rest of the letter. It gave measurements for Teth, which were
meaningless to Dasen, though they seemed surprisingly similar to
his own. There was a wish for safe travels and
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