Hey Fawn,

It's really strange having to wait for a month before answering a letter. They really need to think that rule over.

I'm guessing by now, winter's caught up to you, too. I miss Banther Lodge. When you're home, we should go build some snow halflings.

It's hard to imagine you as a farmer. I have a mental image of you, mixed with Otark. It really doesn't work. On that note, I'm really glad I have all those drawings of you in my sketchbook. Are you sure you don't want to learn to draw in the mirror?

Speaking of, I've sent a few pictures of me smirking like an idiot to make up for the last one, and of Clauds behind Yasra. No beard for now, as you can see. Thanks for that vegetable comparison, too. I always thought I was two potatoes from a shepards' pie.

Yasra is keeping to herself. She's got quarters at the Twin Towers and doesn't want to worry the guards. I feel like people are starting to be okay with her around, especially since she's taken off her massive armor.

As for my eating habits? Yeah, I have to admit I'm not giving it my all. I spend so much time just sitting and reading and talking. Eating is something that happens more than I plan for it. It's okay, though, I have a cook and I still do the exercises you showed me. Yasra's giving me sword fighting lessons and her style is really different from Soren. I'm still terrible at it, so don't expect any wonders.

I gave them back the book, yes. You still haven't really told me what it was about. Would you care to fix that?

Re-reading your letter makes me miss you a lot. Like you said, it's the downtime that really hurts. I don't have a lot of it. I feel like the ring's still weird on my finger, maybe cause I wear two now, the other is a sigil ring. I'm glad that I can look at it and feel like you're looking at yours the same way. I love you loads and I can't wait to come get you.

I still haven't found anything about Kel's family, but the ambassador to Del Bar is helping me out, now, so maybe? I don't really care if they hate me, Kel attacked us, not the other way around.

For some reason, this all still hurts. I just spent a bit of time almost crying. Maybe it's because of my good memory but I will just never be able to forget what I did and what she looked like before and after. I'm looking for some sort of closure, I guess.

Noli I didn't see - more about her in a bit - but Honsa was there. She was so unhappy about you getting locked up, she made me promise to tell her when I'm going to get you. She wants to be there, apparently. Let me know if you're okay with that. I actually feel really bad for not writing about her now, I just kinda forgot with all the other stuff that's going on. I remember her, but she didn't come to mind when I was writing.

Yeah Sol Regem is dead. I heard about it. Apparently he didn't even put up much of a fight. That might be propaganda though. Raszagal is sending me letters ever so often, and it looks like she's busy making some changes to how Xadia is being governed. Take some power away from her own people. That can't be easy, but the elves aren't interested in having a repeat of that whole conspiracy thing.

Ez is still so raw for me. I was in his room the other day. Just had to take another break there to not smudge the ink. There's just so many memories here, and they all make me sad, even the ones that I used to feel happy about. I just gotta find peace with him at some point. I don't know how that'll work though. Amaya was difficult. My mom was hard. My dad was hard. He's just impossible.

Since my last letter, Claudia has been really reserved around me, which is just a bit strange. It almost feels a bit like talking to a funnier version of her dad when she's really focussed. I wonder if she's gonna go back to the way she was or if this is just our new normal. It's not like she hasn't had a lot of stuff happen to her, that changes people. She has this white streak in her hair now, says it was a spell to heal Soren's back after he was attacked by that dragon. Dark magic really hurts it's users.

Good to know you trust me. Don't feel bad for being worried. I wish you were here, too. Writing it just puts my heart in a vise. I need you back.

We haven't made any progress on Viren. Soren came back for a bit, though and he's actually more okay now than he was before. I think getting his butt handed to him by us helped his attitude with me a bit. I shouldn't gloat, it's just that I remember him handing me mine every day.

I do take a bit of time off here and there. Mostly to just sleep. I don't do that enough. Too much to do. On that note; I want your opinion on a few things. I can't tell you critical stuff, like military strategy and so forth but I want to get you used to having a say. Trust me it's weird to say something in passing or as a what-if and the next day it's real and done. I got really careful with the words I say out loud.

So, first, I want to make up a holiday for February. It doesn't have one yet and I wanna do something kinda xadian-ish, if you can think of something.

Second, can you tell me topics we could put on the Katolin syllabus for ten year old kids that would be kinda neat to know about elves? They're learning a lot of half truths and hearsay and I wanna fight that.

Thank you, fawn.

My coronation went without a hitch. I wanted to talk about us a little in my speech, but Opeli reminded me of the fact that my mouth has magic powers now more than ever. I want to mention you so bad, but I also get her point of view. It'll be easier for people when you're actually here, we don't want them to think I'm insane or unconvincingly trying to avoid marrying some random prince.

'No, I swear I have a fiance, she just lives in Xadia right now!'

See what I mean? It sounds like a lie. But don't worry, we'll get them ready for you soon enough. Opeli is working that out, actually with Helmond's help of all people.

Anzha and him showed up one day with Noli in tow. Anzha is not doing well and Helmond didn't want to stay at the Breach. They also don't feel safe in Xadia right now.

That Sky elf Legate we met on the road, Otane, was murdered recently, I don't know much about it. They think it's because he was part of their group at the border. Feels like there's so many people out there still hoping for war. It's depressing.

So that's why they came here, for Anzha and Noli. I feel like Helmond's summand is here one moment and then not. It's really sad to see. Noli has mellowed out a lot. I think that's mostly cause she knows her dad is okay with humans. She really loves him. No offense to him, but he wasn't a good dad and I really don't get her relationship with him. It's really cute to see him take care of his family now, though.

I kinda hope we'll have that when we're their age.

Not much else has changed this month, other than a lot of small stuff that I don't think is interesting to talk about, so let me get to your stuff, finally.

Zala and I have that crime in common, so I'm glad you were able to make a friend. Hard to judge her too hard knowing what that's like. It must be worse for her cause it was her summand. I'd hug her if she was okay with it.

You're right, reading about Ravak made me really angry, every time I pulled out your letter. I've met a few people like that in my life and none of them I wanna be friends with. I'd be lying if I said I never had a single dirty thought. Saying them out loud when the other person's already made it clear that they don't care for it, that makes it disgusting. His question was wrong on so many levels. I'm just really confused why he'd even ask it. What does he get out of even a truthful answer? Gossip? Laughs? I don't get it.

I'm not rooting for you to catch him out on his own. I feel like you gotta be careful to not get into fights, no matter what the guards say. I can't imagine being locked up with people gets easier once you beat someone up. Maybe though? I mean you'd prove that messing with you has a price, I guess. You'd know better than me, either way. I'm just worried about you.

I always thought dipplings were kinda like potatoes. Did Zala pull hers yet? How'd they turn out? I'm not good with plants. I once killed a cactus by letting it dry out. Plus, there's so much other stuff I need to learn first.

The spit imprint made it. You're disgusting and so adorable it makes me blush, even now, after reading your letter so much that the paper's all floppy and worn. It's part of my day now, to pull it out before going to bed. I'm really excited for your answer.

I won't kiss this letter, but I put some of a cologne I've started wearing on it. Tell me if you like it. My tailor says a scent makes a big difference in how people see you and I feel like I need to take everything I can get to make myself respectable.

Especially when next month, the Pentarchy is meeting for the new year's address on January 6th. It'll be weird, sitting in that throne, too. I've played catch with Ez in the hall of meeting, years and years ago. I wonder if it still looks the same.

You're a Lady. No doubt about it. Don't let anyone tell you different.

I love you.

Callum

P.S. Moonberry Jelly tarts need to be a thing.