Postscript

[ Some short snippets as gathered from further journals over the years, some from Bregan D'aerthe – it seems that there has been further security leaks over the years on both sides – and some from House Ilith'vir. Ti'erlfein has been unavailable for comment. ]

Named the revenant-charger Suliss – fits the pretty thing. If I can stop it from trying to eat anything that it thinks is remotely edible within its reach, it might just make a good steed. Innate ability to teleport useful – and its teleport doesn't make me feel like throwing up after. Damn thing ate a monograph on identifying weapon-inflicted wounds that I had been reading – snatched it from my hands. Hope it chokes to death.

**

I am about to become an uncle. Matron Ilith'vir has finally gotten pregnant, and her mood swings have worsened in their extremity. Am considering going into hiding. Maybe Bregan D'aerthe, except that I think Jarlaxle will kick me out.

Why do pregnant females get all sorts of weird cravings? I swear if I have to help scour the city for dragon's meat or 'chocolate' (some weird Surfacer concoction) one more time…

**

The baby has been born, an ugly, squalling, healthy female. Matron Ilith'vir has named the thing U'lissae, after some obscure dead High Priestess who lived centuries ago. I have no idea why, and I don't really want to find out.

The birth of U'lissae has been a source of great celebration in the House, and Matron Ilith'vir is in an uncommon good humor. Now is probably a good time to present to her the expense-list from the Glass Chamber investigation.

**

U'lissae has, for some reason, taken it upon her to annoy me. Tiny kid trying to follow me everywhere and tinker with all my things. Have appealed to Ilith'vir but expected – and received – just a snort and a reminder that on the 'Great Social Ladder' U'lissae is on a rung that's 'much higher' than mine is, so 'go away'.

Introduced U'lissae to Suliss, which seems to be enchanted with her. At least when they're playing together I can get on with my reading (or supposed reading. Did you know that reading large pieces of paper is the best way to pretend you're doing something else behind it?)

**

Found out how to play sol'verna. Nalfein is very patient. Realized belatedly why he deigned to teach me slowly the game later, when I actually played my first game with him, Caomh and would you believe it, Zaknafein. Fellow has a taste for risk, but seems to play rather well.

Nalfein won.

Note to self – never; ever gamble with a mind reader.

**

Vierna has entered the Academy. As I predicted, reports showed over the years she distanced herself from her ilharn like any normal would-be priestess. Apparently the night before the send-off they had a rather spectacular histrionic personal confrontation. Zaknafein reportedly even more upset than he was when Malice unnamed his rank. Have a feeling that 'I told you so' would just earn me a decapitation. Caomh, during one of our regular social drinking-sessions, says that he hopes the weapon master has (finally) learnt his lesson.

I doubt it. Some creatures are just born stubborn.

Speaking of stubborn, U'lissae insists on accompanying me on Investigations, even the dangerous ones. Appeals to her mother didn't work. Elg'caress.

**

Matron Ilith'vir is pregnant again, plunging the House into chaos like the previous time. This time U'lissae seems to take a perverse pleasure in dragging me to meet Ilith'vir, all her 'Don't you think the Matron would wish to hear this report in person?' and her 'Why don't you gift her with these solv'berries yourself?', just to watch the fireworks. Gah.

I am surrounded by the perverse. Did I mention U'lissae gets on perfectly well with the priestess-hating Caomh? They adore each other, even after so many years since they first met. I am reminded of child-Vierna with Zaknafein, except that here U'lissae has just a decade or so more to her entering the Academy as a priestess, and by rights should be unbearable by now, if she were anything like her mother at this age.

Some people just don't seem to understand their own advice. U'lissae is set to enter the Academy, history seems about to repeat itself. Even overt hints about Zaknafein's condition to Caomh when U'lissae is not around haven't sunk in. I have given up.

Ilith'vir doesn't seem to object to this relationship, especially since Caomh had taken it upon himself when U'lissae reached a suitable age to train her in weaponry in House Ilith'vir. He's better than our weapon master is anyway. The Matron's only objection is that U'lissae seems to like using the double-blade sword, a nasty pole with two blades at both ends, instead of learning how to use the mace, flail or whip – though knowing Caomh, he's probably trained her in that as well.

**

U'lissae just beat me soundly in a fair match. Caomh was laughing his ass off, the idiot. Now I have to treat them both to lunch. Haven't felt this sore for a while.

**

Pooled money with Caomh and got a dwarven smith to forge a double-blade adamantite sword with a special alloy metal shaft with a lot of pretty frills – jewels and such for U'lissae's birthday, which was several cycles after that humiliating fight. Then we got Nalfein to enchant it – the usual always-sharp dweomers, never-rust and so on. Nalfein surprised us by adding a powerful dweomer of his own as a gift – apparently the wielder of the thing gets a spell-turning effect as long as he or she is holding on to it. Pretty thing. U'lissae's happy at least.

**

The new child is born, yet another female. Lloth save me.

Matron Ilith'vir named her Ylin'e. Again, after some dead priestess. U'lissae tells me I have no soul. Now, what was that about?

Another weird thing that happened – Ilith'vir was muttering something about 'this one is not an Empath either' when I was looking in on her with the kid. Why won't anyone tell me what an Empath is?

**

Wrapped up a six-year-long investigation to my – and Ilith'vir's – satisfaction. I hate the long ones. At least I have quite a while of leave to go and convalesce to my heart's content. Am going to ride Suliss in the Dark Dominion.

Ylin'e, now an annoying, chattering seven-year-old kid, insisted on coming along. Pleas to Ilith'vir and U'lissae failed. So much for a peaceful convalescence. I hate my life.

Ran into Caomh in Manyfolk and went for a drink in Symeera.

Caomh is quite enchanted with Ylin'e as well. What is this with him and Ilith'vir daughters?

**

U'lissae left for the Academy with a great show of dignity to make her Ilharess proud. She did the teary good-byes in private in my office the day before anyway, with Caomh and I – and strangely enough, Nalfein as well.

Even more strangely, I have the sudden inkling of an idea that I'm going to miss her presence.

I need a drink.

**

Ylin'e wants to be a thief. Ilith'vir was beside herself with rage when she heard this, so Ylin'e now knows better to confide with the Matron on potentially controversial issues. Instead, she tells Yours Truly first, not that I really want to know about said issues such as what age is it appropriate for her to engage in romantic liaisons with the other sex. Am trying (note trying) to keep her out of trouble, not that anyone appreciates it.

Caomh is training her in weapons – she likes using a strange combination of a stiletto and a scimitar. More ideas for birthdays.

**

Gifted Ylin'e with a stiletto and a scimitar, combined gift with Caomh on the birthday after Caomh proclaimed she had completed her training. Again, Nalfein did the dweomers. If I understand it, the stiletto, on wielder's will, can secrete poison in a wound that would cause the victim to die in seconds. The scimitar does some magic resistance stint.

First thing Ylin'e does with her weapons is to try and repeat the stunt her sister pulled on me. Since it was her birthday, I let her win.

Really.

**

Ah, great. Caomh took it in him to introduce Ylin'e to a thief, hoping to purge the thing out of her system. It hasn't worked – she's fascinated with it. Said thief is one male called Tern'yfein, Bregan D'aerthe. Rather good – especially in pickpocketing. When I get back I'd better go through my possessions again.

I hope Ilith'vir doesn't find out about why my 'social calls' with Caomh in Symeera have increased in frequency and why Ylin'e likes to come along, dressed as a commoner.

**

Ilith'vir found out. Better keep out of her way until she cools off. Long, long rides in the Dark Dominion.

**

Took a week for her to stop feeling murderous, but now she's rather mollified, especially when I made up a lot of iblith about how learning thievery increases dexterity, flexibility, increases the number of contacts and friends available, and enhances one's perception on the outside world. Not to mention the skills in sneaking around and all that…

**

Ylin'e entered Arach-Tinilith. Again with the teary good-byes. With both sisters gone, the House seems unbearably empty.

**

Lloth appeared in the House for the Festival of the Founding in the shape of an aranea in spider form, which later revealed itself as the Spider Queen. Our guest was House Chueth'duis, also non-noble. I was shocked. Matron Ilith'vir was shocked – and gratified, of course. The daughters are shocked. Matron Chueth was shocked. The city was shocked. Even Caomh was shocked when I told him of it sometime later, though he expressed this by spitting on the ground.

There has been talk on making Ilith'vir a noble house. Matron Ilith'vir has declined. We'd be less likely to get business if we were a noble – and powerful – house.

The Queen's appearance just meant more business from dark elves and less business from non-dark elves, at least for the moment.

**

U'lissae graduated in the Ceremony of Graduation, not top-in-class by any means, but near enough. Caomh and I have gone for a celebration and invited Nalfein, but the mage was caught up in House matters and apologized.

Managed to catch up with U'lissae in the House later before she was to go on patrol, and gave her stuff Caomh and I bought – her favorite food (what is it with females and chocolate?), a new, embroidered back-sheath for her weapon and such. Strangely enough, U'lissae hasn't been too molded by the Academy – other than being a little more arrogant and sure of herself – not to mention she loves rubbing in the fact that if she ever failed to beat me in weaponry, she could always use spells - she seems much the same as before.

I love that girl.

**

U'lissae is back from her stint on patrol. Managed to pull out time from my schedule to meet her in the House – have ten ongoing cases at the moment, four of which are rather explosive. She's a bit more scarred now, especially on the back and arms, but the one she really fusses about is the small white one above her right eyebrow. I have no idea why – maybe because it's the only facial scar. She thinks it makes her look less beautiful, despite all my – and Ylin'e's - assurances to the contrary.

It took Caomh to convince her that the scar actually makes her look more beautiful. I really don't know what's with him and Ilith'vir daughters.

**

Ylin'e graduated today – also not top, but one rank higher than her sister. Ilith'vir accused me of using this occasion to get drunk. This time Nalfein was free. Caomh, Nalfein, Ylin'e, U'lissae, Tern'yfein and I all met in Symeera to celebrate, with Ylin'e and U'lissae disguising themselves as males. It was incredibly funny, especially when we all got drunk. Have you ever seen a drunken mage?

Bad hangover the next day. Ilith'vir decided that it was all my fault, too.

Ylin'e hasn't been much affected by the Academy either (by reports, apparently only a proportion of priestesses are truly turned into gibbering fanatics by Arach-Tinilith. It's just propaganda), and if anything, for some reason her thievery skills improved, something which she is intensely proud of. She is extremely excited of the prospect of going on patrol.

I love these two.

**

Nalfein died in a House raid. Caomh, Ylin'e, U'lissae and I hid out in one of the Ilith'vir observation posts watching the Do'Urden animated dead file back to their House, and we silently toasted the mage with a bottle of good champagne. It'd be the way he'd like to have been remembered.

Lloth, I hope I'm not turning sentimental.

**

Ylin'e and U'lissae have, with Ilith'vir's approval, taken quite a bit of my caseload off my hands, and shouldered some of their own. I am not growing old, and I told them so, but they seem to have perfected the Matron's ability to tune me out of their immediate universes whenever they think I'm saying something unimportant.

**

Three of us are working on a big case involving fraud on a large scale and several noble houses. One part involved a high-speed chase down several alleys where both females managed to run faster than I did and catch the victim. Fine, maybe I'm aging. But Caomh can still beat them in a fair fight, anytime…

**

U'lissae has gotten deeply involved (I can't put this in any other delicate terms) with House Urundlet's dashing weapon master, one Cervaerl, also secondboy of House Urundlet. She even took him down to one of our Symeera 'social' meetings, and the male definitely seems devoted to her.

Caomh and I have a really bad feeling about this.

**

Bad feeling has been confirmed. Ilith'vir had been observing the relationship with marked disapproval and has delivered U'lissae an ultimatum to terminate it.

Granted, it had been interfering with U'lissae's studies to be a High Priestess and it could pose a major security breach of high levels, but really, give her a chance.

Eventually before U'lissae could continue talking back to the Matron and making Ilith'vir really furious, I decided to intervene and managed to get Ilith'vir to scold me instead of U'lissae.

At least Ilith'vir wouldn't kill me.

I think.

U'lissae quite heartbroken, but determined to disobey orders when I discussed this with her in private later. I told her to her face what I thought of that, and it somehow turned into a verbal fight. Now we're not speaking to each other either.

This hurt even more than I'd thought it would. Ylin'e's relationship with her sister has also suffered.

**

There has been a security breach. Some files on certain other Houses have been missing, or copies have been put in their place. Ilith'vir is furious again, and I don't blame her. Now we have to go through all the files to see what else is missing, and not to mention we'd have to go through the long and tedious process of purging the House of the breach. Life has gotten a lot more difficult, and I'm not talking about the breach itself.

I have a suspicion – sometimes I've seen U'lissae enter the vaults of the files even when I know she doesn't have any assignment that requires such prolonged perusal. However, may Lloth damn me, I cannot bring myself to say anything.

**

House Urundlet has made a sudden and extremely successful attack on House Taek'tharm, a very precise maneuver that required in-depth knowledge on Taek'tharm's defenses and structure. I don't particularly like Taek'tharm, especially since the name has some bad memories attached to it, but House Taek'tharm's files was one of those missing.

Ilith'vir's one step ahead of me – U'lissae had to go into her office and talk to her Matron.

U'lissae emerged from the probably interrogation rather pale – the equivalent in the infrared is more obvious than the normal-vision one on dark elves. Just shut herself in her room and refuses entry to anyone. This is getting absurd.

**

U'lissae is still not coming out. At least she's eating and drinking, if the servants are correct.

**

I'm getting tired of this.

**

Ylin'e and I managed to gain entry into U'lissae's room, where we talked to a numb-looking U'lissae for several hours. I've never talked for so long in my life. I think she's better now – she's certainly learned her lesson about romance. So long as you keep it just to the sex – or better, use it as a tool like the Matron. That's the only way there is, in this society.

Now, I think I'd go kill that bastard Cervaerl.

It seems quite ironic in this society that a male as actually managed to make use of a female, though.

Caomh and I have decided to cut the iblith's throat. Ylin'e wants to do it herself, and is attempting to pull rank, something that doesn't work on Caomh.

**

Not that it mattered – House Urundlet just got destroyed by House Teken'duis. I suspect Matron Ilith'vir slipped the tip to Teken'duis that Urundlet had a file on them. Thanks to Caomh and his influence in Bregan D'aerthe, some of the not-really-Teken'duis soldiers managed to retrieve the House files and the copies and return them to us before Teken'duis started looking.

We sort-of trust Caomh, but later Ylin'e and I are going to take another look in the Urundlet ruins just to make sure.

Ran across a familiar-looking body. Cervaerl is dead. A pity, since I'd even gone to the trouble of gambling with Ylin'e and Caomh about who would be the one to kill him, and winning the stake.

From the look of the wounds on Cervaerl's body, I think Caomh did it. Better not tell Ylin'e – she might decide to take out her frustration on the old elf, and get hurt doing it. One armed, one eyed, and old as he is, he can still beat her in combat.

U'lissae took the news well – she even treated Caomh, Ylin'e and I to drinks later at Symeera. I think she's recovering… though her attitude towards the opposite sex, with the exception of Caomh and myself, has noticeably deteriorated.

**

Zaknafein is dead. I had been expecting it for some time, what with all those problems with his son and him still not having learnt his lesson, but Caomh took it very hard. Got very drunk in Symeera and U'lissae, Ylin'e and I had to get him back to the Clawrift by ourselves. It's a miracle we managed to, since the three of us weren't exactly sober ourselves.

It wasn't even like we knew Zaknafein all that well…

**

Caomh is a shadow of his former self, despite our efforts to revive his spirits. Apparently even Jarlaxle is getting worried about this. To use even more cliched terms – it seems as though a part of him died with his favorite pupil, whom he loved as a son. Love's an elg'caress, isn't she?

**

Caomh died, just a month after Zaknafein. We'd been awaiting this for a while – he'd begun wasting away ever since Zaknafein died, and it wasn't a disease either – U'lissae and Ylin'e tried cure spells on him. Jarlaxle 'graciously' allowed us into the Clawrift to be there with Caomh for his last hours, though the mercenary leader kept away from the room.

"I'm sorry," he had said to the sisters, his voice a whisper that we had to strain to catch. "So sorry I have to leave you two… "

For some reason, he had been speaking in Undercommon instead of in Drow, as if, at the last moment, he was making some effort to deny his heritage.

The sisters, for all their professed dislike of males, were sniffling away. "We'd see you again in the next life," U'lissae offered softly. Unfortunately, this made Ylin'e burst into a new flood of tears as she clung on to my surcoat.

Caomh turned eyes that had become somewhat myopic over the centuries to mine. "There's only you left now."

"I'd take care of them," I assured him.

He gestured weakly at his bedside table, where Zaknafein's black swords lay, like some solid curse, their first owner dead and their second, dying. "The swords… I have no one to leave them to but you, Ti'erlfein."

"Zaknafein wouldn't have appreciated that," I made an effort to smile, "But I thank you. See you again in the afterlife... friend."

Caomh chuckled, a gurgling sound, and closed his eyes. "…Love you all…"

His last few breaths were measured and steady. I counted them – twelve – before he gave a last choked sound and passed on.

The three of us had sat in silence, holding his vigil.

Eventually Ylin'e put her hand in mine. "You'd stay with us?"

Many centuries ago I'd never have thought I'd do this to any females – but love, when all's said and done, in all its myriad forms, is a hammer of change that beats out its song of amelioration even in the heart of darkness.

I reached over and hugged them both tightly. "You two can't get rid of me that easily."

**

U'lissae and Ylin'e have immersed themselves in their studies again. That, on top of the cases they're handling, is enough to keep them busy. We still meet at Symeera and drink, though Ilith'vir is debating on the issue of whether or not priestesses on the threshold of turning into High Priestesses should actually frequent such places. However, the assurance that there's a lot of gossip to be had in Symeera managed to keep the lid on that topic for a while.

For me, I don't need to drink in Symeera to remember. The two black swords hang at my hips, a constant memento.

**

Zaknafein came back – briefly – as Zin-carla, apparently to hunt down his son. It wasn't very successful, and he fell into an acid pit somewhere and died – again. After that, House Do'Urden was attacked, apparently by Baenre, and has been destroyed since.

**

U'lissae is now High Priestess. Ylin'e and I had been expecting that for some time, so we'd gone trawling for gifts together a few cycles ago. Ended up we had to share our resources when we found something really unusual – a construct in the form of a very handsome male dark elf with large black draconic wings. I say construct here, even though I think it should be 'living thing' – it's breathing – but if you look into the eyes, there's nothing inside. Blank of thought, like golem's eyes.

We asked the dealer what in the Nine Hells was it-him – this was in one of the slaver buildings in Narbondellyn – and he said that he wasn't particularly sure what the creature was either. Apparently he had found the thing in one of his camps on their way to Menzoberranzan when everyone had woken up. The sentries hadn't seen the thing enter. The creature responded to commands like 'sleep' and 'eat', but other than that it could just be a piece of furniture, though it (I seem to have problems using 'he' on this creature) had a ring tightly clasped in its hand.

The dealer had paid a mage a great deal of money to find out what the ring was. It was something that, when worn by another, would cause this thing to obey that other creature for the rest of its life and no other – even when the ring was taken off. The dealer was smart enough to see how this creature would be worth on the open market, especially if it turned out to be really half-dragon, but we had apparently beaten the rest to the auction (I bet he says this to everyone).

I was having large problems coming to terms with the 'control' issue here, but Ylin'e proceeded to start bargaining. I didn't even want to think of what could have happened to it to reduce it to this state – or worse, what could have created it.

My reverie was broken rather rudely when Ylin'e named an incredible price that made me wince.

The dealer tried to hotfoot around this by talking about how he could wait for other prices, and how it was still early, but Ylin'e cut in sharply, pointing out that this was a substantial amount from any other bids that the dealer had named, and that she could change her mind and go see what the other slavers had. When she added that this gift would be to a High Priestess, I could see the dealer visibly succumb.

Somehow, we managed to sneak the thing into the House and keep it concealed from U'lissae. I refused to stay alone with it at any time by myself. The empty eyes seemed almost accusing – and were most disconcerting.

Ylin'e, however, was convinced that it was the right thing for U'lissae. "Look," she had said, "You know U'lissae has been a bit. Inhibited with your gender ever since that Incident?"

"You don't have to make it sound like it was my fault," I told her, just knowing that this line of conversation wasn't going to lead anywhere good. "And I doubt all females would be like you and Matron Ilith'vir… a different one in the sack every night, eh?"

Ylin'e snorted, at that moment, resembling her mother so closely I nearly felt the urge to backtrack and apologize. "Hah, yes. But look at it this way – this male would be under her total control."

"I don't like it," I had said, "And what if something goes wrong?"

"Only the trusted dealers get to sell in Narbondellyn," Ylin'e pointed out. "And it's not for you."

That was the end of the matter as far as she was concerned.

**

High Priestess U'lissae appreciated her gift very much. I think I'd sleep in my office from now on. The walls between the rooms in the nobles' quarters aren't thick enough.

**

There has been a lot of trouble where the top Houses led an army up to the Surface, all for one purpose – to eliminate Zaknafein's son. Ilith'vir didn't join in – sometimes being a small, non-noble House has its benefits, because surprisingly the Houses were beaten off and returned in defeat, amongst its casualties, Matron Baenre.

**

Jarlaxle has obtained a powerful artifact by the name of Crenshinibon, but has made no move against House Ilith'vir. Matron Ilith'vir hopes that he would now think of us as a threat so small as not to be worth crushing.

Artifact or not, our files on Bregan D'aerthe, if widespread, could initiate his mercenary band's downfall, and Jarlaxle had best not try to start anything that is sure to end badly for him.

So far, he seems to be sitting on the power. Matron Ilith'vir is in a black mood.

**

A powerful female by the name of Lin'Fayaenre Ra'Kest, also known as Winter, has entered the city disguised as a male with a pet nigouar. Investigations has decided not to bother her – Lloth knows all sorts of strange creatures enter and leave Menzoberranzan. She promptly joined Bregan D'aerthe.

**

Ylin'e is to be High Priestess soon. This time, U'lissae and I went to look for gifts, accompanied by Ssinsuurul, her now constant companion. Though I still felt uncomfortable in that creature's presence, it had proved to be quite adept in fighting and also had an ability to cast arcane spells – very useful in some cases, since House Ilith'vir still didn't have a really good wizard as yet.

Its name was strangely appropriate. It could speak, but only when U'lissae spoke to it, but its voice was liquid music, its namesake, rich and pleasant to listen too – and it moved like a cat, all grace. But still, each time I looked at it my mind presented me with uncomfortable questions, such as 'What is life?' and besides, I was still uncomfortable with the issue of absolute control. To me, there had to be a catch in it somewhere.

I took some comfort in the fact that Suliss didn't like it either. The revenant-steed had apparently reached its prime – and then stopped aging further. Sometimes I envied it, especially on days where my entire body lazily protested against getting up to greet the new cycle.

It seemed more difficult to find Ylin'e's gift. Did she want a pet? A Shadow Mastiff, perhaps? Or did she want enchanted trinkets, an amulet of spell warding? We must have spent the entire day wandering around shops until, out of desperation I suggested the same dealer from which Ylin'e and I had purchased Ssinsuurul. I had been guiding U'lissae around it, even to the extent that we had gone to reputed shops outside Narbondellyn.

We were debating about certain gifts when we entered the shop. The dealer recognized Ssinsuurul at once, and also what U'lissae's elaborate robes, as well as the snake whip at her hips, meant.

Eventually he suggested a trained steed that he had acquired – apparently some cross between a phase spider and some higher breed of sword spider that apparently was quite rare, because only U'lissae understood what the dealer was talking about. I only knew that this was going to cost me. Expensive gifts are really painful on the pocket.

**

High Priestess Ylin'e is riding that spider everywhere, even indoors, for Lloth's sake. Not to mention that its ethereal jaunts are extremely unnerving. Having giant spiders appear suddenly in front of one's face is not good for one's constitution, and Ylin'e took a positive delight in frightening me out of my skin.

**

House Baenre has captured Jarlaxle. This cannot be a good thing… Matron Ilith'vir hopes that House Baenre would kill the mercenary leader, but I doubt that would come to pass. Besides, I rather liked him.

**

The city has been struck by a surfacer season known as winter. Ilith'vir and I have suspicions that it has to do with Jarlaxle and Lin'Fayaenre. After all, she must have acquired her nickname somehow.

Menzoberranzan has completely shut down, as everyone's running for cover. From inside the House, which has been somehow warmed to a constant temperature by Ssinsuurul, I watched the white specks of snow fall.

**

By reports, something spectacular happened and Jarlaxle has been returned, barely alive, to Bregan D'aerthe. It has been confirmed that the snow had been of Winter's devising – apparently she has a twin of Crenshinibon known as Irr'liancrea. Reports of the situation are a bit garbled, and Ilith'vir has decided it has nothing to do with us.

**

I thought the sisters had enough years to be matured, but apparently not. They just played a tasteless prank involving the melting snow and my bed.

It is not funny.

At all.

**

Apparently Jarlaxle has formed a mutual romantic attachment to Winter. Matron Ilith'vir isn't particularly happy about it, especially at the concept that Bregan D'aerthe could soon have two heading it instead of one, wherein both leaders wield great power – political and arcane.

**

Ylin'e is pregnant. I was expecting this to happen, the way she carries on. She's just as bad as her mother was in this condition – imperial, the mood-swings, and the weird cravings. U'lissae is ecstatic and seems to be always with her sister, even when Ylin'e is in a dark mood. So it leaves Yours Truly to go and find out, with some agents, where all the weird foods are. Where the hell am I supposed to get 'peaches'? What the hell are 'peaches'?

**

Ylin'e's child is a boy. I could sense her – and U'lissae's – disappointment, but the sisters decided to be sentimental and make the best of it by naming the child Caomh. Ilith'vir didn't object too much – Caomh Senior's House had been destroyed a few years ago, and wasn't in a position to remember.

Death, followed by birth, is the cycle eternal. A new die has been cast into this stygian society which birthed me and would be my death, but though this world is perilous and uncaring – I look at the small face of the child, and I know that at the very least, this world also has its own redemption.

--

Translations and References:

Suliss: Grace, generic term.

Ssinsuurul: Music.