(G117 17/06/11 BG - AP, ON(GM), GF)

DAY 23 (4th Tarsakh) continued...

Well, that was all a nice relaxing diversion, but we still had work to do today. So Fenrir tried
to get his letter delivered to the Falconmere mansion, but when the post boy came back he had not
got a reply. I think the guy had been suspicious. So - back to the drawing board with that one.

I went to a jewelers and commissioned the making of a fake 'Eye of True Seeing'. Might come in handy,
but wont be ready for ten days.

After that, me and my Big Sister went down to the guard house to see what was happening.

[ Rollo : Hello again gentle reader. My cousin Silvia also keeps a memoir. (We are a family of journalists!)
For completeness, here is how things went from her point of view. She addresses everything to 'Kitty'
something she must have done since she was a little girl. 'Kitty' is a sort of invisible friend.
Also be aware, dear reader, the Cousin Silvia is in the habit of using malapropisms and words that
she likes, but does not necessarily under stand the meaning of.]

Dear Kitty,

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man in possession of a fortune is in need of wife. My cousin
Corum is not in possession of a fortune, but he is, forsooth, in possession of enough money to pay next
months rent.

Today though I had cause to regret my desire to approach him for a loan.

As I have already told thee, dearest Kitty, how this had come to pass I will mention it breifly.
The servant is stealing the silver, the dog has gripe again and I cannot part with another beloved dress to pay
the bills. Father says I must 'stand on my own two feet' but the old dastard would cut me off completely if
I did anything so menial or lowly as 'getting a job'.

Forsooth, I have no desire for salaried work. Jenny at the temple casts spells on the weak and infirm
and draws a salary for it, but I confess I see her little better than a harlot, plying sailors
with her charms.

Peradventure I may have cause to regret my decision to mock her though, as I will now relate.

'The boy' had described his predicament to me, and had vouchsafed a confession from the gel. But
apparently to get the gel out of the guard house they wanted to use my armour. Well, Aunt Pelinda would
be turning in her grave knowing that some street strumpet was parading around in her old Templar plate,
but since I had not yet got any money from 'the boy' I could only acquiesce.

The strumpet, 'the boy' and 'the dandy' all went off to the Temple of Ogmarr, leaving me alone in
a police station in my underwear. And curse it if the worst thing is that this isn't the first time he has
done this to me!

I changed into some robes and went to the brewery to await them. As planned, they went to the Temple,
met Nestoone and the 'street rat' before coming to the brewery.

I got my stuff back, thank Silvanus, and we settled down for an hour or two. What an awkward set of people
we would have appeared to be to any outside viewer. The boy sat with the strumpet he had in his care, the
Street Rat skulking in the shadows while The Dandy sat quietly, communing with evil spirits I have little doubt.

Then, if the day had not had enough indignity in it, at one hour to midnight, a dung sweepers wagon turned
up to take us out of the city. It was empty, but had held horse manure. I like horses well enough and am
used to their smell, but a lady should not be treated so indelicately so I sat up front with the dandy.

Nestoone, the boy, the strumpet and the street rat all sat in the wagon.

Well, ye can imagine, Kitty, we looked quite a sight and the Strumpet was having none of it and complained
to the boy. He seemed genuinely concerned about her and offered her a dagger and some gold.

The Dandy told her to remove herself in coarse terms and when she did so, he changed his mind, or perhaps he
had just been bluffing but he declared he would 'start shooting' if she left.

After that though, we set off for the Dock Ward gate, giving me time to reflect on the current situation.
Have I done the right thing? Here I sit, with a very odd dandy on a Dung Card, taking a villainous strumpet
Silvanus only knows where in the dead of night?

So far I am not one copper piece better off, although from what I heard the boy say to the gong merchant he
talked to, he certainly has plenty of gold to throw around.

It has been an interesting day, I will vouchsafe that.

That is the story so far, anyway, dear Kitty. Before signing off I will quickly summarise the cast of this
comedy for thee, so that ye may know them next time I write:

The Boy - my cousin Corum, one of four brothers, all of whom are weaklings whom I used to regularly trounce.
His family unjustly inhabit the Lavius estate. If cousin Kroakus Ostrajet had not died so inconveniently
it would still be in godly hands and not held by the son of an exile, Corum's father.
He is currently involved in what I call 'the plot', a plot with so many twists and turns in it
I have yet to grasp its full extent.
The Dandy - An odd character indeed, whom I have yet to get the measure of. Seems on friendly terms with
the boy, although there has been some trouble about a woman between them I think. A sordid story
I am sure. Young, a mere child underneath all this fine garb and manners.
Nestoone - A priest of Ogmarr and the only one out of the lot of them I would usually give the time of day
to. Seems a good sort although a bit of a know-it-all.
The Street Rat - A silent roguish looking gel. A villain.
The Strumpet - Somehow involved in this complicated plot that the boy has found himself in. One way or the
other I don't think I'll be seeing much of her after tomorrow.