Week 126 – Craon, Librarian
Dear Diary,
The attacks on the Courtyard have resulted in quite a few poor prisoners being freed. Some of them have taken service with the Heiress – a peculiar man named Falaise, a robber called Courci, and a terrifying woman named Iris who carries a whip everywhere and wears a mask. She looks like that crazy man Maynet. I never saw anything like them at the university, that's certain!
They're not like that kind wizard Pancevolt. It's much nicer sitting at camp reading poetry and talking about philosophy than watching Falaise mope about in his chains and Courci glare at the dark, and listen to Iris beating herself and moaning.
I want to ask the Heiress her first name, but that would be altogether too daring. I'm blushing just thinking about it.
I wonder if she'd tell me?
Craon
Week 127a – Craon, Librarian
Dear Diary,
Look at me, out on a mission again so soon! I'm sure I'm catching her eye a bit at least. I worked up the courage to ask her to send me out, to the Warrens for the first time to catalog some of the tunnels.
I can't wait to get back.
Craon.
Week 127b – The Heiress
Wilhelmina Constantine von W-, Heiress and Lady of the Hamlet: Her Diary.
I feel unsettled.
The last expedition I sent to the Warrens, my very helpful assistant Craon asked to join. She's been out before. Then the silly girl got herself skewered by a swine javelin and now I find in her diary that she was trying to impress me.
Damned foolish, but it gets under my skin. Maybe it's just the atmosphere of this place getting to me. I'm not used to things nettling me like this.
It's a damnable waste. I hope the swine didn't get to eat too much of her before the others put them down.
Lady W., Heiress.
Week 128 – Elers, Jester
Awfully peculiar world we live in. For all of his knowledge and magic, that Eastern rascal Couer has been victimized by the Crimson Curse again, while poor ignorant Elers who he sneers at is healthy and happy.
Healthy, anyways. I've never met a happy minstrel, but perhaps that's more the environment than the profession. Music and jests around the noble is a touchy business.
Her Ladyship hasn't been in the mood for either lately. So I'm out to the Warrens to hunt for vampires, which to be frank is more to my taste regardless.
Jacob Elers
Week 129 – Pettiloup, Falconer
My punishment, apparently, is upon me. I've seen the others in the grip of this malady, and now it's my turn.
I wonder what they were suffering for? I could play guessing games all day. Couer for his general unpleasantness and traffic with darkness, that madwoman Iris for heresy, Montfiquet for bringing in innocent bounties, and poor Pettiloup for thieving and helping killers and looking the other way when things were done that oughtn't have been.
Still, the Blood soothes the conscience as aptly as it soothes the cravings.
Pettiloup
Week 130 – Gwenllian, Hellion
I have been learning to write from Von Kalmbach.
He is better at poetry and rutting than he is at teaching.
He is better at fighting, too.
We were both very crazy for a long time with that red sickness.
He said he wants to marry me.
That was a crazy thing to say.
I am an outcast and so is he. So maybe it would be alright.