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Kalasin of Conté
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My dear Mother and Father,

I will begin by asking your forgiveness for not writing much sooner. I do not want you to think I have been angry at being sent away from our home, when in actuality, I have just been pressed for time of late.

Now, as for what has happened to me in the past few weeks, I barely know where to start. I guess the beginning is the best place.

I was very upset when we parted and I boarded the ship. I spent the first half of the journey pouting in my room, like a small child. For that, I am ashamed. I don't really want to dwell on the boring voyage, for the reason that I believe that an empress shouldn't point out her weaknesses to others.

More interesting was the exact moment when Carthak officially became my home. It happened on neutral ground, on an island in the Great Inland Sea, just between Tortall and the Carthaki Land Mass. An official looking building had been erected for this occasion, with a golden roof and marble floors that shone like mirrors.

I was taken to a changing room and was instructed to remove my clothes. I did as bade, expecting to be given a dress from my new wardrobe; you know, the one I've spent months being fitted for. But my expectations were wrong.

Once I had stripped, the maid explained that I was to walk through the door into a room full of strangers (Carthaki strangers at that), and hence leave my former life behind.

When she opened the door my face felt hot. I'm sure it was as red as a tomato. But (other than that) I didn't let my discomfort show. I kept my head held high until well after a Carthaki maid gave me a silken red robe.

I will admit that after that situation, I had a death grip on that robe. It was not coming off until I had some real clothing to replace it.

At the time, I was mortified, but now I actually think that it's kind of funny. If it had been Roald, he'd have just laughed it off, and strode through the room, showing himself off. Well maybe not quite that, but he wouldn't have been as humiliated as I was.

The banquet that evening was much less nerve-wracking. I got to wear the beautiful midnight blue silk gown with the gold trim, the one that you designed, Mother. Kaddar sat at the end of the head table, and I was at his right-hand side. I kept my behavior in check, not only because of my proximity to Kaddar, but partly because of the little boy who sat beside me.

Alikan is the son of Kaddar's sister, Kala. If Kaddar (meaning me, of course) fails to produce an heir, then Alikan will be the next emperor.

I was acutely aware of Alikan, as small children have a way of copying the behavior of those around them. It reminded me of the story that you like to tell, Father, about the time that Roald was seated near a noble who had decided to pick his nose. If you didn't look over there and see Roald with his own finger in his nose! The court stopped dining in public three days later, was it?

I certainly hope that you never told that story to Shinkokami. It's not one of Roald's brightest moments. Of course, he was a lad of but two.

Anyways. I've gotten off track.

Alikan is very adorable and very smart. He chattered at me, welcoming me to Carthak and offering a personal tour of the menagerie, until his nursemaid came to fetch him to bed. The only person I had to talk to then was Kaddar. I was quite nervous at first, but in all honesty, I've found that Kaddar is a kind man, who will make a good husband, and that Carthak may be a strange land in comparison with Tortall, but it is already growing on me. I hope that I will get to see you both again soon.

Please give my love to Liam, Lianne, and Vania, as well as Roald, Shinko, and the baby. I am always thinking of you all.

Love,

Soon-to-Be Empress Kalasin Iliniat of Carthak

Your Kally