To Inasis
Inasis,
I spoke tonight briefly with a Lady Kalonah Valdyr. I didn’t remember her, but she remembered meeting me in your company. Of course I felt like kind of a jerk for forgetting, but it made me think of you, and days past.
Our meeting was at a fundraiser to refugees from Elona, and for Amnoon, and I had visited it late to offer what I could.
I do miss you, and wonder how you doing. Are you well?
For my part, my mind is healthier than it became when we parted, but the trials of my duty to Queen and Kryta, and to the good people of Tyria, have been many. I often find myself in situations where I miss your intelligence, cunning and capability. And your sense of righteousness.
Lady Valdyr gave me a box of chocolates I mean to give to Sati next I see her. When you see her, please give her my love. I will do the same, of course, for you.
I have a student at last, one I think will be capable of sticking it out. I hope this will push my own skill to new heights. She has mettle and curiosity, and I respect her drive. She also has many trials to overcome, and I hope I have the wisdom to guide her well.
Be well. Lyssa watch over you.*
Janto Adega Cadell
*Written in a slower handwriting, with some awkwardness. Yes, this whole showing respect to the gods business is strange, but there it is.
At the beginning, time and distance had seemed like promising friends, but now seemed more like bitter companions as day by day her journey stretched on. For all that she had smeared her soul across all these lonely, foreign places -- the dune and the delta, the slopes and the salt flats -- she had still not yet seized on the words to write back to him.
All the way across the desert, his words had followed at her heels. She made token efforts to outrun them, but Krytan efficiency and her own unresolved heart had, so far, brought each of his letters into hand. Even as far as Sebohrin, he was not a thing she could escape.
One day, after many of his letters had gone unanswered, one finally arrived for him in return. It was well battered by its journey, but her clear, neat script survived:
“Ahai, Janto. I am glad that you are doing well. I have faith that whatever trials you or yours face, you will continue to triumph over them.”
Just that, and her signed name. Just Inasis.
There was more, but no pen could capture such a thing. It would only be impotent.
