ooc: She started writing this down about three or four days from the battle with the goblins. :)

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Dearest Mother,

I know this is a letter you likely won't see, considering I'm on my way to see the Tomiak Oracle and there's no way to send it to you. Still, I suppose this can be a journal of sorts to help me sort out my thoughts when they get too jumbled. You know how I am with that. I get started down a road of thought and if there's something blocking me, but I still need to say something important, I'll leap ahead and say it anyway without regard to linking it to something relevant. I think I confused poor Janus, Goentryx's apprentice, with that just recently.

My journey has been strange, Mother. I arrived in Portsdale to find Goentryx's Grove closed and Janus having prophetic dreams. I met him, his heart-brother Tob and a Sundaryan named Yahim (who is really Minna, but that's not my story to reveal, even here) while I was there. The strange thing is that Janus's dreams changed when he met up with each of us, apparently telling him that we were to go along with him. I have no idea exactly how I fit into this picture. I'm so very inexperienced with the world outside of Caer Talldyr. I know you'll say that 'people are people, no matter where you go,' but there's so much more to think about that never seemed to touch me, before. I'm only just now realizing how sheltered I was.

The people I'm traveling with are both a little bit of an odd mix and really good people, on the whole. I think they're all around my age, which also makes for interesting thoughts about this journey. I mean what if all this with The Bright One started about the time we were all born? I know it sounds pretentious or even ego-centric, but what if we were born for this, Mother? Oh... I suppose I should tell you that Janus's dreams revolve around The Bright One becoming active again. Then what I just said might make some more sense. Silly Aislinn, there you go again, leaping ahead...

I'm not sure I'll broach that idea with anyone just yet, though. Janus and Minna would be the ones to take it with any sort of equanimity. Minna has become one of my staunchest, dearest friends. Even when she's enthusiastically playing Yahim. Being female gives her a good idea for how to flirt! Our friends are never sure how serious we are! Sometimes, I think Minna wonders the same thing, though. Janus is a man easy on the eyes, Mother. And one easy to talk to and befriend. If people thought me wise beyond my years, they'd certainly think that of Janus. He doesn't often let his stoic guard down, but when he does, he's just as charming as the rascal Yahim.

I still don't know much about his life-long friend, Tob. He's a very stoic person, himself. He doesn't speak much, but I think of him as someone who tries to live simplistically. He knows what his job is, he knows what he can do and what he can't and that's all right by him. He's a strong man, carrying some sort of dark burden on his shoulders, aside from trying to help Janus.

We met two more people in Per. Coren and Li-eira. Coren is a large man with a large outward love of money and drink. I've seen glimpses of the soft-as-swansdown heart he has, though. He used to be a slave of the Dragonlords and now thinks that money alone will keep him free. I know that's not the case, but he's not ready to hear it and understand it, yet. Li-eira is a beautiful, yet delicate Silver Path-Mage. I can tell she has some Choshu blood in her, but so far as I know she's kept that fact from everyone and I haven't violated her confidence in that. We've become good friends, though I think half the time I feel like her mother or a much older sister trying to guide her along.

The most recent addition to our group is Giacomo, a bard from all parts of the world, to hear him tell it. He's most definitely a rake and a scoundrel, though he's certainly good-looking and charming enough, I'll give him that. Our little group helped rescue him and others from a band of dolfanc slavers. And mother, I would have given just about anything to have you waiting at camp for us when we returned! We were all stretched thin after that, I believe. Anyway, aside from the flirtatious banter that's been flowing about the last few days, I'm still not sure what to think of him. He didn't get immediately put on my good side when he tried to tell me his wounds could wait. As if I couldn't tell who's wounds needed immediate tending and who's didn't! But, after things had calmed down (and I had calmed), I realized it might just be him trying to be heroic and charming. Still, didn't anyone ever tell him not to make a healer mad at him? (I'm kidding, Mother. You know that)

That's our little group and the people who have made my life much richer than it was before. You know, I had so many questions for the Oracle when we set out. About my identity, about why I was hidden and from whom. But right now, only one question takes precedence: What is the best way I can help in the coming conflict with The Bright One?

I'm ashamed to say that part of me resents that. I do want my answers. I also want to fulfill those dreams of home, hearth and family of my own. But those dreams seem so very far out of reach, right now. Perhaps they will come back into my reach when this is over, but right now that seems like a long time from now. It only gets more pronounced when it feels like I'm twice my age helping someone reach clarity on their own thoughts. Some days I'm on such an emotional pendulum. One moment flirting outrageously with the men, then in the next, I'm mediating a dispute, tending to some wound or helping someone talk out a problem.

Then... then I look up into the night sky as I'm taking my turn at watch. I see the Holy Mother's face in one of her phases and the resentment fades. There are greater things to be done than to satisfy some small whims of mine. While I know I have a choice, I have chosen this path and I will continue down it, serving our Blessed Mathern as best as I can.

I hope you are well, Mother. I miss you more than I can properly say. Perhaps when we next get to a large city, I can send this on it's way to you. I may have others at that time, so I'll number them and you can read them in order. You have my love and may Mathern always watch over you.

Always,
Aislinn