1865-10-16: A Proper Response
A Proper Response
Summary: Lord Joffrey d'Synclarre responds to Lady Genoveffa's letter.
Date: 10/16/1865
Related: http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/memoir:1865-10-10:early-morning-musings-and-writing, http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/log:1865-10-14-it-s-not-orders
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Joffrey  Genoveffa  

Sir Joffrey d'Synclarre sat in the dim light of the tent, his small folding desk light from the amber light of the whale-oil lamp that sat upon it. A blank piece of parchment sat before him, as well as quill and ink, but no words had yet come.

Idly, Joffrey glanced at the lamp, smiling just a touch. It had been an indulgence on his last trip to Lyionesse a bit over a year ago, but what he had thought an expensive bauble had actually proven quite valuable. Particularly in moments like this.

He regarded the blank parchment once more, frowning a bit. No lamp could provide illumination on the words he needed to put on that paper. It had been a long time since he'd received a message like the Lady Genoveffa's…and just as long since he'd responded to one. He always found it a bit difficult to balance propriety with interest, and to avoid giving false hope or expectation while not abandoning such things altogether. After a few more moments, he dipped the quill into the inkwell, and began to write in an even, tight script:

Dear Lady Genoveffa,

I confess I find myself a bit at a loss for words upon receiving your letter. I am most certainly duly honored and flattered that you would hold me in high enough regard to compose a personal note, even after but a pair of relatively brief meetings.

All things considered, I am well, as are the men who follow me. So far the north is quiet, though few hold much hope that it will remain so for long. As cliched as it might be to say "too quiet" that does seem to be the general feel among the camps. Spirits may be high, but they are tempered with caution and vigilance. It is a curious tension that always exists between battles in times of war. Long and aching periods of boredom interrupted occasionally by chaos, terror, and bloodshed. I still retain every confidence we will prevail…the One watches over us.

It pleases me to hear that you are enjoying your time in Alasce thus far, though I suspect by the time this reaches you, your time there may be near its' end. I have never had occasion to attend any of the Masques of Alasce, but I am told they are quite a grand affair, and certainly do hope you find it exceeds your expectations and proves most entertaining.

I hope you will not think ill of me that I find your request to speak of myself a daunting one. Given your words, I suspect you already know a bit about me, which is not overly surprising in and of itself. Benide made me well-known in Aequor, but I will not dwell on those events, both per your kind allowance to avoid unpleasant memory and because as noted, I believe you already know much of what transpired there, insofar as I am concerned. But as for the rest of my past, I would not judge myself particularly remarkable. I have had the good fortune to meet many remarkable people, including yourself, and see a fair number of interesting places, both through my childhood and into my years as a Knight and Lord of House d'Synclarre. I had the honor of being knighted by none other than His Grace your father some years ago.

However, I could regale you with simple facts of myself at length, but I often find such things do not always speak of who we truly are. Suffice to say I am a man who believes that the One provides us the strength, virtues, and talents to see our way through the world, and that we owe it to him to not only pay homage to His part in making us, but to utilize these traits to live as best we are able in his honor. We all face trials and adversities, and it is important that we see these things not purely as obstacles that bar our paths, but opportunities to examine and strengthen our faith in Him by overcoming them. Grief is inevitable and proper when we suffer the loss of those held dear to us, but it is not only a disservice to their memory to allow such a thing to consume the remainder of our days, it is an affront to deny that He has a path for us, if we are willing to seek it out and tread it, though it is not always or even often an easy road to take. Even if it may not provide reward in this life, if the path is followed with honor and diligence, there will be rewards in what follows.

I hope I haven't bored you with my little theological sermon, Milady, but my faith is a central part of who I am, and if you wish to know more of me, then I would judge it important to know these things first. Should you wish to correspond further during my sojourn in the North, I would certainly be glad for the opportunity. Should you not, then I will confess that I will be disappointed, but in either case I wish you happiness, good health, and safe passage in all your journeys.

Sincerely,

Sir Joffrey d'Synclarre, Lord of Edgebrooke

Joffrey leaned back and examined the letter once more, re-reading it a couple of times while the ink dried a bit. He uncapped a small jar of fine sand and sprinkled it upon the paper, letting it rest there a few moments to help dry the ink a bit more, before lifting the paper and blowing the grains aside with a puff of breath.

Satisfied, he carefully folded the message and picked up the small stick of wax that had been resting near the base of the lamp to heat, before stamping the message closed and then sealing it with the signet of House d'Synclarre that he carried with a leather cord around his neck. And with that, he set the message aside to be sent out with the others in the morning, and picked up the lamp to move it over to the small wooden stand next to his cot, and after settling upon the later, doused the lamp and drifted off to sleep.

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