Epistolary Chapter 1: IS 493 to IS 500, a suikoden fanfic

Epistolary

half a millennium of correspondence in the world of Suikoden

by Mithrigil Galtirglin

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-IS 491-

From His Eminence the Bishop Sasarai I of the Holy Harmonian Empire

to Commander Futch Schvarzeleber of the Dragon Knights of Toran,

It is with no small amount of joy and pride that We offer Our congratulations on your appointment to Commander of the Dragon Knights. We regret deeply Our inability to attend the ceremony of appointment and the funeral rites of your predecessor, but We are unfortunately entrenched too deeply in matters both Sacred and utterly Secular at the moment to make the necessary voyage.

We also offer our condolences you and to those others bereaved of your predecessor, who shall be chronicled within Harmonia as a wise ally and a valorous individual, and her story will no doubt inspire soldier and artisan alike in the coming age.

It is Our understanding that in light of her passing and your promotion, you have come into the Dragon Rune. To this We again offer both congratulations and condolences, as your life as you know it has sure ended for both better and worse. We offer Ourself as a voice of experience with regard to maintaining one's relationship with the Rune, in such fashion as We may make Ourself available to dispense counsel.

We pray for your health and that of your charges.

to his eminence Sasarai I

Thanks. On all counts. No, really--I'd hoped you would have made it to the funeral. Then again, you're at war now, and I can't expect you to drop that in favor of me. I mean, you've got one vast country to deal with. Here's assuming that's what you meant by "matters both sacred and secular", at any rate.

And you are correct in your understanding that I've got the Rune now. Thanks for the offer of help, I might actually take you up on it, if I can figure something out that you can actually help with. You've been dealing with it your whole life, though, so that's likely.

Seriously, thanks, and I really do understand about not being able to come out here. You're not the only one from the old army who couldn't make it thanks to the new war. Besides, if any of you had come I'd have been forced to impose a peace-bonding during your stays and I hate doing that. It actually makes setting a watch difficult.

Best of luck with your war, may the best side win in the end, and don't you get killed out there. And for that matter, don't kill our buddies on the other side.

-Futch

---

-IS 493-

to his eminence Sasarai,

Congratulations on your victory in the Grasslands. I'm sure Hugo led them well until the end, and I hope he at least gave you trouble. Knowing him, he probably did. That kid was a demon when we were working under him, and what with all the grooming his mother gave him he could only become a great commander.

That said, it relieved me to hear nothing about massive geographical destruction or pillars of flame that ate the clouds like cupcakes. When I learned of your victory I was relieved at first that Hugo's defeat had not brought about catastrophe. And then I realized that none of the other options were very good either.

Did he get away? Or do you have him? I won't like either answer, so don't be afraid to tell me the truth.

Also, just to confirm--it's Bazba, Dupa, and old Joe who didn't make it? I heard Joe faced you alone to buy time for Hugo, and I can't imagine you left him alive.

-Futch

From His Eminence the Bishop Sasarai I of the Holy Harmonian Empire

to Commander Futch Schvarzeleber of the Dragon Knights of Toran,

We appreciate your congratulations and understand your concern for our former brethren-in-arms. It is with a heavy heart that We confirm your allegations as to the passings of Lord Bazba, Chief Dupa, and Sergeant Jordi. With regard to the Sergeant, it is in fact as you claim to believe, and he lay down his life most nobly. In a way, We are glad to have had the encounter transpire as it did, since the duel provided Us with assurance that Our esteemed comrade met a worthy end with a focused heart. We cannot guarantee the same regarding Lord Bazba or Chief Dupa, but by all reports they died with like honor.

With attention to the matter of Chief Hugo, We are not at leisure to disclose what little knowledge We possess of his state and whereabouts. We are able, however, to assure you of the fact that he lived up to his legacy and did not falter in his fight, taking several of Our men down with him before the inevitable end. Chief Hugo, in fact, crippled Our loved and valiant second, Deacon Dios Eizal, in the chaos of the last grand melee. It is not expected that Our adjunct will walk again, if he wakes at all. As of today We do not suspect he shall.

You may rest with confidence that Our regime will not continue to initiate direct hostilities in the Grasslands, and We have faith that news of Chief Hugo will reach you in good time.

We pray for your continued prosperity and the good fortune of those you hold dear.

to his eminence,

Thanks for telling me what little you think you can about Hugo. And you're right, how Joe died makes it a little easier to tolerate. He was always ready to tank it on the front lines. I only hope his kids are taking it well, and I'm sure they'll grow up into fine warriors like their father. If the world needs warriors when they grow up, I mean. With Harmonia in control, the Grasslanders might be able to live peacefully. At least the Duck Clan, I mean. You'll have trouble with the Lizards.

I'm sorry to hear about Dios. I didn't get to know him so well at Budehuc, but he was competent and he cared about you, so he was probably a good person. If he does die, he'll be missed over here by a few. By the way, did you know that Edge came here to train for a few months? Not as a rider, he's too old now to start, but he wanted to learn some greatsword from me. He's grown up a lot since the war--I mean, he can actually lift that old chatterbox sword with one hand now--but he looks more or less the same. Just stronger, more confident. And the sword's still a smartass. I think it misses Viktor. But I taught Edge some of what Humphrey taught me and he actually left here a little better than he came in.

Anyway, I hope Dios makes a good recovery and can return to watching your back. You'll probably need to be on your guard for vengeful Grasslanders and some other competent people who cared about Hugo. No, I'm not sending anybody myself, but seriously, keep an eye out. And please, keep me posted about Hugo--if you don't, I'll suspect you're up to something.

-Futch

From His Eminence the Bishop Sasarai I of the Holy Harmonian Empire

to Commander Futch Schvarzeleber of the Dragon Knights of Toran,

It is with an unsettling mélange of relief and regret that We inform you of the passing of Our beloved adjunct Deacon Dios Eizal. He died quietly in the night, a small measure of hours before the arrival of your letter. His spirit is now at peace and he is free of the pain brought on by his experiences in this mortal coil. In light of your kind words We conveyed your respects to his family, and they in return convey the openness of their home to you and yours should you ever be present in Crystal Valley.

We are likewise pleased at your news of Edge and his continued indenture to the Star Dragon Sword. We find Ourself wondering what it means to be sought out as a teacher, and project our best wishes to you in all future endeavors of the kind. We feel that you will prove a responsible and wise mentor to all those who resign themselves to your tutelage.

We are unable to placate your yearning for news of Chief Hugo.

We also appreciate your warning as to the precarious position We now occupy and have taken steps to insure the continuation of Ourself and Our posterity. There have been several attempts on Our life in the last few days, and We have transferred Our base of operations to a stauncher fortification. We will not disclose the nature of this location and this messenger does not know of it, so an interrogation would be futile. Please treat Our courier with your reputed kindness.

In light of the recent advents in Our position, We think it best that this correspondence be postponed until such a time as Our safety, as well as yours, is not so compromised by the traffic of letters. We implore that you refrain from replying to this letter, and offer instead to initiate the renewed epistolary Ourself.

We pray for your continued prosperity and the good fortune of those you hold dear.

---

-IS 499-

to his eminence,

I'm assuming that when you said you'd resume this whole correspondence thing when it was safe, you weren't thinking that five years would pass. Or is it six? Anyway, I'm sure it's reasonably safe to send a letter now, so I am. You won't escape my irreverent tone of voice so easily!

The reason I was reminded to start up the writing again is that I'm not going to be able to make it to Lepant's funeral, and I knew you'd be there--are you overseeing it?--so I thought I'd at least update you on my end so you'd have something to tell the others. What others there still are, I mean.

Things have been generally stable over here. Edge came back again about a year ago, finally looking older, but he'd ditched the talking sword. He's still here, actually. He told me he ran into Vik and Flik, or more accurately that they ran into him and asked for the sword back. Something about walking suits of armor claiming to be creatures of the night. Anyway, Edge said he did the right thing and challenged Vik to a duel over the sword. Of course Vik accepted, because he's Vik and because he probably does need the sword. Edge gets kind of gushy from here on in about it, so long story short, our boy Edge gave old Vik a run for his money. (He gives me a lot of the credit, says that Vik commented on Edge fighting "like Humphrey".) But Vik's Vik, and he won in the end, took the sword back (much to the sword's chagrin, I'm sure), and rode off with Flik into the sunset. Or sunrise. That part of the story keeps changing.

Let's see, what else...Viki dropped in and dropped out. I managed to get that she'd gone back in time for a little bit, and coming from her I'll believe anything. I think that was three years ago, just before you finally came out of hiding.

Right about the time you went into hiding, Geddoe of all people came by. I had been thinking he was behind one of the attempts on your life, but I didn't mention it to him and he didn't say anything. He's still with the rest of his team--all of them--even after all these years. He of course looks the same. Joker was grey but could still fight, Ace had a gut that surprisingly didn't get in the way of his sai, and Queen didn't even seem to notice that she was over forty. Not a wrinkle on that woman, I swear...I mean, she definitely looks older, if you know what I mean, but she doesn't look like any woman over forty I know. As for that creepy guy--I finally found out his name was Jacques--he and that Karayan girl Aila seem to be together, but don't plan on settling down or anything. I'm not sure if they're married. I don't know how Karayans handle that and I don't think Jacques actually cares.

Geddoe and I didn't talk much while he was here--I think he was just passing through on his way to Kamaro, and he left after about a week. I did talk with Ace a bit, though, and got that they'd been up to some pretty crazy stuff over the last few years. Now that the whole team knows about Geddoe, and people outside the team have figured it out, the team's being chased around by everyone from your boys to greedy Islanders. They keep getting actual missions in Caleria, which I can only assume come from you, but they keep walking into traps along the way. They wouldn't tell me what was up in Kamaro.

Also, while you were in hiding, I survived the first attempt on my life. That was fun. One of my own, actually, figured he'd take the Rune by force. Bright ate him. And I put a ban on naming kids after him. I really like that idea, actually, as a punishment. It's lasting. It doesn't always work, and I don't think it would work in a place like yours with tens of thousands of people, but there are still under three thousand of us and we didn't have any other Hausers. It's sad that it ended up being someone bad named after someone great, but that happens, I guess.

Chaco started flying in every spring again as soon as his Brace's war was over. We get drunk a lot and occasionally set things on fire. He stays until the leaves fall. He's aging very quickly. He actually didn't know that I'd become the Commander until he came here. He says he'll bring Landis with him next time, but I think that's because he's starting to forget the way. And frankly, I'm not looking forward to seeing Landis...that guy creeps me out.

I feel old. I know I don't look it, but I feel old. Especially since Queen and Chaco. I mean, it's one thing to see Aila and the knights around me growing up, and to see Geddoe and Edge tactfully not growing up, but to see Queen getting older and Chaco getting downright old is just a little creepy, when I look in the mirror and see the same kind of face very morning. And then, to hear that Lepant's dying of old age while I sit here and...don't.

I could go to his funeral. I seriously could--I mean, I've got adjuncts I trust, I could leave them here and pay proper respects to the old stick-in-the-mud President. But most of the people I know that will be there are going to look different than they used to and I don't think I can take all of that at once. It'll be faces I used to know, and then you and me and whatever others of us show up. Do you think McDohl will make it? (If he does I don't want to see old Gremio...that'll just be scary. To see the guy I gave a year of my life to resurrect with one foot in the grave...)

Do you think we'll ever get used to this, Sasarai?

Anyway, I should probably stop rambling. Write back, I think I need it. And please, survive that funeral. If anyone asks for me, tell them they're welcome to stop by...just please, one at a time.

-Futch

To Commander Futch Schvarzeleber,

Your letter reached Us in a timely fashion and We were able to bear your concerns in mind to the funeral of former President Lepant. The funeral itself was a moving testimony to the man's life and work and We would have been honored to preside; however, his wife the Lady Eileen conducted the service most admirably. The Lord Sheena also delivered a touching eulogy.

Of those that attended, several did in fact inquire after you, and the general reception of your absence was understanding coupled with a marked lamentation. We did not know that you had sent a gift in addition to the wishes you conveyed to Us in your most welcome epistle, and were rather impressed with the performance of your Drill Guard, and We did not appear to be the only one amazed. There is something about a flock of dragons flying in formation that is as overwhelmingly majestic and humbling as a true brush with fate, and to see your men in flight at the last rites of one marked by such destiny, and to whom we were linked by such destiny, stopped Our heart for a moment.

After the service itself, I discoursed some with Lady Pendragon and Sir Frederic Maximillian, who brought with them happier tidings. Apparently they had been engaged in correspondence similar to ours, and had negotiated the marriage of their houses. Lady Pendragon's youngest, Carlo, will marry Sir Frederic's daughter Huguette, when she comes of age in a few years. We of course applauded the wise alliance between the Maximillian Knights and Tinto, though we would not have suspected Sir Frederic to initiate such a course of action. It turned out that We were incorrect, as Lady Pendragon credited him with the idea entirely in an uncharacteristic display of humility. To think that those erstwhile youths are not only parents themselves, but parents of children that will soon be marriageable instills feelings in Our breast similar to those in yours; We feel Our years, if not the age that accompanies them.

We also had the fortune to see the Lord Thomas of Budehuc, with his Cecile in tow, and several of the Zexen Delegation. The Lady Chris appeared to have the same idea as you, and sent an Honor Guard rather than attend herself. Lord Salome spoke most eloquently on her behalf. As We had not spoken to him since Our more recent dealing with the Grasslands, We also surmised and subsequently learned that the Silver Maiden remains the Silver Maiden. Apparently while We were in hiding Sir Keeferson married his kitchen-maid, making him the last of all the candidates of the original wager you held with Sir Latkje to have opted not to marry Lady Chris. As appointed overseer of the aforementioned wager We declare you, Futch (now Schvarzeleber), the victor of this gamble, and summarily declare the game resolved. Enclosed with this letter is the sum agreed upon between you and Sir Latkje on the rising of the ninth moon in the year In Solis 475. However, We suspect via our arts that the Lord Salome is not telling Us the whole truth concerning Lady Chris' condition, and so reserve the right to call back the dispensation at a future date if the truth of the matter surfaces.

This reminds Us; though it is not our concern, as a Bishop, to seek out a wife, We found Ourself wondering if you have taken the route of the Lady Chris, and of Geddoe, and in fact of most of the Bearers as ourselves. The only cases of lasting marriage among True Rune Bearers I have come across in my experience have involved either the abandonment of the Rune itself, untimely death, or the introduction of an alternative form of immortality (i.e. vampirism) in order to placate the runeless party. Even your predecessor ended up abandoning the Rune for the sake of her loved ones, if We are not mistaken in our recollection. As someone who, unlike Us, has the option before him to take a wife, to what extent does your responsibility to the Rune hinder your desire? Or does such desire exist?

To return to the matter of the Lord Thomas, he is well, and his center for free trade continues to prosper, though recent years have seen a decline in activity related to the Grasslands. This is, of course, Our doing, and he suspected as much, but had the grace not to enact a scene. He even managed to restrain his Cecile from her attempts to injure and embarrass Us. She has failed to mature, though she has aged, and they are married. They do not yet have children. We suspect that Cecile's metabolism is too high to maintain pregnancy and that Lord Thomas' stamina is too low to initiate it.

As for Sir Latkje, or Sir Clovis, or whichever, he remains in Our loose employ, hence my acquisition of his payment for your wager. His wife is well and sends her regards. He is, perhaps, Our equivalent to your Edge, in years prior; he fails to age. (Your news of Edge and the Star Dragon Sword intrigues Us. Perhaps you will do Us the favor of allowing Edge to transcribe the entirely of the tale, such as he knows it, so that We may append it to Our annals?)

We did not see Lord McDohl, nor his Gremio. We suspect that, if they attended, they did not wish to be seen, and certainly had the means by which to apply stealth and pay their respects simultaneously. Both were sorely missed by those that attended and knew him. Lord McDohl's former servants were among those that spoke for Lepant, and the maintainer of his house, whose name evades me at the moment, presented to Lord Sheena and Lady Eileen a letter that Lord McDohl had left in her care to be delivered on this day, some years prior. I have not read it.

The current president of the Toran Republic of course made an appearance as well, but seemed to fade into the swarm of Our memories. He is a man We do not know, a civilian chosen by the people in their haze of peace in Our time underground. In years, We will surely come to know him, but We fear that when we do, his term will have near-ended and the cycle will require re-initiation. It is Our belief that We will never fully understand democracy, no matter how many years give Us the opportunity. Perhaps it will become Our life's bane.

So many marriages and similar blessings, coupled with the unintentional reunions that tend to prevent funeral rites from becoming entirely somber gatherings, have nonetheless emphasized the frailties of Our own position. We suspect that it is as you feared for yourself and thus avoided. We feel unsettled and rather melancholy, and old. We ought not feel such things given Our station as a man of God, covetousness especially, but We do. We do not feel so strongly as to undo what We have done, but the skies are new-overcast above the road ahead of Us.

We are relieved to hear the news of your visitors over the past six years. Do give Our regards to Edge, Chaco, and whomever else takes it upon himself to visit with you. And should you see him again, wish the best of luck to Geddoe in his missions. As for Viki, offer her a handkerchief and see when it takes her.

We pray for you continued prosperity and the well-being of those you hold dear.

Sasarai-

Thank Nash for the potch. I told him so! I couldn't make it clear to him, if Chris slept with any of her Knights she'd risk losing the other five or six or whatever the total is, and she can't do that. I'd almost forgotten about that old bet, actually. Leave it to him to remember, and I'm glad he's still hanging around you. Have you trained Dios' replacement yet?

I'm glad the funeral tuned out to be not so bad, and yeah, I sent the Drill Guard. Lepant always liked dragons, tried to emulate them really, and we kept up a good relationship during his terms. I'm not sure I agree with you about Toran's political system, but I do know that I would have kept more in touch with Toran and their politics if I actually had time to get to know the guy in office. I'm kind of wallowing in isolationism here, though, between my not wanting to think about Louis sleeping with his servants (thanks a lot for that image, Sasarai) or see Sheena go grey.

About what you asked, the whole "wife" thing...I can still get with the ladies, if that's what you mean, but I don't think it is, since you never seemed to care much about that. If you mean, do I think if I fell in love I could get married, the answer is no. With all due respect, Milia screwed that up. Among her last words to me were "I want you to remember that you're already more than one person. Don't try to be two." Thoughts of finding some mage to duplicate me aside, what I think she meant was that by taking up this particular rune and becoming the link to the Dragons, I'm already bigger than what I am, and if I try to be both more and less than myself I'm screwed. She didn't think I could be both the Commander of a world of fearsome beasts and its human adherents and a normal human man with a wife and kids. And you know what? She's right. She was stronger and more responsible than I am, and she couldn't handle it when her daughter and husband died. I see myself getting broken up about the aging and deaths of my old war buddies--how on earth could I handle the death of my other half?

The Flame Champion Taiji had one idea, and McDohl and Ted and Chris and Geddoe have another, and Luc had a third. I'm with the majority, sorry--the thing on my left hand and what could happen if it stops being on my left hand takes precedence over the fourth finger.

And to answer your implied question, I don't know if this is me talking or the Rune. If Milia hadn't given it to me, who knows? I was already unmarried and nearly forty when she chose me. In a way, it's no different than the life of a soldier, or a clergyman, or some twisted combination of the things such as yourself. Just the stakes are higher.

Speaking of high stakes and Flame Champions, your lack of news about Hugo disturbs and kind of offends me. I'm sure you haven't given up on him, and if he were able to he'd have sworn revenge and sent a call out for Silverbergs years ago. The conclusion is that he's not able to because you haven't given up on him, or he's dead. You can tell me, Sasarai--what the Hell can I do about it either way? In fact, I think I know--I just want to hear it from you.

On a less demanding note, the idea of a Pendragon-Maximillian union also kind of disturbs and offends me, only because it makes a reasonable amount of sense. I have a feeling that whoever came up with lemon-poppy bread was similarly crazy. Now there are going to be Pendragon-Maximillian muffins all over the world. Do us all a favor and pray for our souls, your eminence.

Glad to see that Thomas matured some, less glad to see that Cecile didn't. I just sent Edge over to them at Budehuc to offer his services as a Bujutsu teacher. Maybe he can attract a little more Grassland business if he shows there's nothing to be scared of. You are holding up that promise to lay off the Grasslands for the time being, right?

Keep well,

-Futch

---

-IS 500-

To Commander Futch Schvarzeleber,

Allow this letter to convey Our wish to you for a happy Turning. To think, it has been five hundred years since Our divine Father began this reckoning of the cycles! The thought overwhelms Us, and reminds Us that We, too, may see as many as five hundred voyages around the sun.

As the Quintcentennial, this will be a year of unparalleled celebration in Harmonia. While We will surely be called upon to maintain Our dignity, We are sure that some manner of diversion will be had. There shall be plays and parties, jousts and other tournaments of skill, fine foods and parades and new works of art throughout Crystal Valley. Perhaps you will take it upon yourself to join Us for a short stay? We will be most prepared to put you and some of your guard up in a section of the city, and to make available to you every convenience necessary for your stay. We recall also that you are welcome to the manor of the Eizal family, and urge you to pay them a visit if you do deign to grace Our country with your presence.

In light of your confessions regarding the dying words of your predecessor, We feel somewhat enlightened as to the nature of your predicament and will not further address the manner. We apologize if We have overstepped the bounds of propriety. We will, however, express some lack of concern for such propriety, in light of your comment that We are 'some twisted combination of a soldier and a clergyman', and consider the remark tit-for-tat.

Our associates failed to intercept Edge on his journey to Budehuc. By what route did you send him? And had you expressed to him the possibility of transcribing his adventures prior to his departure from your company?

We pray you have a time of celebration as we have, and for your health and prosperity.

Sasarai-

No offense taken. The difference is that I didn't take your question as an insult to my person and just answered it.

Thanks for the invite. We're having our own festivities here, but we're using the Dragon Calendar too, and it's an important year on that end as well. Or it will be--they start their year on the day after the longest night, in the beginning of winter, and it'll be the Eldest Living's 3000th. We only know because we're still getting the letters from the cave we're watching him in, but it's still a big deal. So that celebration's going to start right when the human one is ending and we have to plan for it now--provided Eldest Living doesn't die on us, and even if that happens we have an even bigger deal of planning the funeral--which means I may not get out to the Valley to stay with you. But I will try. I promise. You're making a very tempting offer, and I've got to let my second-in-command test his wings sometimes. You wouldn't like him, though, so don't kill me if I decide to come to Harmonia.

Also, it has come to my attention that I just got you to put the word 'tit' in writing. Now, how do I go about taking that out of context...

I jest, I jest. I haven't shown these letters to anyone else, you know. Not that I impose the same on you, but I figured you were doing as much.

And a third thing. That letter marks yet another dismissal of my questions about Hugo. I'll just stop prying and start keeping a running tally. Or I'll send some spies. Lord knows I have eager new recruits, waiting to prove themselves by doing something just crazy enough. I think I'll just boot them out to do some reconnaissance in the Grasslands. Just so you know. So you don't think we're searching for holes in your country's figurative walls. Because we're not. We're searching for recently-dug graves. And I promise to tell mine to stay the Hell away from the Valley if you promise to keep the SFDF off my ass.

I hope you've had a good time with the festivities so far. Any new plays? I mean, well, of course there are new plays, but any particularly good ones or, even better, scathingly horrible ones? And speaking of scathingly horrible plays, what's the latest on the Silverberg clan? Are any of them still working for you? And, just so I know for the future, where can I procure one?

-Futch

To Commander Futch Schvarzeleber,

We anticipate your arrival and are optimistic as to your finding the means to accept our proposal. In the meantime, We bid you enjoy the festivities according to the fashions of your people and are eager to learn more about how the Dragon Knights celebrate.

In light of your request for nonintervention and permission to engage in a reconnaissance mission in the Grasslands, We are willing to comply under the following terms:

First, that you do not stray from the boundaries of the Grasslands-that-were. You are bound by Caleria in the west, Tinto in the south, Brass Castle in the East, and Hei-To in the north. Beyond that mountain you are no longer under Our jurisdiction nor protection, and within those cities you must abide by the customs of the populace. We also cannot protect your knights if they venture into Alma Kinan or the place of the Lizards. These tribes, as you'll recall, are xenophobic in nature.

Second, that you do not take the goodwill We have done you and use it to foster malcontent among the Grassland citizens. Toward that end We will go so far as to lend your knights a guide. We have already sent word to Caleria, where We presume you will initiate your reconnaissance, and have enlisted a woman called Sister Morley to serve as Our conduit. She will not police your actions; she will merely serve as a reporter to me. If you send more than one coterie, Sister Morely has the means to recruit more like herself to attach to each troupe. Note, please, that the presence of Sister Morley and her ilk is among Our conditions, and that if you do not accept said condition We will not facilitate your operation in Our sovereign territory.

Third, that you do not accompany your knights. This should be a given.

Fourth, that you do not engage any of Our troops in combat for any reason, excepting self-defense. This includes the militia of third-class citizens in Le Buque, the Vale of the Ducks, Chisha, and Karaya. Sparring-in-jest among your knights and parties of Ours shall be tolerated only if Sister Morley or her associates are approving of the matter. Tavern brawls are excepted.

Should you consent to these terms, We swear on the rings on Our divine Father's hand that yours shall be welcome in Our commonwealths the Grasslands.

Do excuse the precautions We take. We merely act as befitting Our position.

Also, We do not believe Silverbergs are the type to be "procured." You might "enlist" one; though both Caesar and Albert have fled to bloodier pastures, We are sure a few of their cousins remain in Toran, though we do not know how many of these are strategists. If you are in doubt, We suggest going to the source; Soldat is still operational, is it not?

We thank you for your well-wishing with regard to the diversions inherent of the Turning. There have, in fact been new plays and music. Two in particular strike Us as worth conveyance to you in an effort to entice you to join Us for a brief stay in Our Valley. The first is a moving one, a fantasy called "To Free My Commodore", a revisit to the fable of Captain Helmut and his father. We cite it as prominently as this only because dear Shabon has taken the role of the Pirate Queen, which she assumes most wrenchingly and appealingly. She remembered Us from her childhood, and even should she not recall you, you surely recall her.

The other play is the worse of these, an unrefined riot that was nearly offensive to Our sentimentalities in places, but set Us laughing all the same. The full title should be enough to explain this; "The Uncensored Truths of the Six Knights of Zexen". Even Sir Salome, whose visit is still extant, laughed beside Us, though he confessed that neither Borus nor Percival would have found the trifle amusing.

Do please take it upon yourself to stay with Us. Even if you do not, We continue to pray for your prosperity and the well-being of yours, and wish you luck in your future enterprises, such as they are.

Sasarai-

The playwrights said that Borus does what with Percival?

...All right, you've sold me. I'm there. Crystal Valley, here I come! It's been a long time since I was there with Humphrey. Wow...yeah, a really long time. Longer than I want to admit.

I'll settle things up here and give my seconds a chance to feel big. And I'll stop at Soldat on the way and check up on the bloodline. Not out for war at all, hardly--it's just that Apple sent my library a copy of her biography, which is what reminded me. I just realized that if I'm going to be hanging around for a few more decades I'll need to stay on good terms with the Silverbergs. You too, actually. And what do you mean, "bloodier pastures"? Is Caesar okay?

Oh, and I agree to your terms. I just hope your priestess isn't offended by my young and eager knights and their tavern brawls. I'm sure you'll let me read her letters when you get them? After all, those are my knights she'll be talking about.

Once you've got the arrangements made for where to put me and my boys up--it'll be me and a party of twenty, mounted, and I don't mean on horses--write back and I'll be on my way. Should take us two weeks, counting prep, to make the journey, so take that into account when you annex whatever part of the city you're giving us. And I'll make us available for no more than three months--we have to get back here and take care of our own Big Deal Anniversary, which you of course are also invited to and I'll insist. If I don't get sick of you, that is.

See you soon!

Man, does it feel good to end a letter with that. So much less disconnected.

-Futch

To Commander Futch Schvarzeleber,

We are flattered and elated at your decision and look forward with a soaring heart to your arrival in Crystal Valley. You and your guard shall have every convenience and luxury for however long you deign to join us, and We shall do everything in Our power to ensure that your knights and their steeds are taken the thoroughest care of.

You recall how vast Our Valley is. In light of the reasons for your visit We made an effort to house you as close to the heart of the city as possible. We have in fact siphoned off one of the coliseums and the two adjacent blocks for the use of your company. The coliseum in question is new relative to your last excursion; it was constructed in commemoration of those dead in that last conflict with the Grasslands and named for the Lost Regiment, known prior to the tragedy as the company of Bishop Eidnor. I trust that its size will be sufficient as the stabling for twenty-one dragons, though I will expect you to restrict them to the compound as much as possible. We will say that the skies are their, and your, playground, and the mountains are yours to allow them their exercise, provided you do not disrupt our patrols.

Your accommodations are a series of apartments within three manses, each fit for as many as ten of your knights. The coliseum itself also houses boxes and quarters for any grooms you have in your entourage for the dragons. You will be escorted to these manses and the coliseum upon arriving at the border of the city, which you may do at your leisure. The buildings are surely not going anywhere! We anticipate your arrival!

In light of your other questions posed, We are surprised that you had not come into the knowledge of the recent doings of the Silverberg scions we had been acquainted with in the war years, especially the elder. Albert Silverberg has fashioned something of a playground for himself out of the Island Nations to the south, though we are certain his influence spreads farther than that even this early in the game. Caesar was all but deported and is apparently in a land called Marlintine, far overseas where only the most daring Zexen ships go. He has established himself there as an ambassador, as the people are apparently quite civilized. We used the designation "bloodier pastures" to differentiate between the peace and stability of Our kingdom with the volatility of the spaces to which those Silverbergs have flocked. Indeed, that family's position seems oft to be the eye of the hurricane, or else the individual members are lost to the wind.

Indeed, We shall see you soon, and as with you those words resonate joyously in Us.

Author's notes:

Many thanks to K'Arthur and Renmazuo for betaing!

This work is going to get larger. A lot larger. I don't know if I will end up writing all five hundred years of it, but I've already got excerpts from the 600s and 900s, so...

Schvarzeleber means "Black-liver." Those of you familiar with Suikoden I know why Futch would choose this for a last name upon ascending to an aristocratic position.

Many of the events described or hinted at are borrowed from my other works, and many of the works of fiction referenced and in-character speculations are nods to other authors. This will continue.

Thank you so much for reading, and there is more forthcoming!

-MG