Dearest Kálvur,
While it is true that I am still in our father’s Hall, your confidence in my safety is misplaced, I fear. You know that the King of Palisor has, for many years, required ‘representatives’ from each High Family that sits on his Council to live at the capital. It is no secret that they are held as hostages for their families’ good behavior. You will remember how many were executed after the last uprising among the Saka was put down. Body parts and skulls were sent for display as far away as Rhun.
This unsavory practice of hostage-taking is now being extended to us. We have our own Kings, our own Kingdoms, but Palisor’s King and High Council have issued an edict, demanding that any family of dwarves who trade in their territories send an ‘envoy’ to the capital. This is in addition to the increasing ‘fees’ now demanded for the privilege of access to Palisor’s markets. Our father comes home hoarse from shouting in young Lord Thorin’s Council meetings, as these issues are discussed. I know his fear. Our elder brother Rogvi is at the capital already, trying to influence Palisor’s Council and King. Rogvi writes that he is in no danger and that we are not to worry, but you know how he is. He would tell us that even if he was standing face-to-face with a live dragon.
This is not the worst of it. How often have we laughed at the rumors of the ‘City of Women’ at the heart of Palisor’s capital? Only Men would be so careless or so foolish as to send their sisters and daughters into such bondage to Palisor’s King, we joked. We always assumed the women went voluntarily – a way for the High Families to curry favor or gain influence. Well, we aren’t laughing about it anymore.
Do you remember my childhood friend among the Stiffbeards, Arnóra? She was travelling to her wedding, through the territory of the Variags. The caravan was great, as strong and well-guarded as her father and future husband could afford. In spite of the show of strength, the caravan was attacked, but not by human brigands. Instead, it was stopped by a sizable contingent of Palisor’s Guard, reinforced by the local household troops of the Variag High Family that rules the territory.
They presented Arnóra’s father and husband-to-be with a demand that she be sent to the capital. Of course, the demand was refused, violently. But there were enough human soldiers to utterly overwhelm the dwarves. They slaughtered every dwarf in the caravan, cutting down Arnóra’s father and her betrothed before her very eyes. Kálvur, Arnóra slit her own throat rather than allow herself to be taken.
Oh hammer it! Now I’ve gone and dripped blotches onto your letter. I cannot speak of her death without tears. I will answer your question before you ask it – how do we know about this? A Stonefoot trader found the bodies. The tale was easily read; the knife was still in Arnóra’s hand. The demand was clutched in her betrothed’s clenched fist. The bodies of the Palisoran and Variag troops still littered the ground, though stripped of their weapons and armor.
The Stonefoot trader warned his own people, and also tried to warn the Blacklocks, Stiffbeards, and Ironfists before he came west to warn young Lord Thorin Stonehelm and King Dain Ironfoot at Erebor. He was slowed by various rebellions that are springing up like brushfires all over Palisor.
Two years ago, Rogvi wrote that Palisor was gradually expanding its armies. The Ironfists have been getting rich selling arms and armor. Rogvi feared Palisor’s King was moving the entire nation to a war footing, possibly for another invasion of the West. This evil may hopefully be derailed by civil war if the High Council cannot snuff out all of these rebellions. We know for certain that the Prince of Rhun has sent another army to annex Dorwinion. According to the traders who are still getting through, the vintners there, both elvish and human, are putting up a determined resistance.
Our father’s reaction to this news was predictable. I’m surprised our Hall is still standing. But the upshot is that he is sending me to you in Eriador. Whatever you told him about enemies and unrest there pales in comparison to the dangers we now face here. I will be leaving with the next west-bound caravan. I always wanted to see the lands of Eriador, just like you did – but never for this reason!
Your loving sister,
Rakul
