Mandic

In the quiet evening when all lights in the neighborhood were blown out, one room in the top floor of the Cadien house remained illuminated. The windows were thrown open to let in the occasional gentle breeze, while Ellany was standing at her dresser, clutching a letter to her chest with a dreamy expression upon her face. This week, having hardly seen Corrben, she thought perhaps that he had grown disinterested in her after she had made her affections towards him known.

The elder woman sat rocking in her chair by the hearth, not a single dark hair out of place, not even the few greying ones. Her knitting needles worked rhythmically in time with her rocking. Click, click. Click, click.

"So did you stop by the jail and acquaint yourself with the Watchers as your father bid you before he left? You know that if there's any trouble, you go straight to them." Miss Charlotte raised a thin eyebrow, regarding the younger woman across from her.

Time: Late Afternoon

Dear Diary,

Today was quite interesting, I think... I've gotten a lot done in the last few days. I am healing well from when I was robbed. And my shop has gradually started to regain business, which is a good sign.

I've had a lot to think about these last few days. Where my relationship with Mandic has gone... where my friendship with Dryn and miss Grace has gone so far... and where my business has gone thus far... all of which, I am proud to say, has gone in a very good direction. I wonder how much longer this will go on...

Dear Diary,

... it's been a couple of days...

... I was robbed today...

Two men... hooded... voices like... like what you'd imagine in a horror novel for the villain's voice. Tall, burly men... rough... very rough with me...

They made off with a lot of clothes I had made... the most expensive thing they stole was a few bolts of silk, the only silk I had... they also took my shoes and...

... and a promise ring Mandic gave me.

Everything else is replaceable... that promise ring isn't.

Dear Diary,

It has been a long while since last I wrote. I've got a lot to tell, this time... mostly good, I believe. First to last, as the events go properly!

First, I found a place where I can not only stay and live in, it is also adequately sized to double as my tailor shop! Yes, I've decided to call myself a 'tailor,' despite my inherent inability to make gloves and trousers...