Estarfin

"Thou thinkest but of one thing at a time. I wish my master would do the same, for he is not one jot wiser for mixing up so many things together, like his cloaks hung upon the doors with his robes, clean and dirty all mixed up, everything heaped up over itself  -"

Losshell strode into the room and gawped at Parnard.

The crystal phial flashed brilliantly as it caught the rays of the mid-day sun streaming through the open window. He rolled the half-empty container between the fingers and thumb of his right hand, his left sitting motionless in his lap. The dull amber liquid within the glass tube flowed lazily as he moved it, the contents seeming to match his mood as he sat near to the open window. The fresh winds of the Valley pushed the lank hair from his face and carried with it the sweet scents of honeysuckle and jasmine, yet it stirred nothing in him.

My lord,

Not a trace was left of the scout that disappeared, except a few drops of blood on the snow.

A hasty answer was, therefore, required to this urgent message. Lord Ambassador Parnard leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the ceiling for several minutes before reading the message again. He liked to avoid hasty answers whenever he could: they often resulted in errors of judgment.

This day I went to the market and met Norliriel.

Sir,

Elvealin passed by him in the hall carrying a large crate. She was not a weak girl, and her arms were as strong as pine branches. Still, she was delighted by his courtesy. Parnard taking the crate hurried to the chamber where she directed him, and laid it upon the floor, convinced that he had injured himself.

“What, pray, is inside this box?” he panted, dabbing at his brow with a handkerchief.

”Blackstar can be used purely for enjoyment, and is generally safe for adults in that matter, but it can also be used for medicinal purpose. It lowers anxiety, speeds up recovery and slows the weakening of body from inactivity in general. Whoever drinks it will get a sensation of warmth, and makes them feel more content.”

Laurelindo left Estarfin's rooms as another healer arrived. He went straightaway to replace the stock of rapidly diminishing draughts and salves. However, he was momentarily distracted while working, a mistake even healers in-training knew the danger of, and what was bound to happen, happened. He cut his finger on the jagged edge of one of the vials of sleeping draught. 

"When did I break it ?"

Sir

The morning has given me a little less unquiet than last night, when the sight of you made me very tired. I have reflected on matters since, and now I wish to better explain my indignation and dissatisfaction.