Role

Chapter 29

Dearest sister Myriff,

You know what I've been talking and thinking about lately with a lot of
different people? How we leave our marks on the world. I think the point is
to leave the world better for having lived in it. That's what I try to do,
anyway. I don't know how to guarantee anything, but I know I can make an
impact on the people I care about. Take my friend Balgrum, for instance. He's
a holy Dwarf, a scribe with the Fortress of Light, one of Avderlain's faithful.
A tough path to walk, let me tell you. He's had some bad turns lately, drawing
Temperance from the deck of fate (legendary thing, long story, will explain in
another letter, just know it's pretty unfortunate), and trying to be a Dwarf of
mercy in the midst of a relentless and insulting war. It's been getting to
him, giving him thoughts of vengeance and of giving up. So, you know, I gave
him that pep talk about leaving the world a better place, and how there's
people in the Fortress who NEED him, and how people aren't just the worst thing
about this world, but they're also the BEST. I cracked a joke, got a "Har
har!" out of him. I hope I helped.

My friend Ild went through an awful time, too, victimized by a war. I won't
write what happened to her. It's a secret. But she came to me in a time of
immense need of a friend, for somebody who could promise her it would be okay
and mean it, and I'll be damned if I'm ever going to let her down. It took me
a while to realize it, but Ild means a lot to me. Who'd have thought, I
married a mage, and now a Villager is one of my truest friends. But anyway,
that's what I mean about leaving the world better for you having been in it.
Aerafr told me that the spirits of the land are all emotion and memory, and
maybe I'm a little more complex than that, but I want the emotion to be
somewhere in the realm of joy, inspiration, awe. I want the memories to be
beautiful: smiles, kisses, laughter.

Listen to me go on.

Love from your littlest sister,
Renize L'Sirocco