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Journal entries for Lorena.

I received a parcel from my parents today. In it was a letter, a scarf Mother had made and a piece of jewellery, a necklace of extraordinary beauty. It is finer than anything I have seen before and has a trio of pure white moonstones set in it. I've written them a reply letter, telling them about Veralie and the people I've met here, and my intentions to travel further. I also told them that I would endeavour to send them letters as often as I could, via Tali in the Hungry Boot. I also sent her a letter telling her what's going on and that she might receive random letters from me.

For some reason I am looking forward to one thing in particular, which is Arthurias's next visit. I think the white dress I got in Snows Peak will be the best one. Anyway, he's due June 25.


June 23.

I received a message from a runner while I was in the temple that Arthurias's ship was coming into port. Thankfully the other clerics seemed to understand when I asked if I could take the afternoon off. I dressed in the gorgeous white dress, wore the necklace my parents gave me and the brooch Arthurias gave me.

Thankfully I made it to the dock before he got there. I saw him on the bow of his ship, looking for me and my heart jumped a little. His smile was infectious. Before the Wild Spirit had even docked, he was there, bowing to me and sweeping off his ridiculously large hat. Don't get me wrong, the hat suits him very well and is very practical for him out in the middle of the ocean where there is no shade, but it is ridiculously big. He called me 'Lady Whitelock' today and I couldn't help but like him all the more.

After we traded, I invited him to dinner, which he accepted. I'm about to prepare it, but I suspect that no matter what I cook, it will be better than most of the things he eats day to day.


June 24.

Last night was magical. I spent the afternoon creating a meal fit for nobility in the temple kitchen. The other clerics kept on making comments and trying to taste things, but I didn't let them. Though, because they are generous to me, I did leave enough for all of them to have some, even though it was only a little. We were allowed to use one of the quieter rooms to eat in, and I found a few candles to help light the little room.

*A description of the various food items used and how it was cooked take up most of the page*

Then, he was there and we were eating. I'm glad I put in some extra effort, the meal was divine, even to me. Arthurias said that it was better than anything he'd ever eaten and, as we were sitting drinking a glass of wine, he asked if I would be willing to travel with him as the ships cook and cleric. The question was a little surprising to me, but I accepted. It fits with my plans to travel, and with pleasant company too. The ship will be leaving with high tide on the 26th, so I'm going to send a letter to Mother and one to Tali, letting them know. The clerics here are happy for me and have promised to pass on letters as they get them. I'm sending Mother a small box of the dark chocolate that Arthurias has given me. I hope she likes it too.

Anyway, I am packing and getting ready to go. I hope the open sea agrees with my stomach. Some people have told me about sea sickness and that is something I just hope I don't get.


June 26.

I am now aboard the Wild Spirit, a large ship with three masts, a huge cargo hold and a fully stocked kitchen. I've been given a room bigger than my small room in the temple in Veralie, with something Arthurias called a hammock. It appears to be just a net strung up between two beams. Arthurias promised me he would show me how to get in it, but for now, I'm dubious as to how it even works.

The kitchen is different from how what I'm used to cooking in. Instead of a fire-pit, there is something they call an oven. Basically it is a fire-pit, but it is made of bricks and is enclosed, with a chimney leading up so that smoke is funnelled out of the ship. There is also a removable plate that can be used like a giant skillet. I think this is a fantastic idea and I can't wait to experiment on the ship.

As for this sea sickness people seem so worried about, I feel nothing. The gentle swaying of the ship is nice and I seem to be adapting to the sway easily enough. I asked Mathias, the second in command, about the furniture and why the chair was tied to the desk and the desk fixed to the wall and floor. He said it was because, in bad weather, furniture would slide around and potentially damage things. So, when I'm finished writing, I have to pack everything away, tie the chair down and tie my backpack to either the desk or one of the beams. Makes sense now that I asked him.

About the crew. There are four important people on board, who all the crew pay some sort of respect to. The Captain, Arthurias. He is their employer and he makes all the major decisions, mostly trade related. The First Mate, Mathias, who enacts the decisions of Arthurias and makes sure the ship runs. Mathias is an Elf, a tall, willowy being with pointed ears, slanted eyes and a grace about him that I have never seen before. The other two important people are the twins. The twins are also Elves and are just called 'The Twins'. They are identical in all features and even wear the same clothes. Arthurias told me that they are mages and are the reason that he still sails is because of them. I would like to talk to them, but they seem very aloof and unwilling to talk to anyone except Mathias. The crew avoids them, but with awe, rather than distrust.

I predict some interesting times ahead.


June 27.

Arthurias showed me how a hammock worked and I must say, it makes a lot of sense for something like that on a ship. I managed to not roll out of it in the night, which Mathias assured me is a feat for someone who is new to hammocks. I've asked him to teach me as much about ship life as possible and he said something in Elvish. I then asked him to teach me Elvish as well. He agreed, but said that the Twins would be better to teach me Elvish, though he didn't say why.

I've staked my claim on the kitchen and have been shown the infirmary. For something that is at sea for long periods of time, it is remarkably well kept and very clean. I've explored the entire ship, except the private passenger rooms, but after asking Arthurias about them, I know they're just like my room, but with a cupboard and chest and a storage area for anything the passengers may bring aboard. I'm glad I travel light.


June 30.

I've managed to talk to the Twins for the first time today. They visited me in the kitchen and asked if I knew how to make something, but I didn't know. I asked them to explain it to me, but seemed at a loss for words in common, so spoke in Elvish. I explained that I didn't know Elvish and asked if they would teach me. They agreed readily enough and also taught me how to make what they wanted. It was Elvish bread, of sorts. It was lighter and thinner than what I would call bread, but it looked nice enough and when they gave me some, I found it was very light and soft. I think I know what I would make with it too, or even how to add extra flavours to it.

Arthurias has been treating me like royalty. He asks regularly if there's anything I want to know or do, anything he can do for me, etcetera. I don't mind the attention though. It is nice to have someone there for me and wanting the best for me. I've been learning about the wider realm and politics from him while I cook. The houses seem way too complicated to try and think about, but there was something that Arthurias said that makes me want to keep my head down. House Ramsey is in control of the arcane magic, mages, and House Vance is in control of the divine magic, clerics. One such as myself, would normally go to House Ramsey for training and to join them, but House Vance would also be interested in me because I can heal with magic, which is something mages cannot do.

Apparently being blessed with my magic from my Mother may actually be a bad thing deeper into the realms where the Houses influence might catch up to me.


July 3.

While cooking breakfast this morning, the elves came in, sat near my bench and started teaching me how to speak elvish. I was a little surprised at first, but I think I've started to pick up some basic phrases to start with. Apparently I can say, "Where is the dock?" and "Where is the nearest inn?" already. A few more basic phrases like that will be useful, but I intend to learn more. In return for teaching me, the Twins asked what kind of magic I can do. I told them, and they seemed very interested. I may be able to teach them a few things in return for them teaching me elvish.


July 4.

While trying to learn more elvish today, I got frustrated about not being able to get certain words and swore in dwarvish. The Twins looked startled and told me off back in dwarvish. I apologised, but we came to an agreement to practice our dwarvish too.

I really want to ask why Mathias wont teach me elvish, but I sense that is something the Twins wont tell me and only Mathias will.


August 19.

I can now speak fairly fluent elvish and my dwarvish has improved. The Twins also speak draconic, though a slightly different version. I keep having to swap languages to translate what I'm trying to say in draconic. Maybe learning from an old white dragon from the far north wasn't such a good idea.

I am enjoying my time with the Wild Spirit immensely. The crew look forward to my meals and I receive complaints when I leave the cooking to someone else. I've started teaching a few of the more promising sailors how to cook various things, and the elves have taught me a few of the basic recipes that they know. Arthurias spends as much time with me as possible, and has joined the Twins and me in our morning conversations. He is the most fluent in dwarvish, but he doesn't know, and doesn't seem capable of learning draconic. I wonder why that is, but he just puts it down to not needing to know it.


August 27.

I was in the kitchen early today, making some sweets for Arthurias's birthday today. Without thinking about it, I had relaxed my aura and was too focussed to notice when the Twins had entered, until they exclaimed that I was glowing and had turned white. I suppressed my aura immediately, hoping that they might have thought they were seeing things, but they insisted on seeing it without magical sight. Sure enough, when I relaxed my aura, I found that I was glowing like a torch. I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I do know that it means I no longer need another light source to study my crystal when I do. Maybe keeping my aura suppressed all this time has lead to side effects, like this new glow.

Regardless, the Twins seemed highly interested, and I explained that the turning white was part of my magic, sort of like an identifying marker that I am a white Mage. They also reassured me that the crew, while wary at first, will accept me if I relax my aura and glow. I'm dubious, but I will attempt it while healing and cooking to start with.

Regardless, the day went well and my sweets were well received by all, especially Arthurias. Mathias brought out a bottle of fine elven wine, which he shared with Arthurias and myself. It was superb, and I suspect would go very nicely with some chocolate coated fruit. I asked where he got the bottle from, and he said he's always had it. Yet another tick towards the mystery that is the first mate Mathias.


September 10.

Well, the Twins were right about my aura. As far as the crew have decided, it just means that I am more trustworthy if I will show them who I truly am. Also, they are now all calling me Whitelock or Shadowbane. I much prefer Whitelock, though the other makes me sound much fiercer. I am just glad of their continued acceptance.

Arthurias approves of my relaxing around the crew. He said he knew that there was something special about me well before he knew about my aura and glowing, and he gave me a small bracelet that glows dimly all the time while I wear it. I have no idea where he got it from, but it is very nice. I will wear it often.


October 2.

Mathias has finally told me some of his story. This happened while I was preparing the afternoon meal and I was alone in the kitchen. I greeted him with a typical, friendly elven greeting, which he shook his head at and said something I didn't understand in elvish. When I asked him to translate, he said that he was not allowed to be greeted in that way, because he had committed a crime against the town he had come from and was no longer worthy of that greeting. I did not prompt for more, though I suspect I may get it in the future. I suspect this is the reason that he avoids the Twins and was unwilling to teach me elvish.