Table of contents for Tales from Ten Taverns
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Oana
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Reca
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Corina
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Elena
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Maria
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Laura
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Diana
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Oana
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Roua
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Valeria
- Tales from Ten Taverns: Rodica
- Outtake: Author’s Notes on Characters
Dear Corina,
It’s good to hear from you. Well, to answer your question first, Baron is the lowest title of nobility. Above that, there’s Earl, then Count, then Lord, Duke and King. But we don’t have a King or any Dukes since King Vermor died, so Lord Luxin is the highest-titled noble in White Stone. Maria dropped by the other day to pass me the news about Mother Oana calling a reunion, but I’m not sure if I should go. I’ll tell you the reason why a little later. I’ve been afraid of meeting Maria recently, since she’s got a nose like a feran for scandal.
Life here in White Stone City has been pretty good. You’ll have to get most of your gossip from Maria, I’m afraid. I’ve been trying to keep a low profile recently, just serving the common folk and avoiding the nobility. There are a lot of visitors going in and out of the city, since it is the capital, after all. We’ve had a few delegations from Irilion coming through. They are very different. They dress differently, and their humans seem to be uncomfortable around some of the people here. I think they’re not used to seeing other races other than humans. It’s very puzzling. Maybe Diana can tell you more about it, if you write to her. She was always the one interested in faraway lands, remember?
Now, let me tell you about my own little secret. But you’re the only one I trust with this, so please keep it secret from everyone else – especially Maria. I shudder to think what would happen if she gets wind of this. I think you’re lucky, to live in such a quiet community like Grahms. I wish I could come out and visit you more often. And you’ll see why soon.
I think I’m pregnant.
It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Apparently the medicine that Mira, my apothecary, sold me was badly-mixed. But the thing is, he’s a married man. And he’s a member of the nobility too. In fact, he’s the highest-placed member of the nobility, if you understand my meaning. What do I do? I never thought that he would take an interest in me like that. In fact, I didn’t even know it was him, until he told me so himself, and I went to see him make an announcement in the plaza. We’ve been seeing each other for about five months now.
What should I do, Corina?
I love him, and yet I don’t want to ruin his marriage. His wife is a highly-placed noble lady, and it would completely ruin his reputation if he was ever found out. And now, the lands need him even more than ever, with this new continent being discovered, and the curse problem. I know the best thing to do would be just to disappear, and run away to someplace where I won’t be a bother to him or anyone else, but I don’t know where to go. And he says he loves me too much to ever separate. He wants me to stay with him in the castle. When I hear that, it’s as if all my willpower and resolve just crumbles, and I can’t run. But I need to. I can’t allow him to ruin himself like this. Not when all of us need him so much.
Can I come and stay with you for a while, if this is ever found out? I need to prepare a safe place to hide, just in case.
Now do you see why I’m so afraid of the reunion? I don’t dare to go. I’m too ashamed to face Mother Oana and confess to her what I’ve done. You know how none of us could ever fool her, since the early days when she raised us up. I’m sure she’ll spot it on my face the moment I enter the door. I deliberately closed up during the Good Will Festival to avoid seeing her when she told me she was coming to visit.
What shall I do? What do you think would be the best thing to do, Corina?
Anxiously,
Elena
