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
Darling Laura,
I haven’t seen you in ages! How have you been? Still enjoying your wheeling and dealing? I wonder if you’ve managed to find yourself a rich husband yet? I heard from Councilman Myers the other night that your Wooden Corner has become very popular recently as a place for all the elites of Portland to hobnob. My dear, I’m so glad for you! I’ve been trying to do the same with my Happy Spirits, but I’m afraid I’m not quite there yet. You have to tell me – what was your secret?
My last big function was Baron Wilde’s fortieth birthday party. Of course, the Baron was simply oozing with charm. He was the brave man who led the expedition to Irilion, did you know? Of course you must have – the sailors came from Portland, didn’t they? Anyway, I was all set playing the charming, flirtatious hostess, and the dear old man actually proposed to me as well, in the middle of the celebration. What could I do?
I turned him down, of course. Much as I like the old geezer, he’s just a little over my acceptable age limit. And I think he was a little tipsy. But it certainly was an honour. I’d bet at least twenty of the guests took greater notice of me after that. My social status is rising, darling! I won’t be a mere tavern girl for much longer. Someday, you’ll know me as Countess Maria!
Speaking of tavern girls, Mother Oana has invited all of us to go back to Nordcarn for a reunion of sorts. Do try your best to make it, and don’t count the cost of travelling this time. Won’t it be fun, to see all of us girls back together again, in that old tavern? We’ll get to see how everyone is doing. I’m afraid I’ve completely lost touch with some of them after we separated. The only ones I still write to are Corina, Diana, you and Mother Oana. And Elena’s just up the street, of course. I paid a visit to her the other day, but she seemed to be rather preoccupied recently. Poor girl, she always was a shy one. I tried encouraging her to host a few parties herself, but she seems content to be a social nobody in this city.
Anyway, ta-ta for now! I’m off to make preparations for another party tonight. I’ll send you more juicy gossip in my next letter.
Your graceful sister,
Maria
