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From the Office of Her Grace
The Ducal Citadel, Summersea
12th Day of Storm Moon, 1047 K.F.
To Master Merchant Eidris
Head of the Hajur Trading Guild
Hajur Port, Emelan
Master Eidris,
I trust that this letter finds you well, even in such profoundly troubled times. The reports from Hajur regarding your grain stores have reached my attention, and I commend your foresight in maintaining such substantial reserves during this period of uncertainty. Your reputation for astute business practices continues to prove well-earned.
I understand that it is that very same astuteness that has led to you seeking markets beyond our borders for your surplus. While I maintain my position, previously expressed, that domestic trade would better serve Emelan’s needs in the face of the droughts in the northern province, I recognize your Guild’s right to pursue more profitable ventures abroad. I have assigned six vessels from our fleet to protect merchant vessels sailing from your port, double the usual escort. I trust that that increased security will ease your repeatedly expressed concerns regarding piracy along the outbound trading routes.
Should you require further assistance from the Ducal seat regarding your trading endeavors, please do not hesitate to make your needs known. The prosperity of Hajur’s Merchant Guild has long been intertwined with all of Emelan’s well-being.
By my Hand and Seal,
Her Grace, Sandreline fa Toren
Duchess of Emelan
From the Command of Her Grace
The Ducal Admiralty, Summersea
12th Day of Storm Moon, 1047 K.F.
To Admiral Gospard fer Toren
Commanding Duchess's Pride
Hajur Waters, Emelan
Cousin,
I hope this letter finds you and your characteristic patience both still intact in Hajur’s waters. Your reports regarding merchant fleet movements from Hajur have been most illuminating, if not surprising in content.
Recent intelligence suggests increased pirate activity along our southeastern trading routes, particularly in the waters between the Battle Islands and the Sotat coast. Given your extensive experience in those waters, no man is more suited to combat that threat. You have my authority to take the Duchess’s Pride and her two sister ships to address this more pressing concern.
I trust your judgement in selecting some appropriate vessels to fulfill our obligation to Hajur’s outbound merchant fleet. I believe you had previously expressed concern to me about the seaworthiness of the Incandescent and Seasong following the recent winter storms. I’m certain they in particular would benefit from some time in Hajur’s harbor. I hardly think our finest ships need waste their time protecting cargo bound for foreign ports while our own people want for grain.
Should Master Eidris voice concerns regarding the quality of his naval escort, you may freely delegate that correspondence to whichever junior officer you leave in command. Indeed, until such time as we see an increase in domestic shipping, I see no reason for you to trouble yourself with it at all.
I am obliged to acknowledge that your initial reservations about this posting were well founded. I believe the attempt at swaying Master Eidris was necessary, but your assessment has proven more accurate than my hopes. I trust your new posting will be more worthy of your capabilities.
May the winds and tides ever favor you,
Her Grace, Sandreline fa Toren
Duchess of Emelan
P.S. I have passed your lady wife's compliments regarding the latest batch of black rose seedlings to my brother, who relays his continued gratitude for her patronage. As the journey from Hajur to the Sotat coast will take you past Summersea, I hope you will accept a day's leave to visit with her.
Lark,
You once told me that the strongest weaving comes from knowing what threads to exclude. Your lessons continue to serve me well.
Thank you,
Sandry
From the Ducal Patron of the Living Circle
The Ducal Citadel, Summersea
14th Day of Storm Moon, 1047 K.F.
To Honored Dedicate Moonstream
First Dedicate of the Water Temple
Winding Circle, Emelan.
Honored Dedicate,
I write to acknowledge receipt of your message regarding the growing number of displaced farmers from the northern valleys seeking shelter within Winding Circle's walls. Your dedication to providing aid to those in need speaks to the highest ideals of the Living Circle temples. I understand the strain this is putting on Winding Circle’s resources. I fear my debt to the Living Circle shall only ever grow.
While I cannot yet offer specific solutions, please know that I am giving this matter my full attention. The flooding in the south and the drought in the north present unique challenges, but also, I believe, unique opportunities. I ask for your patience and continued counsel as I work to develop a response to this crisis.
Please continue to keep me informed of any changes in the situation.
With deepest respect,
Her Grace, Sandreline fa Toren
Duchess of Emelan
Dear Tris,
I know you’re busy at Lightsbridge and that I have written to you too many times this semester already, but I have need of your specific expertise.
The weather patterns you warned us about last autumn have indeed created a crisis. The northern valleys are parched while the southern coast drowns. No, don’t scowl at me, I’m not asking you to change the weather, and you know I did what I could to prepare. I was hoping you might consult the Lightsbridge archives about similar patterns in the past? Particularly any records of how other regions adapted to such dramatic changes.
I have a plan forming, but I’d feel more confident with historical precedent to cite when the nobles object. Also, if any of your classmates specialize in agriculture or weather, and are looking to earn a ducal recommendation on their mage’s license in return for two months of work this summer, please direct them my way.
Always in your debt,
Sandry
P.S. Do you know what’s going on with Daja? There’s threads of magic I don’t recognize all tangled up with hers in her letters, and I’m worried.
From the Hand of Her Grace,
The House of fa Toren, Summersea
20th Day of Storm Moon, 1047 K.F.
To Lord Franzen fer Toren
Southshore Estate, Emelan
Lord Franzen,
I write in response to your recent missive regarding the salt contamination of the Southshore holdings. Your frustration at this situation is both understandable and justified - the flooding has indeed rendered much of that land unsuitable for traditional cultivation. That such historically productive lands should lie fallow for years to come is a tragedy that weighs heavily upon all of Emelan.
I understand the vehement emotion behind the words in your last letter, and how such feelings may have led to your assertion that the Ducal seat bears responsibility for the protection and maintenance of the Ducal lands, and thus you are owed compensation for the losses. I feel forced to remind you that that transfer of those lands and the associated responsibilities to your care was explicitly outlined in our agreement following the regrettable conflict over the succession. However, I admit to still hold some sentiment for the lands, so in recognition of the burden their condition places upon your resources, I am prepared to offer what I hope you will find a generous solution.
The ducal seat is prepared to purchase the affected lands at half of their pre-flood valuation, considerably more than the tenth-value you have requested in compensation. This would provide you with immediate capital to invest in your other properties, while sparing you the burden of managing what you have, with characteristic frankness, termed "worthless, salt-poisoned mud." Please understand that I make this offer not only out of respect for my uncle's original wishes regarding these properties, but also in a desire to ameliorate the significant impact this tragedy has had upon your estates. However, I would like to be explicitly clear that I consider this a discrete business arrangement, separate from and without impact on our previous agreement regarding the succession. The accord that placed me in the ducal seat is to remain unchanged. I have no desire to revisit those negotiations, nor do I believe such discussion would serve either of our interests.
Should you find this proposal acceptable, I have instructed my steward to prepare the necessary documentation. A swift resolution would benefit us both: you would be freed from the burden of managing the corrupted lands, and I will begin implementing measures to address the damage before the situation is permitted to further deteriorate.
With sincere regards,
Her Grace, Sandreline fa Toren
Duchess of Emelan
Dearest Brother,
You know how you're always complaining that self-respecting farmers won’t listen to a former street rat, medallion or no? Well, I've found you the perfect students. Winding Circle is currently stuffed full of farmers who've lost everything to drought and are desperate enough to try anything, even strange foreign farming methods.
I've just acquired some "worthless" salt-flooded lands in Southshore. Between your green magic and what you learned in Yanjing about brackish rice paddies, I think we could make something extraordinary here. More importantly, we could help people who truly need it.
Please, please come quickly.
Your loving sister,
Sandry
P.S. I have also enlisted the help of Dedicate Crane, and Rosethorn says that if you don’t outdo him, she will never forgive you.
From the Office of Her Grace
The Ducal Citadel, Summersea
23rd Day of Storm Moon, 1047 K.F.
To the Esteemed Liesa fa Nalden
Minister of Trade of the Duchy of Emelan,
House fa Nalden, Emelan
My dear Liesa,
I trust this letter finds you well. After much consideration of your continued arguments regarding the proposed tariff reforms, I find myself compelled to acknowledge the wisdom of your position. The merchant houses have indeed raised valid concerns through your office about the potential disruption to established trading patterns, and I recognize that this moment of crisis is perhaps not the moment for more discord between the Duchy and her merchants.
I am willing to make public my commitment to the course of action you have ardently recommended. However, I hope you will in return indulge me in one small matter.
As you know, we will be hosting a delegation from Yanjing in the summer months. I am very much hoping to make it a successful visit, and to that end, wish to make our guests comfortable by providing them with the grain that is present in so many of their favored dishes: rice. It is distinctly possible that I may have already intimated my intent to provide such to their honorable ambassador.
Much to my chagrin, I have only yesterday discovered that, with rice so little in demand in Emelan, it cannot be found to purchase in Summersea at any price. I would be very much in your debt if you could arrange for the tariff on rice to be reduced by, say, half? Given that our every port combined rarely sees more than a single ton of the grain in a year, I’m certain that the merchant houses will not be inclined to object, especially when you bring them the news that I have conceded so much.
I confess a small amount of embarrassment at having to make such a request just to save face with our Yanjingyi guests, but I know you understand the delicate nature of diplomatic relations. Consider it, if you will, a personal favor to a chastened Duchess who must learn to be content with smaller victories.
With warm regards,
Sandreline fa Toren
Duchess of Emelan
Saati,
I begin to suspect that you have borrowed some of Tris’s wind magic as I do not know how else you have managed to work this miracle. This morning, Second Ship Idaram docked in Summersea with enough rice seedlings to plant half of Southshore! Briar spent an hour going through them all, looking as moon-eyed as if dear cousin Berenene was smiling at him out of every sack.
I have included a letter from the gilav, and though I do not know what it says, I suspect it bears gratitude for a profit so easily won through newly safe waters.
I miss you terribly. Sometimes, I find myself reaching for our connection only to remember that you are far away. But when I watched the ship come in this morning from the parapet of the citadel, I felt your hand in mine. You have touched my life from across all of Emelan, and what you have done will touch so many more.
Come visit soon? The guest chamber in the citadel is always ready for you.
Your sister-saati,
Sandry
P.S. What is this I hear about Niamara Cedarpeg living with you for the last two months at the trading post? Daja, tell!