To my Beloved Peg, June 19th (Come up with a local calendar)
Over Breakfast.
Boswell did a fine job provisioning the house, you know he is like my right hand, but I was in the mood to see the city, as I haven't been here in three years.
Well three years has made a difference. I took a cab, pulled by a young country looking youth, to my favorite cafe'. I tipped him extra when we arrived, because I know he was losing out on haven taken me to the cafe' which would have paid him tuppence to direct me to their establishment. All of those places you are as likely to get rat as ham, so I stuck with what I knew.
There were a number of changes to the city, but the biggest being the number of people, and the variety of Rune-Plate objects in use. When I first stated shipping to and from Five Towers though Rune-Plates were available in the private sector, it was rare to see them, save for on the carriages of the wealthy and, rarely, on the armor of their guards. Earlier than that they could only be afforded by the ultra wealthy and were used mostly by consortiums and aristos with deep pockets.
I borrowed a considerable sum from Prince Tindal on my first visit and he arranged the first Rune-Plate on the Merriweather, and on the very ride home it paid for itself by repelling us off of a coral reef which would surly have holed the bow.
On the simple and very speedy ride to the cafe' I saw many small business men, including other cab pullers (those with company logos) using rune-plates. I suspect my porter did as well because he wasn't even breathless after the 10 block trip to the "Feathered Serpent" cafe', though I am sure the flatness of the street played some part as well. Unlike Nemia, Five Towers is almost as flat as a plane shaved stave.
The Feathered Serpent is much how I remembered it during my last visit, with its beautiful hard wood furniture, stained dark, contrasting with its pale green bamboo flooring. As soon as I stepped into the rather exclusive restaurant the long absent scent of coffee livened my step so much as you would think I already had two cups of the fabulous brew. It is of the greatest of shames that the coffee cherries or their pits are not exported from Five Towers. It is one of the true luxuries of the town.
As it is a lovely day I have taken my breakfast on there roof, a quaint if not unique custom of the city, and from here I can see Wizards Hill. From this angle the Tower of Augury is visible, with its careful masonry and branched turrets with there strange instruments pointed all around. I have naturally seen all five towers, and I think the Tower of Naming and Augury are the easiest on the eyes, as long as one doesn't dwell too long on what goes on within. It is not healthy to think long on Wizards, lest you draw their attention.
Early post noon
I concluded my business with the Esteemed Brotherhood of Metal Smiths and Smelters. These Five towers guilds set a store by long names. As one of the richest guilds in the city, and with me carrying a precious load, my pay was quite generous. I ended up hand a large amount back to them though as too add improvements to the Rune-Plates on the Merriweather. I am growing weary of so many trips across the turbulent Sea of the Tropics, with its unpredictable storms and equally unpredictable pirates, so I we are adding a Control Rod to the Thrusting Plate and I will be requesting the Captaincy to Boswell, who has certainly earned it. Should he do well I may sell the Merriweather too him after you and I are wed.
(time unspecified)
Peg it seems I am being followed. I have called several of our seasoned seamen to to come ashore and act as guards. Boswell, who was on well earned leave, was summoned back to take access of the control rod, so that it could safely be stored aboard the ship, but he never made it to the rented house. I am handing off this letter with a few gold marks to Seaman Craddly, to go out on the swift mail coaster with todays tide. I will contact you as soon as we make port in Nemia. I pray to Saint Neffer the Sailor that the letter reaches you safely and me not long behind.
Your loving fiancé
Captain Roger Grimly
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