Lady Alice Dujeir Hawkwood
Lady Maud Sinclair Hawkwood
49387/a Cinjerin Block, Old City, Byzantium Secundus
September 5001
Gracious poppet,
Do not worry overmuch on our behalf. And it seems odd to us that you would consider such an auspicious family as ours is cursed. Instead, perhaps it is simply a weeding out of the weaker patches. Or perhaps our recent little forays into gardening have colored our perceptions a touch too much. Forgive us if we are being uncouth.
Alice has had a touch of the Scythian flu lately, but it is not something you should concern yourself with. After all, there seems to be so much to worry about yourself! Plagues indeed! It as if you are dwelling on the Decados homeworlds! Ah, Decados, fleeing as soon as things go poorly. It is something we would expect, is it not? And it does not come as a surprise to us that you have stepped in and taken charge. That bodes well for the future, doesn’t it? That, and your brother’s excitement at being able to see you again. He missed you so sorely and, with this opportunity, the pall upon his spirit seems to have lifted. As with us, do not worry about him. He may brag about his ‘dueling’ prowess but he is a cautious one – far more cautious than in his youth!
As for your wayward Count, he made quite a small splash at Court. There’s something odd about that one – he exudes a presence that is hard to put aside. His tenure at Court consisted of pushing for improvements for his County, sanctions for his enemies, and a few duels against those who stood in his way. An interesting one, that.
It’s time for Alice’s medication and as it is, we must go but we wish, with all our heart, that this coming reunion with your brother will change both of your lives for the better. There is much our family could do, more lands to place our flag upon and more order to be brought to the Known Worlds!
With regard
Your beloved aunts
Maud and Alice