From Rohka's mother to Mosa
1st day of Summer, 519 AV
Dear Mosa,
I hope you’re doing well. This reply has taken some time, forgive me if I sound a bit scatterbrained. Thank you so much for the reading you sent through your letter from the Fall of 517 AV. Writing 'AV' makes me remember that it has been 519 years since the Valterrian. It is hard to wrap my head around exactly how long ago that would have been. Almost six generations? My grandmother spoke so highly of you and the stories you shared with her when she was in Denval during her teens. Countless times she spoke of discipline, courage, and physical strength, but also of the fierce protection your family held over the Suvan history. I can’t claim to know much about the wars before, but I do share the Suvan allegiance, as you know, and am praying for your safety in these questionable times.
Which brings me to the reading. During the two years that have passed, I was hoping you were wrong. To be honest, I wanted you to be wrong. For my husband’s sake. Since the disappearance of Morwen, our entire family has been slowly discovering the hardships here on the Lakeshore, with the numbers of pests and the unpredictability of predators increasing and causing havoc on our business. Our slaves have felt the brunt of it, and my brother has made a profit on the murder of one or two Vantha. I know that you know this, but as I said, I didn’t want to believe it — for my husband’s well-being. He is now preparing to go to Zeltiva, where as you know, our family has a complicated history. He hasn’t heard a word from his father and he’s worried. I tell you this because I never told him about the reading you sent. It was too devastating. I figured my own craft had better signs, but I was wrong. Meer wants to go and talk to his father as soon as he can, to find out the truth of his situation. He knows what I want out of all of this, and I wish I could just tell him about your reading but I can’t. He should find a way to change the fate. I believe in him.
I tell you all of this because of my daughter. You sent your letter from Sunberth back in 517 AV, and I hope you are still there. I hope this letter finds you safe and in health. I could have given this to my husband to find you himself, but I wanted this to get to you before he does, because I don’t know how long it will take for him to convince my daughter to join him. She may not leave Ravok, but my cards say otherwise. Yes, I’ve been wrong before, but I hold hope. I need her to see you, Mosa. I need you to explain the forces that Denval carried in its heart, to reinvigorate her spirit—she is a Calico now, but she has yet to truly understand the depths of our history. You’ve known our history. Leonara loved you—I knew it from the way she spoke about you. She must have told you what her mother and her grandmother had been through, in Zeltiva. The crimes they committed in the name of the Suvan Empire. You also know that ever since Leonara died, our family hasn’t been the same…
I need my daughter to understand why this is important. Our matriarchy held purpose, security, integrity. Today, under my brother and father… it is lost. The Larks are slowly taking over with their influence on bigger profits through the slave trade. Becoming slavers was never Leonara’s intention, you knew that. I respect my father, but I cannot stand by as my brother makes deals with this outrageous Ravok family. He his ruining our legacy, Mosa. My daughter shirks responsibility because she wants to find her own path, which I respect as well. Every one of the Calico women has built their strength upon their ability to fight for themselves, in body, spirit, and mind. She is building upon these aspects. It would help if you could inspire her… if she decides to join her father, that is.
I realize that this is a preemptive ask, but I needed to plan for it, just in case. I am sending a small, hand carved wooden box as well, shaped as a violin, as a gift of gratitude for the accurate reading. It can fit jewelry or small herbs or your cards! It has a very simple lock and key included within. Please Mosa, if my daughter Rohka decides to go to Zeltiva and arrives in Sunberth, speak with her. I will tell my husband to drop by your residence. It does not matter what you tell her. What matters is that she hears from someone with experience. If the girl decides to stay in Ravok, no matter. I will handle it.
If you choose to reply to this letter, please let me know how you are doing! What has happened in the years we haven’t corresponded? Any significant news from Sunberth? You have always been a clever soul, I am sure you played a hand in something or another! Jokes aside, I miss you Mosa. I know we never met in person, but I feel you through your words. Your joy and wisdom comes through, always. If it was not for you teaching my grandmother how to tell fortunes, I would never have known how to do it myself, nor would I have been able to teach my daughter the techniques you passed down to us. By the time I receive your reply, the Fall will have arrived, and if all goes well, Rohka will meet you. In any case, once again, I appreciate the kindness you’ve shown our family over the years. That is the intention of this letter and gift—gratitude for the care and honesty given through your readings and your spirit. This request with my daughter… it is a desire that I am tackling through many means. Worry not, for the Calicos shall stay strong.
With love,
Vida Calico
