Dear Mr. Feltix,

I am writing to you now at the end of our third day on the road. Of course the children have become increasingly and understandably restless. Tomorrow promises rain according to Mr. Price, who is reported to know of reading cloud formations at dusk and such.

Tonight we have stopped at the castle of a somewhat famous local baron and friend of the King himself. While the baron and the family have been very hospitable to us, there can be no mistaking the attitude of the servants, who will be keen to see our tails depart I have no doubt. But the baron runs a tight ship and will brook no outright disrespect.

Upon arrival, we were delighted to find they had prepared a bath for us all. The children and Kallid went first - after an awkward moment where it was clear that the baron’s servants had assumed I was Kallid’s mate. In fact, while I awaited Kallid and his children’s turn in the bath, I had a quite interesting chat with one of the servants. When I explained that Kallid and I were, in fact, completely chaste in our relationship with one another, she evidenced that the baron himself could not be said to be quite so monogamous as we. In fact, she herself had been the object of his attentions on more than one occasion - not wholly unwanted at that, though she rightly feared discovery by the baroness. This began a whispered but quite animated discussion concerning the inherent unfairness of such a system wherein, were she discovered, the loss of her position in the castle would be the least of her concerns - while the baron would likely hear nothing of it from his own wife.

After Kallid and the children had left, I was able to continue my discussion in whispered privacy with the servant in the bath. But I’m sure you wouldn’t be interested in more details than the basic facts, so I’ll avoid any more talk on this subject. Suffice it to say that I believe I have gained a true friend in this servant and I have promised that - if it is in my power - I will continue my correspondence with her and perhaps visit her again someday.

After I had finished, our guards were allowed access to the bath and I met up with Kallid talking with the baron in a library that was, by country standards, still quite impressive. However I was somewhat less impressed with the baron when I discovered that he really had little interest in the books in his possession. Do you know, I believe it is quite possible he has never read a single one! In fact, the whole library seemed to be just a status symbol for him.

Now, as for the baron’s children, they were kept away from us and our children in general. That is, I’m afraid, an understandable precaution. Though the baron is a dutiful servant of his king, and though I’m sure the king’s couriers who rode days ahead of us to prepare the baron for our arrival explained his trust in us well, nevertheless kobolds are not known in this region. Our features and temperament were unknown, and it is frankly expected that some precautions had to be made - especially with those most precious.

I do say ‘in general’, though, because after our dinner (a fine meal I must say!) we retired to a room in which his oldest child - a boy of about 13 years - was allowed to greet the children. I must say the meeting turned out quite well in fact. The baron’s son was enthralled with the ‘talking lizards’ as he saw us. Of course Night, being winged, was especially intriguing to the lad and the two were sorely disappointed when their meeting was cut short at the insistence of the baroness.

Afterwards we were treated to a guided tour of the castle. I must say, throughout our visit Kallid was the picture of a proper guest. He let the baron ramble on about his castle and it’s treasures - tapestries, paintings and the like - never showing the least sign of boredom, which is more than I can say for the children. Part way into the tour, I begged the children’s leave and I and the children were escorted to a playroom.

As I’d said before, the baron’s own children were not permitted more time with us, but Night, Kalindra and Grace were given the run of the place and oh, what fun they had! The baron had set up a sort of climbing system of ladders, slides and cushions - which is hard to describe, but Night found it fascinating, climbing over its every inch. Grace and Kalindra joined him, but soon found other entertainments. Grace even found some puppets which, of course, Kalindra immediately seized on and the two girls spent the rest of the hours enraptured in stories of their own creation.

Yet finally I noticed signs of exhaustion as they began to get irritable with each other, and I called a halt to the playtime. A servant took us to a bedroom that had been prepared for us and I tucked the children into their bed. They were soon sleeping soundly.

I’m now writing this letter to you from that bed chamber where I expect to spend one of the most comfortable nights of my life I can tell you! I do feel a little awkward in that there are only two beds, the one being taken by the children. But they are so large… and so sumptuous that I can’t but think even if Kreet herself were here she wouldn’t deny me the pleasure of falling to sleep under those cloud-soft blankets and cushions!

It’s getting a little late, but I am told Kallid and the baron are still engaged in their tour and that I should not expect him along for quite some time. But the bed invites and my eyes are heavy. I sincerely hope Kallid doesn’t think it presumptuous of me, but I cannot deny myself this one night of pretending to be human royalty!

So I will close this letter now, and assure you that all is well so far. I have been told that the clouds portend rain tomorrow, and there is the slightest possibility that the baron will ask us to stay on another night. I know Kallid is keen to be off as soon as possible, and I’ll not in any way try to dissuade him from our goal - but I cannot deny that it wouldn’t break my heart to stay here one more day!

Sincerely

Your Miss Tribi

Dear Mr. Feltix,

Sorry for this short letter but I wanted to write to you before we left the castle. Writing in the carriage can be difficult.

I’m writing this just before leaving the castle. Oh, I can’t describe the feeling of sleeping in that glorious bed! I didn’t wake when Kallid finally came in, but - even though he made sure to sleep on top of the covers to protect against any hint of indescretion - I’m sure he slept nearly as well as I did. As for finding him with an arm over me in the morning, he undoubtedly thought I was Kreet in his sleep. I don’t mind. It gives me a small taste of what married life might be like should I someday… well. I shouldn’t think along those lines. I honestly hope that his dreams were of her and he was able to sleep soundly. But to spare him any embarrassment, I rose early, slid out from under his embrace and sat in a comfortable chair in the dark of the early morning, reading a book. (Yes, one of those pointless fiction romances you despise so.)

A servant came in a little later and I roused the children while letting Kallid sleep, and we were treated to a breakfast little short of a feast in itself. Afterwards I felt so guilty that I was able to persuade my servant friend to watch over the children while I was allowed time to continue my daily exercises in peace in a nearby room.

Well, almost in peace. Kallid was shown into the room unexpectedly, and I dread to think of the vision such a portly female as myself in my exercise outfit must have appeared to him! I’ve found such exertions work best unhampered by too much loose-fitting clothing, and so have designed what I fear amounts to little more than underwear - protecting modesty but unfortunately revealing a most unflattering yet accurate shape. I’m not sure who ended up blushing more, Kallid or myself, but at least I feel like I worked off the majority of the breakfast I’d eaten.

As predicted, the baron had invited us to stay another day, but Kallid declined politely and - as I said in my last letter - I would not intrude. I, after all, have not lost a spouse and can only begin to feel the loss he must be going through. So we have gathered up our belongings and the baron has reprovisioned us. He’s also given Grace, Kalindra and Night some of his children’s toys to keep them occupied - including three new puppets that even Night seems to enjoy as much as the girls.

And with that, our carriage is ready. It has not yet begun to rain, though the clouds are heavy and grey. We’re about to say our goodbyes and I am sending this letter back to you now in the care of my new friend. I will write again as soon as it’s practical.

Sincerely,

Your Miss Tribi