Altriona: Journal the Fifth
Nov. 12th, 2009 04:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
velvetpageWhat's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Therefore, an Imholien by any other name is still in his own person complete, is he not?
We are ashore this night, housed in a building of which the best that can be said is that it keeps out more rain than it lets in. The island, if it merits such a name, is a tiny jutting rock in the bay of Tilea, just outside the port city of Tobaro. I could get lost in a reverie while walking and fall right off the island into the sea. I would fain be back on the ship, but the choice in the matter did not rest with me.
Our ship ran aground on a submerged rock off this gods-forsaken coast. The damage is reparable and we would be able to limp into port with only a minimal assistance. The assistance offered to sailors here, however, is not of the minimal variety. The D'Naufragios family, a vast clan of rock-hugging mollusks disguised as humans, controls the revenues from shipwrecks. Their longboats approached us and offered to tow us and repair us, at the price of half our cargo. Lorandara and myself were invited to accompany them to their home as their guests.
We have been treated well, for hostages. I suppose their business would not long survive were they to incur the wrath of the merchant houses by abusing those they hold thusly. We supped with them, and watched them drink, and even explored the island long enough to consult with Mallion. (When the ship ran aground, I slipped the lock, and he hid himself against the seaward side of the ship. When Lorandara and I boarded the longboats, he flew to the island far above and kept track of us.)
Thoughtlessly, during the conversation with Nana D'Naufragios, I mentioned our family name. Her eyes lit up, and I cursed my stupidity. How much more will she now demand in ransom of us? In conference later, we decided that we could no longer use that name on our voyages, for it is too well-known. I wonder already how long it will take for Valadar to sniff out word of our whereabouts. Truthfully, I do not think two lady elves travelling in these foreign seas would go unnoticed even if we stopped using our family name entirely. Word of Mallion's supposed disappearance has reached Nana D'Naufragios, which means it is known amongst the noble houses of Tobaro. Though I doubt our subterfuge will serve a purpose, the fact remains that it may, and so we must try.
Tomorrow we will be taken to the city, doubtless under some form of escort. I must needs write a letter to Captain Tidurion requesting that he deal fairly and quickly with the family members sent to parley with him, and informing him that we have been dealt with fairly thus far.
When Mallion was transformed, it was I who recovered his signet ring from the floor of the library and had it repaired, for it appeared to have burst from his finger during the transformation. I claimed it had been returned as proof of Mallion's whereabouts with the ransom letter, and kept it thereafter, wearing it on my left hand as I have no right to wear it on my right. I will use it tonight on the letter to the Captain, and then I shall hang it from a chain around my neck, there to rest against the day when I can return it to its rightful bearer. Father has his own ring that he can bequeath to Valadar should Mallion not regain his form. Valadar will never wear this ring. I would throw it into the sea before I would see him with it.
I fear the loss of my name far more than I feared the loss of my comfortable life. I fear it like I fear a marriage of convenience to a stranger. I have spent my life ensconced on the firm foundation of an old family. My forebears have taken good care of the family name for generations. Now I must give it up. Who am I when I am not a scion of my House?
We are ashore this night, housed in a building of which the best that can be said is that it keeps out more rain than it lets in. The island, if it merits such a name, is a tiny jutting rock in the bay of Tilea, just outside the port city of Tobaro. I could get lost in a reverie while walking and fall right off the island into the sea. I would fain be back on the ship, but the choice in the matter did not rest with me.
Our ship ran aground on a submerged rock off this gods-forsaken coast. The damage is reparable and we would be able to limp into port with only a minimal assistance. The assistance offered to sailors here, however, is not of the minimal variety. The D'Naufragios family, a vast clan of rock-hugging mollusks disguised as humans, controls the revenues from shipwrecks. Their longboats approached us and offered to tow us and repair us, at the price of half our cargo. Lorandara and myself were invited to accompany them to their home as their guests.
We have been treated well, for hostages. I suppose their business would not long survive were they to incur the wrath of the merchant houses by abusing those they hold thusly. We supped with them, and watched them drink, and even explored the island long enough to consult with Mallion. (When the ship ran aground, I slipped the lock, and he hid himself against the seaward side of the ship. When Lorandara and I boarded the longboats, he flew to the island far above and kept track of us.)
Thoughtlessly, during the conversation with Nana D'Naufragios, I mentioned our family name. Her eyes lit up, and I cursed my stupidity. How much more will she now demand in ransom of us? In conference later, we decided that we could no longer use that name on our voyages, for it is too well-known. I wonder already how long it will take for Valadar to sniff out word of our whereabouts. Truthfully, I do not think two lady elves travelling in these foreign seas would go unnoticed even if we stopped using our family name entirely. Word of Mallion's supposed disappearance has reached Nana D'Naufragios, which means it is known amongst the noble houses of Tobaro. Though I doubt our subterfuge will serve a purpose, the fact remains that it may, and so we must try.
Tomorrow we will be taken to the city, doubtless under some form of escort. I must needs write a letter to Captain Tidurion requesting that he deal fairly and quickly with the family members sent to parley with him, and informing him that we have been dealt with fairly thus far.
When Mallion was transformed, it was I who recovered his signet ring from the floor of the library and had it repaired, for it appeared to have burst from his finger during the transformation. I claimed it had been returned as proof of Mallion's whereabouts with the ransom letter, and kept it thereafter, wearing it on my left hand as I have no right to wear it on my right. I will use it tonight on the letter to the Captain, and then I shall hang it from a chain around my neck, there to rest against the day when I can return it to its rightful bearer. Father has his own ring that he can bequeath to Valadar should Mallion not regain his form. Valadar will never wear this ring. I would throw it into the sea before I would see him with it.
I fear the loss of my name far more than I feared the loss of my comfortable life. I fear it like I fear a marriage of convenience to a stranger. I have spent my life ensconced on the firm foundation of an old family. My forebears have taken good care of the family name for generations. Now I must give it up. Who am I when I am not a scion of my House?