[A sealed letter for Jamileh]

[cmenden]

Dear Jamileh,

I sit here grappling with very important questions, so I thought to pen a letter.

Why would you go to the Janissaries to report Cosine and me during an interregnum where the Janissaries are killing people instead of taking them to trial? An enormous "fine" was required to spare us being dragged off.

Did you not understand the severity of the charges you leveled? Do you really hate the Tower's desire for archaeological finds (to protect Ephia's Well!) so much that you wish to see as many of us dead as possible?

You and yours, the Torchbearer-Competition Bloc, are spreading rumors that we have kidnapped or murdered Legate Zarat. Do you see any way this ends other than people lynching Nadiri and Apothars in the streets as you stoke their panic further?

The fact that you would ask to speak to me and then immediately run to the Janissaries to report our conversation is thoroughly disheartening. Why should anyone ever speak to you again?

I just don't know what else to say. I thought we had a cordial relationship. I feel as if I've sorely misjudged you, as either you did this out of ignorance or malice, and I wouldn't have thought either possible.

Regards,
Estellise

[SN]

Hziran 31st, IY 7787

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From:
Jamileh Attar
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

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To:
Estelisse Azzimi
Eagle's Mount

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Estelisse,

We do have a cordial relationship and based on that, and our conversation, I am beginning to worry for you. First time we spoke at the Krak, at some point you seemed distant, gazing off to the distance.
I know your gaze travels far, as does of those looking into the stars. What did you see that startled you so?

Are you alright?

Now let me clarify a few things in the spirit of clarity:
- There is no "Torchbearer-Competition" bloc, our relationship is cordial, at best, at times, and Naelin's constant mockery and belittling is very taxing and hurts me on a level I can not even begin to describe (I went through my fair share of bullies during academia times) and my profession to which I dedicated years of my life to become an expert in very often scoffed at. A profession that requires thousands and thousands of coins invested, that in 999,999 times out of 1,000,000 many would consider a waste of time. I sleep in an old ashfolk's attic, to save funds, Estelisse.
- There were about twenty people passing, or present, in the Krak as you and Cosine spoke of this dagger (and one of them was attempting to conceal themselves).
- If you do recall our conversation,  Sephidra was asking you questions (and granted, some of them had merit), with me adding some for the spirit of clarity and furthering an academic discussion. I am not verse in politics, nor am I actually verse in relationships, people and their emotions.
- I asked to speak to you to make sense of the revelations and proclamations and have an academic discussion of merit and understanding about the mechanism of fueling the Shade in the spirit of making a uniformed decision not based on hearsay and assumptions of whether I should look at a intent of utilizing history as literal fuel for the furnace, answer to which I have still not received. I don't even care to cling onto the finds, for as long as they are properly documented, translated, and catalogued, for each of them is a data point and with enough of these, we can anchor ourselves in the present based on these finds from the the past and charter our path into the future. And I am to accept, based on hearsay, assumptions and lack of tangible proof and demonstration, as everything remains behind the locked doors of the Mount with an aura of clandestine secrecy.

Do you truly think so low of me that you deem it so that I am incapable of understanding? That people aren't (well most probably aren't, that's probably true).

--

Now to clarify some of my personal reasons and to make them very clear:

I go out, each day, into the sands seeking answers.

Why?

Because  if there is a slightest sliver of a chance that amidst the sand, dust and ruin, something will be found that can forestall the decay of this dying world and save the people living in it, then it is worth doing. Because people are worth preserving, even if most of them are complete idiots, who hold little regard to history and understanding, that would just trudge over it as they go from one board contract to the other as the world burns around them.

I have my own reasons too - I have lost family before I was deposited here, at the Disk. I already had little hopes of seeing them ever again before. And now, here, at the Celestial Disk? Having studied arithmetic and statistics (amongst numerous other areas), I can, based on the information I currently possess, calculate the odds of ever seeing them again.

You can calculate those odds too considering your intellect.

But that is not going to stop me from looking, as I refuse to believe they are gone.

I trust this brings you some understanding to my motivations.

What are yours?

Regards,
Jamileh

[cmenden]

Dear Jamileh,

Your letter fails to address the only thing of import to me.

Why did Sergeant Rennik Colmes come into the Tower and tell me that you leveled accusations against me?

The Krak was busy, but none of the others sought to harm me so. The charges were capital. Cosine or I could have been executed, and your only response is to avoid the question.

I suppose ignorance is ruled out, in this case. You meant to see us exiled or dead, and I need answers. Immediately.

Seek me at the Tower, if you wish to explain.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

[SN]

Hziran 31st, IY 7787

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From:
Jamileh Attar
Ibram's Fine Leathers and Cobbler,
corner of Qadira street / market square
(temporary correspondence address)

---

To:
Estelisse Azzimi
Eagle's Mount

---

Estelisse,

I'll stop by after I return from the field so we can put this to rest, hopefully.

Regards,
Jamileh