Journal, page 53

Day 180, afternoon

I managed to get a squire, though definitely not what I expected. I was looking for a 10-12 year old, and without realizing it was expecting it to be a boy. What I found was a 6 year old girl with tremendous talent and amazing potential. It seems she beat up three boys at once at her orphanage, all her senior in age and size, although the third admittedly was an innocent bystander. We will definitely have to work on finesse, control, and avoiding unnecessary collateral damage in regards to innocent bystanders.
Lunch at the Cliff, Doieson is still not seeing reason. He may have to be dealt with permanently if he continues to view me as an enemy. Ask and ye shall receive, so they say. The food was exemplary, however. I will have to make sure I speak to Bill about his recommendation. Perhaps tonight, at the gaming table. Catherine was there as well, though she did not try the food, as usual. Most peculiar, that one. She did get information from the guards, however. It seems that her prey comes here somewhat regularly, if not frequently. Not much else to say. Oh, and I helped the underprivileged orphanage a bit. They deserve an equal chance at a good future, same as the other orphans. I shall have to look into what passes for a school here. If I remember, so much to do now that I have a squire! Oh yes, I need to see about a horse for her. After lunch, straight away to the Gallerly Stables.

Day 180, bed time
Spent the afternoon practicing with Ramona (after arranging for a horse, of course). Clearly untrained, but far more talented than I would have expected, especially for one so young. She will make a wonderful pupil in the art of personal combat. I must remember to also teach her about honor, chivalry, compassion, and other honorable things that warrant such training. Analise has begrudgingly accepted a pseudo role of evening nanny. This is good; it will give Ramona something I cannot give her – a sense of a mother’s hand.

It seems we will be here for a while, waiting on this Talbic fellow. It seems I will have plenty to do, though, in Ramona’s training. I will focus on this, and spend the first half of the day learning the spells that I have in books, while ‘auntie Catherine’ teaches Ramona to read and write. Ramona has voiced interest in magic as well, although with less enthusiasm than she displays for the sword. I don’t know if it’s a child’s fascination or a reasoned consideration ( magic is a powerful tool, as I well know), but either case I should prepare myself to teach her as well. Tomorrow we begin training in far more earnest.

Journal, page 54

Day 181, afternoon

Mundane commentary regarding his efforts to learn spells, made fairly easy by his existing skill in Thaumaturgy and his photographic memory.

Day 181, bed time

Mundane commentary regarding Ramona’s training progress.

Journal, page 55

Day 182, afternoon

Mundane commentary regarding his efforts to learn spells, made fairly easy by his existing skill in Thaumaturgy and his photographic memory.

Day 182, bed time

Mundane commentary regarding Ramona’s training progress.

Journal, page 56

Day 183, afternoon

Mundane commentary regarding his efforts to learn spells, made fairly easy by his existing skill in Thaumaturgy and his photographic memory.

Day 183, bed time

Not quite bed time, but I write this early because Catherine has asked me to take her usual shift at the docks, watching for this Talbic fellow. It seems she received some secret message from Emma, arranging a clandestine meeting. I will go, though I suspect he won’t show. Then again, if no one was there to check, that would surely be the time he came. I will write of Catherine’s meeting tomorrow, after I find out more. With any luck, I can also write about either Talbic showing up, the Blurry Man making a move, or Doieson finally deciding to do the ‘compel truth’ thing. Not holding my breath on any one of those Any ways, more tomorrow.