Lairunya!

My dear brother! I do hope you are doing well (imagine any Telperin in any army!). I have relocated to Arthenon, though I certainly did not go meekly at Simon's bidding! Really, it's so much safer for the children, and I think most of the elves that I could reasonably have helped get out of Glenzor have gotten out by now. Any others that are still alive, are probably clever enough to take care of themselves.

You and Mik seem to be birds of a feather! The Scintillating Company, eh? Have him tell you about the time he and I began working on creating a Scintillating Desert in Thion! (Oh, and ask him about the "elephant" with pontoons if you want another laugh)!

Nicholas Gulceleb is back, is he? I have to admit I doubled over laughing when you asked if we were lovers! The reason Nick wanted to decorate your hat with your entrails was simply that he seems to be, well, asexual! He finds the entire subject rather offensive. I understand that he has some very disturbing things in his past, so I never really teased him about this (much). However, I must admit, if he'd ever shown any interest I wouldn't have turned him down. Indeed, I kept an eye on him sometimes to see if he seemed more approachable, but he never did. It probably would have done him a world of good. Thus far, I have been faithful to my Simon (not that it's a concern for either of us, as I'm sure you can tell).

If you feel you can get some good teasing material out of those last bits about Nick, please be certain to share his reaction with me!

If, dearest brother, you find being Embarassed to be worse than being Doomed, I can only tell you to brace yourself. If your missions turn out anything like our old ones usually did, you can count on the occasional major Embarrassment. However, I found being Doomed, Controlled, and Frustrated to be even worse than the occasional embarassments. I am referring to the incident that began with all of us being summoned from our own plane to our own plane (may I add Confused to the above list) and geased to commit unfriendly acts upon our allies, and which culminated in our narrowly (extremely narrowly, I might add) diverting a disaster which would have prevented this war from ever starting, since it would likely have destroyed most of Glenzor (the city, at least). Yes, the Hordeling affair ranks next to the Purple Mushroom incident and the Red Dragon fiasco on my list of most horrifyingly awful missions.

I wish you could find some way to get out of this whole Underdark assignment. It has me terribly worried! Also, I am concerned about Mik's health! Do try to discourage his forays into altered states of mind!

Seing as how you do not wish to know anything that you really oughtn't, I'll just keep quiet about any activities (or lack thereof) in that arena. I just wish this senseless war were over! I really see no point to it. If the elves want the Clay Blade back so very badly, they should have sent in a team of thieves and mages to get it back! Theft is so much neater than open conflict, and it's not like the pointy-eared fluffheads haven't got some really good thieves in their midst (if they'll admit it or not).

There's something else that's eating me alive with curiosity. I recently received a letter from Mik, and I was rather shocked to find it positively rife with thoughts of and concerns for Danny. It has had me really wondering about my dear friend Mikhael. However, since I want him to continue being my dear friend, I don't think it would be prudent to bring these matters up with him directly. Not yet, at any rate. You will have to be my eyes and ears for me, assuming you do not mind a little friendly spying, dearest one?

Am I hallucinating, or is Mik actually falling for Danny? Despite himself? Could it possibly be that he shares your inclinations? At first I would never have thought so, but now I am beginning to wonder if the gentleman doth protest too much. And I cannot ever remember seeing him with a woman. He had a crush on an erstwhile companion of ours÷Vasquez÷but that was long ago, and she was not his type. A half-orcish fighter/assassin, to be exact. She was a mighty warrior, but now that I think of it, she was rather lacking in the more feminine wiles.

By Hanali! It just hit me! Is Mik attracked to masculine fighters? That would seem to be the common denominator between Vasquez and Danny (probably the only one beyond the fact that they are both mammalian). This is so intriguing, and I'm not there to observe things for myself! Torture!

Well, I must be going, dear Laurie. I shall have to get myself some new titles to see if I can catch up with your impressive moniker! I doubt I shall officially join the elven army, but I may see if I can find some way to help things along. Honestly, I don't want either side to win! Glenzor would not be the same, overrun by elves, but I like knowing there are elven lands out there, shoud I grow weary of orcs and humans!

Namarie, kinsman!

Fea