Just a short note that I am finally working on a novel set in Domus Exsulis. The title is Saltwater Orphée and I hope to be done by next September. Wish me luck!

I have removed Learie’s novella from Lumen Procellae, but have yet to decide on the fate of Kieran’s tale.

The Storytelling Index is now more or less up-to-date, and you can use it as a guide towards reading the stories in sequence. It is more functional than it is visually/textually pleasing, but it is the most comprehensive list at present.

Oh, and pictures have been added to both the Storytelling Index and the Spotter’s Guide.

(c) Nin Harris 1998-2009

Deiranetta Speaks.

Oh, look. I have some letters here. It makes me laugh to read them again. I had some trouble deciphering the girlish script on the initial parchments, needing to wear the reading glasses Elise brought me. I handed them over to the Caretaker on a whim. Since he is chronicling everything to do with the isle, I thought I would let it be an object lesson on the follies of youth. You should have seen how fierce his scowl was. However, he very kindly agreed to transfer the letters for me onto new paper. And here I have them, neatly re-written in his shopkeeper’s script, on fine thin parchment. But, they do not sound exactly the same. I would suspect the Caretaker of taking more than a scribe’s license with the text, but it would not be nice to berate him after he has gone out of his way to help me, would it? Instead, I will send Elise out to the shops to find him some very nice, fresh tea. The poor boy keeps lamenting his lack of it.

(c) Nin Harris 2009

The Caretaker Speaks:

I have been slowly reading accounts of old Alhaere shared by Learie. She says this is a land that lies far away from these Realms. The lands she speaks of, remind me of the uninhabited Fens towards the South-East of this isle. Perhaps I will spend more time there, someday. There may be clues there which will mesh well with my discoveries in the Mishgalaveri Vale.

I do need to sort out other problems here first. The dragons are still making a frightful racket, none of the help do anything around Domus Exsulis, and I really need to find an unused teabag somewhere. If I do not get some tea to settle my frazzled nerves, I do not know what I will do.

And if that is not enough, there’s a madwoman living in the wild rose garden, somewhere towards the northwestern side of the grounds. I met her yesterday whilst composing a letter…

No, the addressee of the letter is absolutely none of your business!

To cut a long story short, I met her, and she insisted that I aid her in scribing her raving accounts. She claims to be a Lady, but, you never know with these madwomen. Just smile politely, nod and walk away. This is what my father used to tell me.

Do expect an emergence of a Courtyard sometime soon. She’s entertaining enough, and I could always direct a guest or two to her, I suppose. Whilst not the most lucid of hostesses, she is diverting in her own way.

On the subject of dubious hosts, I’d advise you to stay away from that Conrad fellow. Yes, he has a nice voice and a certain air about him. But just stay away from him, please? I have more than enough on my plate right now and do not want to have to account for the disappearance of yet another visitor.

Yes, yes. If you’ve got nothing better to do and you’re really curious, you can go and talk to the madwoman. Her name is Deiranetta, and she handed me a whole pile of her love letters.

No, you can’t read it yet. It is badly written, overly effusive and her grammar is deplorable.

Look, why don’t you go and find the help-bogles, make me some tea, and index these cards nicely for me? No? I thought not. Run along to the garden then.

The newest installment of Camena Draconis was scribed some time back but not deemed fit to be shared. There are some clues inside there to the grand work that takes up the time of our poor Caretaker within the confines of the Caretaker’s Study. I do believe he deserves a story of his own

But, how many stories does a character need?

The Caretaker Speaks:

As you climb up the steep steps towards Domus Exsulis, you may chance upon one or two of the exiles who have found a home here in Lumen Procellae. It is rumored that they are concerned about the disappearance of the human woman who had named herself the Guardian of StormLight.

For decades, the open routes to the isle of Lumen Procellae were closed, and no one from other planes of existence could enter. Nor could we leave. She elected me her heir, but I have resisted this appointment, till now.

They call me the Caretaker these days, but I have been a great number of things. Shop assistant, Librarian, scholar. The last, inspired me to reach back into time for the names the Romans used to call this isle and the different places here. Perhaps I overstep myself, but I prefer these names to the ones the Guardian chose when she opened the routes so humans from our world could visit this isle.

Others whisper of older names that have not been spoken in aeons, lost, long lost.

I know not of these names, but I will endeavour to rediscover them.