Cold Magics

Chapter 3

Dear Thomas,

The summer is drawing to a close and it is with great annoyance that I inform you that the apartment is all yours. Father has sent money south to pay for the place through the winter, as compensation to you for my being stuck here for the foreseeable future.

The raiders are still in Frostmire and I am still chasing them around the duchy. They are good at going to ground where they can’t be found and it is getting very frustrating. We don’t think there are enough of them to overrun the duchy, but they have done some damage and we have seen some groups large enough to be worrisome. We are redoubling our efforts to destroy them—most difficult when one cannot find where they are hiding.

We thought originally that the raiders were northern tribesmen stirring up trouble, but I am beginning to doubt this. They are using some very unusual tactics. So unusual, in fact, that I am discussing with my father the possibility of coming south to ask for reinforcements. He has not yet agreed, but if he does, I hope that we will at least be able to sneak away for an evening at the Broken Quill while I am there.

I hope your studies are going well, though what possesses you to do both law and philosophy at once is still beyond me. Take care of our apartment and do not rent my room to anyone, as I fully intend to take up residence there once this matter is dealt with. Benjamin’s room you may do with as you will, but try not to rent it to anyone I would find offensive enough to have to drown in the fountain.

Regards,

Henry