Gregory Grey and the Fugitive in Helika
Page 42
CHAPTER 17.1
Letter from Director Lawrence
Gregory Grey,
c/o Commander of the Throne’s Watch, Magus Quincy Appleby
The Apple, High Town, The West Wing,
Domremy City
August 14th 1909.
Dear Gregory,
I highly doubt that Michel will tell you, so I must take that unhappy responsibility.
A few days ago, Michel must have fought with someone. I use the word ‘fought’ loosely considering Michel’s condition, but the altercation resulted in the breaking of his nose, and of his instrument.
I had advised our young friend to not advertise his good fortune, lest he stir petty jealousies, but to be fair to him, that instrument was his only source of joy. He won’t say who did it, and I won’t make him. But since he’s too embarrassed to ask you for another, I hope you don’t mind that I ask on his behalf.
Will you be kind again Gregory, and send him another instrument? I will blood it for him.
I’d tell you again how proud we all are, but words would fall short. The honour and respect you’ve brought to the orphanage, and to the village, is beyond anything we could have hoped and dreamed of.
The village has recovered almost entirely from the effects of the quake. To see the people now, it might never have happened at all. We have a mayor now, a smart woman – she’s been spurring people to pretty up the place, saying that if you were ever to come back, then the hospitality they could offer must be the best non-mages can accomplish.
And that’s not all the use your name is being put to.
There’s talk of building a brand new hospice – the sort that Healer Caius has been haggling for all these years. It’s going to be constructed in your name. The story of you healing that young lady has captured the imaginations of everyone here quite powerfully, and the mayor has been whipping up that image for all it’s worth.
I ought to mention that she’s quite eager to meet you. I also ought to warn you that she wants to work Pencier over thoroughly and that she believes you are one of her foremost assets in making that happen.
Deepest Regards,
Director Laurie