#exilra

    ‘ DEAR CORVO,     we are moving along the shore now, but by the time you receive this letter, i will surely... ’  that was where her pencil broke, as if reluctant to write something that would certainly be a lie. she didn’t want to believe that then, didn’t want to believe up until the point of no return       ------      when both ships set sail, leaving her with a bunch of scared soldiers, her unfortunate escort, on the western shore of a vast, vast land they call pandyssia.

by the time you receive this letter, i will surely be dead. 

the unfinished letter burns her pocket     ---     but is there any difference now? even if lady jessamine, the rightful heir to the throne, wasn’t that naive, even if she didn’t trust in this expedition completely, what could she do? send a letter in a bottle, hoping that somehow it reaches the royal protector, and what then? no, his ignorance would be his bliss; delilah will only face the wrath of her own conscience. but even this, it doesn’t matter. nothing matters anymore.

..jessamine realises that the officer of her escort is calling her. for a good ten seconds, she expects to see a pistol in his hand, pointing at her. oh, delilah, our fair empress       ----      but no, they have another order.

it is when she sees something on the horizon, approaching fast      ----      faster than the would expect; people? her disbelief seems to be contagious; all the soldiers, those frightened boys, are staring at the distance. they didn’t know what to expect, jessamine thinks, they, too, are confused. 

‘  -----  what is your order, officer?  please, explain  -----  ’   but the question freezes on her lips as the sight before her, them, unfolds; a fascinating sight, but one feeling them all with dread, too.