A scroll arrives at Windstorm......

[sofia]

Borne by a plump little monk, who departs immediately after handing the scroll to Mollie, who hurries it to Her Majesty's hand. When the red wax seal bearing its scripted S is broken, the fine parchment unrolls, velvety to Her touch as deep black ink writing flows across the page. The writing is in a strong, masculine hand, written with care to every detail.



Edfeil Regina
Windstorm Castle

Your Majesty,
Please accept written in my hand the most respectful greetings of Your loyal friend Sofia Bint Nasrullah. Please accept also her most sincere apologies for being gone so long from Home, yet she must beg the excuse of being within her home of birth at this time amongst her family. Sofia does send her most respectful and affectionate greetings to Your Majesty personally, and humbly begs You might convey her fondest greetings to all within the home, assuring that she will be home before long.
~At this point the tone changes, not passing a message, but speaking directly in His own right~
Most respectfully Your Majesty I give my word of honor that Sofia does dwell within the safety of my House, being kept in all honor and welcome as is fitting to my granddaughter. Please permit me to extend to Your majesty my sincerest thanks for the kindness my blood received in Your home, and assurances she will be sent home safely (just as soon as r/t allows).

The usual closings and long-winded names ensue, both the man's and Sofia's own flowing signature, the one bit of english she can write.

[Lady Edfeil]

((placeholder, will reply))

[Lady Edfeil]

*The monks hurry had slightly worried Mollie, who enjoyed a cosy chat and offering a good meal to any, but the man of the cloth must have had other tasks to attend or mayhap he needed to reach the abbey before nightfall, which meant he and his donkey would have a good ride ahead of them still. She recognised the quality of the parchment and hurried in bringing it to the queen.
It was opened swiftly, dark eyes sliding over the letters, devouring each warmth and warming with a smile when a weight that had been resting upon her shoulders had been lifted. She had changed enough nae to worry herself to the point of fretting or making a fool of herself by sending emmisaries out, but now, when the missive brought relief to the nagging question of where the young Lady was, she had to admit that a slight worry had been gnawing anyway.
The tone, so courteous and well spoken, with beautifully turned phrases warmed her heart, it reminded her of the other visitors that had come from the east and whose speech, even when heavily accented had always been a feast to hear.*