It seems that almighty Slumbor plans to have his revenge for my indescretions mentioned to you in my letter of the 1st June. I have rescued a beautiful and intelligent woman from horrible imprisonment who wants to be my wife. She is clever and grasps quickly the ways of Slumbor and will make an excellent follower, and I am intregued by her clever mind.

Yet this poor woman has been terribly tortured by her inhuman captives, and her eyes and tongue put out! Am I to hope that this will give her wisdom as it did the blessed Sufi Karranalla? I try my hardest to obtain healing for her but it is beyond my power to do and as yet I have found no other capable of it. Yet I must try. Is this a lesson from Slumbor about accepting fate the true way Master? That she is a perfect woman in so many ways but that which the world will see and about which she will care.

I am but a poor servant who cannot see my own way Master Ping, for if she must accept this fate then I am to poor a follower of Slumbor to do so. I must strive to find healing for her, and reverse what has been done, though our teachings say otherwise. My only answer is that I will accept the trade of fate. In return for my lack of faith I intend to grant her her wish of marriage if you, my Master, advise it so, so I have told her that I must await word from you.

Oh if only your reply to my last letter had already arrived! I chafe at the length of time it takes for our messages to reach one another. I have only just recieved your reply to my letter on the subject of Talen, and can assure you that I did indeed have more than a few chuckles at your clever arrangement of punning phrases on his name. To answer your questions, no indeed he is still alive, but what you suggested may still happen, though I maintain that water is the most likely alternative. For your second point I doubt it... though if Griffon can then so might he. Finally I believe he has gotten a little stronger, and intend to test it at the soonest opportunity.

I will be sure to follow your instructions regarding him Master Ping.

Your servant