21 - Farran's Adventure

                                        

                                              
While Farran's adult siblings were all obsessed with Derbie's proposal to Lady Ban, or Blair's unexpected Courtship with Earl Wignell, Farran had been all but oblivious. Her last rejection from the Diplomatic Bureau to join the Exchange Project had finally prompted her to tell Alaric about her intentions to join, and how that required his approval; Alaric had arrogantly informed her that he already knew of her previous, and failed, attempts. 
But then he'd also told her that not only was her secret spilled by the Diplomatic Bureau, but he'd been written to directly by Vellan, trying to help settle his concerns by explaining in detail how Farran would be under his protection in Cador, how their culture had coming of age at 16 so she'd be treated with the respect and authority owed to any adult, and how she'd even have King Kai Tuccillo's protections once all the ceremonies were completed. 
Her secret had been exposed, and all because both Vellan and the Diplomatic Bureau had assumed after months of exchanged that she'd finally discussed the matter with her guardian. Too bad she still hadn't, though Farran felt a little umbrage because she had INTENDED to, but then Fabrizio Lazzarini had attacked Hida, Blair started dating Earl Wignell, and Derbie got engaged to Lady Ban. Those all somehow seemed far more significant than Farran's desires to join the Exchange to Cador. So, when Alaric started to lecture her on how important it was to communicate forthrightly and with complete honesty, Farran decided to give it to him. 
"I would have pulled the trigger," she hadn't needed to specify what for, "if I needed to. I am not losing any sleep over what might have happened, or how close it could have been. I'm simply glad I was there to help Hida when she needed it." Alaric wasn't arguing, and more importantly, it looked like he was listening, "but now I need to do this. I need to join this Exchange and go explore Cador and see who I can grow into there." 
The night Hida had been attacked had given Farran a sense of confidence she'd lacked. At the time, all she'd been aware of was that he loud crash of broken glass and wood wasn't normal, and she'd grabbed the pistol out of her travel locker, ensuring it was loaded. She hadn't heard anyone scream, but Farran was certain she was hearing sounds of struggle from Hida's room. If she'd been wrong, she probably would have scared Hida and ended up in trouble, but she hadn't been wrong. The door to Hida's room opened and she saw someone slashing at a bloody version of her baby sister, and suddenly she not only knew she could pull the trigger, but that she'd lose no sleep over it at all. 
"Hida has always been our Knight, the fighter who will one day be a Hero, but I think she's only the youngest Warrior our family has," Alaric's compliment shut Farran's argument up. "I'm scared to let you go, but I know you're capable Farran, and more than that, you've proven you can take action in an emergency." He had actually agreed to let her go on the Exchange if the Diplomatic Bureau approved it. 
Farran had once again written to the Exchange Project, this time able to present both a letter from Duke Vellan Dorland and Alaric's written and signed approval to apply. She had already increased her letters to them from once to twice weekly, so they'd likely been awaiting her latest response, but that hadn't made the length of time for their response any shorter. Her impatience was only mollified when Vellan's latest letter arrived. 
m'eudail Farran
I find myself not at all surprised to read your last letter, if ever there was a young woman bold enough to fire a shot, it would have to be you. What's holding a villain at gunpoint to someone who is daring enough to leave their home behind long before they ever discussed the idea with those in authority?
And I predict your deserved ire for writing to your eldest sibling to try and add my support for your participation. Be mad at me Farran but do so to my face; come to Cador and yell at me in person. By now I believe you'll have obtained Alaric's approval, and no doubt you've already once again written to your Diplomatic Bureau, so I can only hope this letter will reach you slightly before your acceptance to be the Tarotan component of the Exchange.