Magic of the Marriage Market

It had been just over a month since Farran had boldly written to both the Diplomatic Bureau, and Duke Dorland of Cador, and she had tried not to be impatient as she awaited any kind of response back. She had a small distraction while helping Winnie pack and set out of her own adventure, so happy for her elder sister's triumph. Although hitting the hotter territories at the cross over from spring to summer wouldn't be the most pleasant of experiences, Farran enjoyed going places so much she'd have been thrilled to endure it; Winnie was a little more artistic than Farran was though, and might struggle with it.

Still, she had helped her sister pack the most suitable clothes for both the purpose of the trip and the temperature she'd endure. Given that Winnie was almost an adult, and on a trip to impress at the university, Farran had made a few subtle but suitable alterations to her sister's dresses. She stitched sleeves as short as possible, lowered the neckline where she could, and ensured that even the hottest, dirtiest weather wouldn't stain Winnie's precious white clothes. Although Winnie was the tallest of the Briggs sisters, she was also the only one interested in wearing that much white; the irony being that she was the painter and the only person more likely to stain her clothes would be Hida. Blair was the shortest and most voluptuous sister, preferring to layer over her body to try and disguise it while also preferring the Briggs scarlet to feature prominently. Farran couldn't wear Blair's clothes, too tall and lacking the more womanly attributes Blair hid, but she did often take from Winnie's wardrobe if it wasn't pristine white. She'd also take some of her brothers' discarded clothing items, turning more than one men's coat or jacket into a unique outfit for herself. Hida wore everyone's old clothes, or chose her training uniform if allowed, and with her reddish hair the Briggs scarlet only cemented her torment of being called Pinky.

Farran's other constant distraction was trying to sneakily ready the supplies she would need once she could head out. She'd found one of mother's old Expedition bags, and claimed it for herself; patching the worn strap with ease. Because she wanted this to last as long as it could, Farran made every stitch count, imbuing the bag with as much rugged durability as possible. The size of the bag also gave he the constraint she had to work within; she would allow herself the Expedition bag and one trunk for all the things she'd take with her on her adventure. She'd begun researching the weather and customs of Cador, having learned that Cador had the heat of the South but also an absurd amount of humidity. The clothes she selected were as lightweight as possible, and Farran tried to pick items she could easily alter in Cador to suit her environment more as needed. She also packed far more of her embroidery than was probably practical, but given her magic it seemed smart.

Besides clothes and entertainment, Farran also made a point to pack the 'survival essentials' their parents had raised them to consider. A carefully packed and sealed fire starter kit, a securely preserved healing set including bandages and a sterilized needle for stitches, and what her father called a whistle. Since she wouldn't be on a ship Farran didn't have to worry about seasickness, and she found long carriage rides almost meditative; she could do needle work or knit except on the worse roads. All the Briggs siblings could ride horseback, Farran enjoyed a steady mare while she knew Hida liked the wild ones, but unless she could carry a trunk on horseback like her father could with food, she had to take a carriage for the Expedition. And even though this was supposed to be an endeavour between two peacefully allied Nations, Farran was realistic enough to also pack the pistol and shot her parents insisted they all learn to use for self defence.

Since the weapons, especially black powder, were so prohibitively expensive most people didn't expect them, let alone expect one on a girl Farran's age. She'd had the same basic combat training as her siblings, a necessity in a world where kidnappings could occur, but as her little tussle with Hida had shown, she'd be outmatched by any skilled fighter. Thus the pistol, a beautiful revolver dubbed the Big No by the gunsmith that the Briggs family did business with. Farran was a decent shot, not the dead-eye Hida had proven to be, but not missing the broad side of the barn like Winnie would. And true to form, their parents insisted that they not only know how to shoot it, but how to take care of it and load shot if the equipment is available.

She had all these practical, useful skills, but Farran was still stuck waiting to be able to use them. She wanted to be out in the world, learning how life was through trial and likely lots of error. Farran wasn't naïve, she knew how protected both her status and family fortune had kept her, that the world wouldn't be as accommodating and she might fail terribly. But even that was a part of the adventure Farran craved. The only sibling who seemed to have the same urge to disconnect was Blair, and she had chosen a different type of potentially dangerous adventure, though a ruined reputation wasn't a death sentence to a Briggs.

A knock at her door pulled Farran out of her head, hands stilling only so she wouldn't stab herself needlessly, and she spotted Alaric at her bedroom door, "Hello Farran,, these were delivered for your attention."

For all that Farran wished she could have hidden her excited reaction, she knew her cheeks had already flamed admission. He hadn't opened her letters, despite being her guardian Alaric respected his siblings' privacy too much to intrude recklessly, but they were clearly stamped with identifying seals. She could see the Handshake seal of the Diplomatic Bureau in the black wax of Taroton's postal system, but she was surprised to see a forest green seal on the other letter with a strange know sealed into it. And if she had noted them, Alaric certainly would have, which would explain why he was bringing her post to her room instead of telling her it was in his office and to collect it there. Her eldest brother might respect her privacy enough to not read her mail, but he did want to pry.

Luckily for Farran, Alaric also liked to think he knew how everyone else was thinking, "I'd heard you had an interest in Cador, but I had underestimated your tenacity," he handed her the letters, "establishing pen pals with Cador through the Diplomatic Bureau is quite ingenious, great thinking."

She felt a little guilty at his compliment, thought it wasn't entirely wrong. She had technically only established a written letter relationship with both Diplomatic Bureau and Lord Dorland. And until she opened the letters and saw the contents, Farran wouldn't be lying if she silently accepted his praise without clarification; after all, she still believed both would be rejecting her application to join the Exchange. Farran was tenacious like Alaric said, even flat out rejections weren't going to stop her; she'd write more letters.

"Thank you Alaric, I appreciate it," she had to wait until he left to open them, but it was agonizing now that the letters were in her hand.

"I'm glad you've found a way to engage your interests," he knew of her desire to be an explorer, and how it was hindered by her age, lack of useful magic, and the unfortunate seasickness. "This Season is hard on the family, but I want you to know that you and the other children are still as much a priority to me as the Debuted siblings are. If there is anything I can do to help with your pen pal, let me know."

"If that's the case Alaric, would you be able to get me whatever lengths you can of these fabrics?" Farran was an opportunist; if he didn't want to do a favour, he shouldn't have offered. "In Cador, they don't have a family colour, they have a family pattern, and I wanted to try and make my pen pal a handmade gift in Taroton fabrics but Cadorian pattern."

Alaric gave her a bright smile, happy her request was an easy one to fulfill no doubt, "I recall the tome we found you, I'm glad it was a good choice." It had been, Farran acknowledged that readily enough. "When I go to Abernathy's next I shall retrieve your fabrics," he took the list she had and finally left.

Farran waited as long as she could, trying to ensure she wouldn't be interrupted now that she finally had her first responses. She broke the seal of the Diplomatic Bureau and read its contents first.

To the Young Lady Farran Briggs,

The Diplomatic Bureau's Exchange Project was grateful to receive your impassioned volunteer letter, but unfortunately as indicated in your submission, we cannot accept your application at this time. At the very least, we would need confirmation that your request to join the Exchange had been discussed and approved by your parents or legal guardian, Lord Alaric Briggs.

You did, however, make both a good impression and a good point with your letter. Those who are younger would have an easier time adapting to a new culture and environment, as would someone of your enthusiasm, so while we cannot accept your current application to join, the Exchange Project is happy to provide answers to any and all question you may have on the matter.

Good Luck in your Endeavours.

Farran read it a dozen times, trying to find any and all layers of meaning or interpretation. At the very least, she had to get Alaric's permission to volunteer before they'd consider her, and it seemed that her age wasn't a concern anymore. No doubt there would be fully Debuted adults on the Exchange, but students being exchanged made a lot of sense too. The whole point of an Exchange was got one to go and one to come in their place. She'd have to write back to her Project and ask about the volunteer from Cador, if she knew who was coming from Cador it'd be easier to make herself an equal match it possible. Farran decided to investigate Duke Dorland's response before she started that letter though.

She liked the forest green of the wax seal, and the complicated know stamped into it made her reach for the book of Cadorian culture her brother had bribed her with. She flipped it open, the tome listing all the cultural identifiers used, and how to decipher them. The familial knot of Dorland, as described by the tome, but it didn't go into the hi온라인카지노게임 as to why this was chosen. It was beautiful and Farran almost pitied the necessity of breaking it so she could read his letter.

Farran Briggs,

You were correct, I didn't have the first clue who you are, but after your letter I used those familial connections you so wish to take advantage of, and found out all I could. You family has quite the reputation of explorers, and even I, in the distant Duchy of Dorland, have heard of the Northern Island Expedition. But you yourself have managed to remain largely undocumented, as you confessed, due to a lack of opportunity.

Convince me you're worth the effort you ask of me Farran. You claim to have the heart of an explorer, if not the experience. Tell me how you'll survive, how you'll thrive, and what you'll bring to enrich my Kingdom. If you can do that, I promise to become your most steadfast ally; I'll not only tell the King you should participate, I'll take care of you myself.

But the clock is ticking Farran

Vellan

It was shocking to have a Duke boldly address her by name, discarding all honorifics as if they were unnecessary. And it was also frustrating to have him allude to looking into her but not extrapolating on what he'd found and what he thought of it. It made her have to seriously think about what could be found on her through official and covert means. She didn't doubt he'd gotten her age, course marks, and the Briggs fortune tallied, but none of that would have impressed him as he implied. Her magic was recorded, but it was so domestic seeming most people underestimated it's applicable value. One stitched bit of embroidery and then the cloth wouldn't stain or tear, and if she cast the entire garment herself, it was lightweight armour; though it took so long it was impractical. She had no desire to be a tailor either, so it was mismatch of epic degree.

At least it was on the surface.

Farran had several siblings that had been willing to help her test the limits of her magic. Blair had successfully stained a handkerchief, but only after pulling the embroidery out of it, Hida had actually stabbed hers to test it out, Calvin had once mysteriously confirmed that even ether didn't leave a lingering scent in it, though she didn't know how he'd figured that out. And Gavin had taken her challenge into the kitchen, discovering that it withstood heat and fire well too.

A ridiculous, brilliant idea occurred to her. If Vellan wanted her to impress him, she would. Step one was to reject the Diplomatic Bureau's rejection, a simple matter of writing a letter requesting the required 'proof' that she'd discussed her application with Alaric and had his explicit approval, whatever information they could provide on the Dorland Duchy, and the list of current candidates from Cador that she could exchange with. Then she decided that recklessness had worked for her so far, so she included the fact that Duke Dorland had offered to host her without necessarily explaining the requirements for it in this letter.

And then she set about step two, impressing Vellan Dorland, a Duke. Like she'd told Alaric, she'd been planning to handmake the Dorland sash in Taroton fabrics to send to Duke Dorland. She'd seen in her tome that a gifted handmade sash had a high value in their society, and this would be the best way to show off. The book had described the Dorland pattern as a combination of the same forest green of the seal, a thin line of gold to represent the relationship to the Crown, and a mid sized band of red. She didn't know the meaning of his pattern entirely, but she would be able to replicated it, even the ever so complicated knot that was in the stamp. But more importantly than showing off her skills with textiles, Farran was determined to stitch the most indestructible piece of fabric her magic could produce.

It would take for longer to imbue her magic than it took to write her rejoinder to Vellan, so since she had to wait for Alaric's return with her fabrics, Farran set about completing what she could.

Vellan Dorland,

Tell me of your distant Duchy, your smaller Kingdom's habits and customs. I wish to drink the knowledge in as one does wine; with an appreciation for both the sweet and the tart. You have connections to lean on to garner your information, while I decide to ask you directly; tell me who you are.

I have already told you I'm the sixth child, and no doubt you already know my family tree, but what you can't know is who I am inside my own skin. Being the sixth child, the third daughter, means I am not first nor last in anything. I'm not the oldest or youngest daughter, I am not the tallest or shortest, again not even amongst the girls. I have magic the least like anyone in my family, and yet I am the only one with the compulsion to explore. Alaric is the eldest while Hida is the youngest, Blair the most beautiful while Calvin the most plain, Derbie is the most romantic while Edwina is the most artistic, and Gavin is the best caretaker out of us all.

I'm not trying to impress you by telling you all the things I am not though. I want you to understand that I grew up loved and valued for all that I am, and that my desire to explore is not some trial to try and find out who I am. I will explore, either now as part of the Exchange, or with some other opportunity that comes along and I seize it. I do not fear failure, or rejection, or the inevitable hardships that will come, because I am Farran Briggs, sixth child, third daughter, and I will not give up.

You've told me to try and impress you through letters, and my answer to that is no. I can convince with words, but one can only impress with deeds. If you want to see me impress you, first you have to help me join the Exchange Project. I will gratefully accept your off to host me and the alliance that comes with it, and if you're both daring and clever enough to take the opportunity, you'll see just how I rise to the occasion.

I do, however, have a gift for you. Included with this letter should be a parcel containing my own handiwork. With it comes my challenged to you; accept it and help me, or send it back with a stain, tear, or singe in it and tell me to stay.

You'll quickly understand why.

Farran Briggs

She wouldn't be able to send the letter until she made and magicked the sash, and she wouldn't be able to do that until after Alaric returned from Abernathy's. Farran racked her brain, trying to recall the adults' Social Events calendar so she could determine the next tailor visit. Alaric was Hosting the Briggs Event next week, a Masquerade, and all the attire had been collected for that already, but she recalled Blair mentioning the Baron Dolivier's archery Event happening the week after that. So Alaric and the others may end at Abernathy's sometime this week in preparation for that Event.

And then Farran would have to stitch and weave like nobody ever had before.