Entry 3: Rosebloom

Dear Diary,
 
Today turned out to be a bit of a dreary day, the weather has turned cold and damp, the kind of weather that soaks and chills you to the bone, even though it is not really raining. The sort of weather you sometimes can expect at this time of year, a last stab of winter to remind the people that life is not always sunshine and rainbows, and that hard times will return. It puts a damper on morale, and while I am aware these cold spells can happen even now that spring has come, I cannot shake the feeling it is unnatural. That the events we have witnessed are all connected somehow, and this is just a foreshadowing of something worse to come. Luke would say I’m too much of a pessimist, but while he’s intelligent, he doesn’t have a witch’s instincts, to see things for what they are, instead of seeing what you expect to see.
 
But as per usual, I get a bit ahead of myself. Both the evening and night were rather uneventful. Robert Talespinner, the bard Gael saved from the reynards (yes we all had a hand in this but the real hero is Gael) told us how he had come to be on the road here. He had been wanting to attend our festival but somehow got stuck on the road and never made it. So he had decided to turn back to Hillfield when the Reynards had shown up demanding a toll. As he couldn’t pay them, they got aggressive, but you already know that part. Other than that, he spent the evening telling stories, while Liliana gave an amazing singing performance, accompanied by Alistan’s violin.
 
 
The next morning I told Luke that I wanted to have a word with Elsa, so he would have to ride at the front with the rest. I think he was a bit worried I would talk about him to the young noble, but always the good sport, he didn’t argue. He needed to be worried either, I am not interested in discussing his love life with anyone but himself. No, the fact that she sleeps so much intrigues me and I want to get to the bottom of that. Alistan seemed to have similar questions, but he seemed to be satisfied with the answer that she always sleeps that much. So this is how I found myself riding a cozy carriage, watching a sleeping girl, while the rest had to endure the sudden change in weather. Some of them gave me looks at noon, thinking I had chosen to ride the carriage because of the weather. It just shows how little they know of me. The weather doesn’t bother me, it’s part of our lives and witches are made of sturdier stuff. I took the time to write a bit in my journal and contemplate the events of the past days, waiting for Elsa to wake up. When she eventually did, she was surprised to find me there. So I explained why I had chosen to spend the morning with her, asking about her sleeping habits. Apparently she has always done this, sleeping half of the day, much to the displeasure of her mother. She also knows she will have to change this habit once we reach Keralon. Becoming a sorceress of any meaning will not allow her such luxuries. Mostly satisfied with these answers we spent the rest of the morning with some food and drinks, and playing chess.
 
When noon came, the camping was somber and silent. The others told me of how the forest had seemed dreadful to them all day, which only confirms the feeling I have. None of these events are natural and they are related. I will have to keep an eye out. I switched places with Luke again, so he could ride in the comfortable carriage with his beloved Elsa, while I curled up in my blanket on our own cart, sharing my mind and vision with Fiachna, to better observe our surroundings.
 
The rest of the day, while cold and wet, passed uneventfully, and when the sun started setting, it suddenly started getting warmer again, still damp, but warm. I first thought this had to be connected to the rest, again this sudden change in weather, but it turns out the valley we are camping in tonight has its own microclimate. At least that is what Luke told us.
We had reached the valley and village of Rosebloom. A hamlet rather than a village though, with a single street and a handful of houses. But so beautiful in its eternal spring, with thornless roses growing along all of the houses. Due to a pool of boiling water at the edge of the village, and I assume more of it underneath the rest of the valley, the weather here is always warmer and wet. The only other important feature of the valley of eternal spring, is a castle sitting on the opposite side, more like a palace, small and elegant and beautiful.
 
Onvyr let us know that he had arranged for us to camp at the edge of the village tonight, something I guess he could have informed us off beforehand. And then sent us into the village to find Hector’s store to inform him we have arrived and to gather the supplies he had arranged for. Hector being the unofficial leader of the village. Finding his house wasn’t hard, as it is the largest one in the hamlet. The inside was filled with boxes of goods and supplies, and a young shy little girl named Anna, who dropped the book she had been reading to get her grandfather, Hector. The older man greeted us warmly and showed us the supplies Onvyr had arranged for us. When we arrived back at the camp, a small party involving the rest of the villagers and the caravan had already broken out, and of course the rest joined in eagerly, especially Liliana and Alistan. I wonder if they know that being a knight involves a lot less partying and a lot more doing your duty. On the other hand, maybe they are right to indulge in the good things of life while they can. Who am I to judge what they enjoy?
 
As these parties are not really my thing, I decided to take the opportunity to have a stroll around the village and valley, and up to the castle. In the village there is not much to see except the lovely thornless rose bushes and the boiling pool. The pool itself is a fissure in the ground which is filled up with water. Luke had told us it is a remnant from the time the world was destroyed and remade. As I checked it out, I noticed movement in the steam surrounding the fissure and recognised the shapes as steam mephits, little elementals with a volatile temper. So best to leave them be.
 
The only other interesting thing to see in the valley is the castle so I headed in that direction. Before long I noticed Gael and Dadroz also heading that way, so I waited on the side of the path for them to catch up. It doesn’t surprise me that they had decided to skip the party also, especially Gael. Maybe I need to spend more time with the elf. As we approached the castle, we noticed how new and pristine it looked, as if it had been built yesterday, or if someone spent a lot of time cleaning it. As the other two stood there admiring the stonework, I used the knocker to announce our arrival. Shortly after the door was answered by an older man, the butler I presume and I explained who we were and why we had come. Before he could go and tell his master of our arrival however, the lord of the castle showed up at the door himself. A young knight named Flinn. And when I say young knight, this man seemed to have stepped straight out of the fairy tales. A genuine prince charming.
 
Flinn invited us in, to share a meal with him. He truly was a wonderful host and the first knight I have come to admire I admit. He really seems to be the romantic ideal. Flinn told us he had been given the valley and castle by the king himself, for performing vital duties. But now he is rather bored as the village runs itself and the hunters take care of all the threats. He doesn’t even join the party in the village because he knows the villagers will act differently around him. All of this is very noble of him, and I suggested that this gives him leeway to find his own path here, seeing as he doesn’t really have many duties he needs to attend to. The rest of the evening, and a good part of the night, we spent on food and talking. I left the questioning mostly to my companions, while enjoying their presence and a good meal. Gael asked me what I intended to do in Keralon, and he was a bit disappointed by my reply I am afraid. But it made me think. With all that is going on, it feels wrong to be away from home, to not be able to help or solve this riddle. I hope by the time I come back, it won’t be too late.
 
It was well after midnight when we finally decided to go to bed, so I sent Fiachna to alert Luke that we would be staying here so he needed worry. Not that I think he would. He probably spent the entire evening hanging on Elsa’s every word, dancing the night away in her arms.
 
Dated 2nd of Lug, Year 121 era of the Tree