Tehr sat down and read the letters, but decided to wait and think on the matters for a little while.  Something was tickling at the edges of his mind.  Something that suggested that there was much more going on beneath the surface than was obvious.  That was almost to be expected of course, but there was more to it than normal.  He felt as if there were the gears and machinations of a great trap moving beneath the surface here.  The 'chance' meeting with a servant of Saari, the visit from d'Dale, and then the rescue of d'Farel earlier.  The first one of those three he could chalk up to coincidence, but the other two, he was disturbed.<br/><br/>The second letter was disturbing for a second reason.  While it would be pleasant to have his sister living close by, he wondered if this was sanctioned by mother.  He didn't want to get involved in a fight between the only two women that he really and truly loved.  He could never pick a side when his family argued, and had always been fairly good at riding the fence in such disagreements, and in truth often been the peace maker.  Nothing in either of the two letters implicitly said that there was any problems between mother and sister, but it was odd.  The fact that Maria wanted to 'find a young charming man' was lightly disturbing.  Certainly not all marriages for nobility were arranged or were for house politicking, but it was unfortunately the duty of a noble to be prepared to do so.  Was his sister shirking her one and only true duty in life?  Was she running from an arranged marriage?  At twenty one years of age, she should be looking for a husband now, one that would strengthen the house.  But Tehr didn't know much about the mysterious fiancee that Maria had been corresponding with for months now.  Some duke of Gemania, recently come to power, that's all he knew.<br/><br/>He sat down to write letters and composed the letter to his mother first.<br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote from: Mother's Letter</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Mother,<br/>I've several thoughts on those three bids and ask you to delay for now.  I've had some insight into all three of those offers and don't wish to make a judgement on them yet.  Allow me to say that if you must make a decision sooner rather than later, I'll remind you that Wynt and Farel have had a long history of mutual respect and gain.  But that being said, if you can delay, please do so.  <br/>I have one other question for you.  Maria writes that she is going to be coming to Londinium and it sounds like she plans to stay for a while.  There is an implication that she is unhappy with her current fiancee and may be seeking a new one, possibly without your approval?  I do not wish to get into a squabble you two may be having, but she's asked me to find her a place to live.  I need to know what the situation is, if I don't hear from you I'll have to help her out.<br/>Love, Tehr</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote from: Maria's Letter</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Maria,<br/>I will do my utmost to have a place ready for you, but a week is not much time.  You may have to stay at my home for a short while.  I've written to mother, but I must ask you, why have you been looking for a new fiancee?  Is everything ok?  You and mother aren't fighting again are you?  I look forward to seeing you again.<br/>Love, Tehr</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Tehr sprinkled sand on the letters to soak up any extra ink and let them dry for a few minutes before sealing the letters with his mark. Calling for a servant he made sure that both letters would be sent off immediately.<br/><br/>Tehr had just started to contemplate the blue magic book when a knock at the door heralded the runner boy.  He thanked the boy, and then in a moment of generosity, presented the boy with a silver coin.  He then smiled and led the boy to the kitchen.  A servant was preparing dinner for this evening, Tehr couldn't recall if Tera was joining him for dinner or afterwards, and asked the servant, who would of course know how many people the meal would be for.  Then he instructed the chef to feed the boy as much as his belly would hold, and then send him on his way with a loaf of bread.  Entrusting the servants to know better than to let a street rat move about his home unattended, he thanked the boy and left him in the care of the servant.  As the boy turned to the chef, Tehr made a quick motion to the servant, quietly instructing her to keep a close eye on the boy.  Street urchins often had sticky fingers, and the fact that he paid the boy well wasn't any guarantee that the boy would behave.  Keen eyes would however.<br/><br/>Tehr returned to his study and put the sack of gold in his desk before locking it.  He looked at the drawer of his desk that held the tome of blue magic and sighed.  As much as he wanted to start translating it again, he needed to do something else now.  Going out to the stables he saddled his horse himself, a menial task, but one that he found pleasant.  His horse Blondie was a good beast, well trained and gentle of soul.  In addition, despite the smell, he enjoyed the way a stable made him feel.  He felt like a common man, but in a good way.  One couldn't help but be humbled when they stood next to a powerful horse.  Mounting Blondie, he set out.  He needed to head down to the jail and find the 'robber' that he'd help catch earlier.  He wanted to ask the man a question or two, and the charm person spell in his mind would help with that.