Entry 77: A week of peace

by Hayley Thomas

Dear diary,

It’s been a week since we returned from the twisted halls of Neverhold, and for the first time in what feels like forever, life has slowed down enough to let me breathe. No monsters, no magic duels, no scheming nobles or cryptic hags. Just... home. And gods, I hadn’t realized how much I missed it.

Most of my days have been spent making up for lost time in the village—checking in on people, listening to grievances big and small, ensuring everyone feels seen and heard. It’s a duty I chose, and one I’ve been neglecting for too long. Thankfully, nothing catastrophic happened while we were away. A few broken fences, a squabble over livestock, but nothing that couldn't be soothed with a calm word and a patient ear. It feels good to be useful in this quiet, honest way.

I also made time to visit Rachnar—my favorite drinking partner and one of the few people in this world who doesn’t expect me to be anything more than myself. We laughed, swapped stories, and for a moment, I forgot about cursed tournaments and Feywild politics.

Of course, the dagger didn’t let me rest for long. I’ve been working to unravel more of its secrets, and I finally uncovered the next step: an offering at a shrine to Sister Willow. Predictably, it's something I would have done anyway. Fortunately, we already know of a shrine not far from Keralon—familiar ground, if not entirely safe.

I then performed a ritual to reach Sister Willow herself. I hoped for clarity. I got... something close. As always, her answers were riddles more than truths. Still, I learned enough. She told me I could trust Rootskewer—something I’d suspected but needed to hear. As for the temple… she warned me to tread carefully. It’s dangerous, and not just in the obvious ways. My plan to free her from whatever binds her will have to wait. She doesn’t want that. Not yet.

One morning, I gathered everyone—not just to tell them about my trip to the shrine, but to steer them away from something far more delicate. Dynia.

For reasons I couldn’t fully explain—not without unraveling things that must remain hidden—I asked them to drop the investigation into the charm protecting her. I could feel the questions bubbling up behind their eyes, especially from Gael. But somehow, I convinced them. I told them it was for Dynia’s safety. That it was in all of our best interests to leave the charm alone, at least for now.

And they listened.

For now, that’s enough.

On the evening of the third of Mannan, we made our way to Elsa and Thalian’s estate for dinner. It had all the makings of a social trap wrapped in silverware and polite smiles—and that was before Luke decided to bring Lumiria along.

As expected, the moment we stepped inside, the air turned heavy with unspoken words. Every glance between Luke and Elsa pulsed with the kind of history that doesn’t need to be said aloud—eyes lingering a moment too long, silences stretching just a little too far. Blushes. Awkward laughter. The kind of small talk that desperately tries to cover a chasm.

Thankfully, Alistan, ever the conversational tactician, redirected us. He guided the talk toward Thalian’s family—rich merchants who had apparently used their coin to climb their way into nobility. It’s always the same story, isn’t it? If you have enough gold, doors swing open, titles change hands, and suddenly you're dining with kings. Not that I blamed Thalian for it. He seemed more practical than prideful.

The subject of the upcoming wedding came up too. The date’s been set for next summer, and of course, we’re all invited. In the same breath—like it was the most natural thing in the world—Thalian casually offered up some of his siblings for Alistan and Liliana to marry. I could almost hear the gears turning behind the offer, alliances being weighed like market goods. But both of them shut that down swiftly—Alistan with his usual calm dignity, and Liliana with a firm but polite refusal. “We’re spoken for,” they said, and left it at that.

Later, as we walked back under the darkening sky, I reached for Liliana’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. I know how much pressure her family puts on her, how quickly they’d leap at the chance to marry her into a noble house, especially one dripping in coin. But tonight, she didn’t cave. Tonight, she chose herself. And that… that meant everything.

Continue reading...

Entry one: The trials

Entry two: The bramble

Entry 3: Rosebloom

Entry 4: Hearts and Dreams

Entry 5: of ghosts and wolves

Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae

Entry 7: mysteries and pastries

Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse
6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

Entry 9: A betrayal of satyrs
7th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 10: The fate of twins
8th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 11: Cursed twins
10th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 12: Loss and despair
11th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Hayley's rules to being a Witch

Entry 13: the price of safety
12th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower
13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 15: A trial by fire
14th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 16: Keralon
15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Letter to Luke 1

Letter to Luke 2

Letter to Luke 3

Letter to Luke 4

Letter to Luke 5

Letter to Luke 6

Entry 17: I shall wear midnight
1st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 18: peace in our time
2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 19: Caern Fussil falls
3rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 20: I see fire
4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 21: Cultists twarted
10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 22: Ravensfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 23: The Hollow Hill Horror
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 24: Burn your village
16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 25: Ravensfield burns
17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 26: There will be blood!
21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 27: A happy reunion
22nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 28: The embassy ball
23rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 29: The fate of Robert Talespinner
24th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 30: A royal summons
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 31: of Dogville and Geese
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 32: A boggle named Pim
30th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 33: A deal broken
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 34: The cost of doing what is right
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 35: A dish best served cold
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

entry 36: Cornu returns?
10th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 37: A letter from Amarra
11th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 38: The case of the (not) missing villagers
14th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 39: A curse broken
15th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 40: Into the Lorewood
18th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 41: Cabin in the Woods
19th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 42: Myrdin and Anaya
20th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 43: Into the Immerglade
21st of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 44: A tale as old as time
22nd of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 45: The truth
23rd of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 46: Luke's Ordeal
24th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 47: The festival
26th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 48: Trouble at the Cathedral
2nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 49: Quinn's court
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 50: onwards to Latebra Velora
5th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 51: Where is my cow?
6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 52: Here be dragons
7th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 53: Dragon hoard with a side of scarabs
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone
9th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 55: Return to Ravensfield
10th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 56: The needs of the many...
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 57: Dreams of Sister Willow
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 58: wetlands be wet
13th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 59: Baron Perenolde
14th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 60: Talebra Velora and the lady Morenthene
15th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 61: Cypria
16th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight
17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 63: Return to Talebra Velora
18th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 64: Your presence is “requested”
19th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 65: I stand alone
20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 66: A day of normalcy
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 67: Into the Neverhold
22nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 68: The Warg King

Entry 69: Chased by birds

Entry 70: Whitewail

Entry 71: Nimmerhold

Entry 72: The menagerie
29th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 73: To the library!
30th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 74: The people's tournament
First of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 75: Nimmerhold party
First of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 76, The return home
Second of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 77: A week of peace
10th of Mannan

Entry 78: The tomb of the First King
11th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 77: A week of peace

Continue reading...

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies