How Could I Forget to Mystery

Dear One,   The magic my apprentices and I worked on me to send me over the Barrier wiped out everything I knew and still I was plagued with visions of your mother and father beside me. If I had to do the same thing to go back I think the first vision I'd have would be you striding out of a snow storm and catching me completely by surprise.   Perhaps the second would be how much better you handle your liqueur than I do. Your mother is like that too; she always could drink me under a table and Doraal would have to carry me to bed. I think I've become even more susceptible in my old age; soon it will be just tea and water for me. Maybe a few plain crackers if my teeth hold out.   Have I anchored you enough? Don't you drift away. Let yourself be entangled with Charlotte, Knotrael, Caravel. Or whoever else you are drawn to, of course!   Next time you face spiders you must tie your hair back. I know it feels so dashing and beautiful to have it all loose but nothing beats a good braid. A hood, maybe? The authors, bards, and illustrators will describe you with flowing hair regardless so you might as well be practical in the moment. These are practical lessons from centuries of experience.   I'm glad you're with Charlotte. I was just about to write you to ask after you and her. Are you staying in the village?   I've learned something I thought would make her smile - I looked up at the red moon through an extraordinarily clear telescope and found that the entire thing is made of the bloodmoon jade I asked her about. It's a nonsensical amount of the stuff considering how precious and rare it is here. I wonder if there are fragments that chipped off of the moon and fell to the ground here. Under what circumstances does this stone form that it might have been created deep in the earth as well as in the heavens? I'll never finish any of my work if I keep getting distracted by questions like these.   Does Charlotte know of Rabiya? It occurs to me that perhaps she's met him. He is a travelling merchant who told me how to cross the former-Desolation and I think you and he would get along well. I don't know where he would be now but if you are feeling the tug of adventure and new stories, I'd suggest finding him. I've also met a fae that you'd get along with - he, too, has some gaps in his memory.   Stay safe; put your hair up. Heiassa