CarnivalDayFourJulianaCorrespondance
From IMiA
Letters waiting for Juliana when she returns from the Castle.
Juliana,
Everyone is as fine as can be expected. Everyone understands they have to keep their heads down. I believe we've all learned this lesson the hard way. James says Dane's gone missing???? Also that your boy was questioned by the watch, or some such? He's a handsome fine young man, I wish they'd let him be. And Wesson's, of course, but who cares? I, for one, am looking forward to the end of this Carnival madness.
Janet
_Postscript: Oh, and love, we may need to pressure James a bit about the suit for the Dew Quarter bash. You might want to wile on him a bit, next he's about._
Your Grace,
Nothing new on the artist. She didn't put any new caricatures up. If I was to guess, she's laying low because Dane was out for her. Repressed, that's what Dane is.
So, word is you're having a party. I got some fellas who make good doormen.
Drew
Juliana,
The artist girl is missing. Her landlord was killed. James found the place, like you said, but he wasn't watching it. Drew says the watch was looking into breakins there, before. Says the girl is Beatrice, and her mum just died of late, a laundress. Poor thing. We're blessed we don't live in Southside anymore, and nothing bad has ever happened to any of our girls, thank the Unicorn.
Other than that, nothing new love. Cheryl says you're out on business. What is going on? I don't like the smell around here, these last few days. James has boys sleeping down in the shop at night. Wants to get a nasty old dog to guard the place.
Janet
My lady,
I should have watched the place. Janet says she told all already, but I didn't tell her. Whoever went after that girl, there was more than one. Broken glass, and that landlord was base gutted, my lady. That was a message. They dinna need to be killing him the way they did.
I'm about Wessons like I'm about the Flowers girls, and that's that. They say the pub will be open as soon as they can make it ready - so it goes, so it goes.
They took Van Alliki in and let him out. Didn't ask. Figure he'll tell ya.
Our friends are making a good profit, but it is Carnival. But more than usual. The thugs are out and only the good cops are poor and sober. The usual, just more. Some new young watch officer in town - a girl, they say. Say she has a kid. I don't think she'll make it long. Hope I'm wrong, I'd lose that bet with my hat on.
People are saying they saw the ghost of Prince Edmund and that he horrificly slain some cutthroats in Southside. Janet thought she saw a ghostie the other night, but I think it's just all this talk. Maybe just one of them other princes and some magic, and not a dead prince, I'm to thinking.
Now the bad news. Word is that men working for Gavin Merrick are in town. Tell me what you want.
I might not be the brightest man, but you can tell my wife she can stop her lies about security being dressed up like guests at your party for the girls.
Yours, James
Letters Juliana sends out, Day 4
Janet,
If that girl is on the streets I want her found. I feel sick thinking about what may have happened to her, but that sounds like a kidnapping where the landlord got in the way, doesn't it? What would someone want with a laundress's daughter, but to sell her out in the reaches, I suppose.
Please, try to find out who is in dock. We'll try to buy her, if that's what we need to do. Any of them, if we find out they're selling women out of Southside. The crown would stop that in a second, if we could but get some proof of it.
~J.
James,
Find out if Merrick's men are in the City and *what* they're doing. He can't think he's taking on this challenge by his merry self, can he?
I'll be shopping in the Merchant Quarter tomorrow. I should be safe enough there with these two house guards Phillip has hired - not to mention the weir I appear to have on consignment - oh - and my good-sister. Catch me there, or send someone with a note if you find out anything.
~J
Drew,
What do I have to do to get more people on the street in Southside to protect the girls? Do I have to finance my own private army? I'm so frustrated. What are your superiors saying? Is there no funding, or is that just an excuse? Maybe it's time to start exposing those who take money over honor.
The bloody damn party - talk to the Duke if you want a job. If you can get past him, you're in. He's in charge of security. I'm in charge of prettyness and greed.
~J
-- Main.LizTrumitch - 21 Oct 2004
