Wrote a letter to Lady Maia:
"Why is there such suffering in the world?" it said.
Why should there be an answer? I'm no higher
than any other bard or priest or red-
faced clown. Just a man who sees before him
ages of defeated husks of rats
and denizen duels,and bloodied blades.
Only fishing eases my world-fever,
though gasping trout announce their misery
as I start a fire: that's history!


Penned by my hand on the 14th of Aeguary, in the year 607 AF.