A few minutes after Lilou left Elias who had went back to the carriage to fetch the parcel concerning his inheritance from his great aunt Milonia returned. Amondo had spent the intervening time talking to his ward Rachana about the funeral and planning for a return visit to Mutnep.
"It would be best perhaps if I returned alone first, people will begin to talk if we keep escaping to the dungeon together even if Elean or another servant accompanies us."
"If that is the case, Milord, it might be best if you brought some else such as you sister or one of your retinues into your confidence where the dungeon is concerned."
"Perhaps but it would be best I think to consult Mutnep before doing anything of the sort."
"I agree, if you must go alone then I insist you take me along the time after that or I might, sorry I shouldn't even be thinking such a thing never mind speaking such thoughts aloud."
"That's alright I forgive you this time but I was only thinking of what is best for you, perhaps it is time for me to start looking for a match for you. Do not worry I would never think to pressure you into one that you were opposed to, I am not that sort of guardian."
"I would think not but when it comes to my futures prospects they are rather tricky don't you think, Kver is never going to attract anyone of means, perhaps a second or third son of a minor noble or the sort of low born nuptial adventurer that fools or clueless romantics might fall for."
"Do not worry so Rachana I am sure I can find you someone much better than that for you, though it might take some time. What about Stibor or even Elias either of them might make you a good match don't you think, well within it comes to my retinue anyway."
"You wound me, sir I do not think Elias will ever marry again though it is a shame I think, he is not for the likes of me but there must be many a respectable matron out their just waiting for a man like him to sweep them off their feet. Why you even thought of including Stibor as a potential spouse for me or anyone else is a mystery, I pity the woman who ends up with him. As for the rest that you have surrounded yourself with, if only he wasn't so old, stuck in his way and already married then Erdal is I think the closest you could find to a reasonable match for me, here about at least."
"I never thought for a moment that anyone even you would ever consider a man like Erdal, his wife excluded of course I cannot see her ever being matched with anyone else. Elias your back, we were just talking about you, weren't we Rachana."
While they were talking Elias had rather silently returned with a small parcel in hand.
"Nothing too untoward I hope milord?"
"No not at all Elias we were just discussing my matrimonial prospects and your name came up is all. I shot it down right away sir once is enough for you, I think."
"Never you mind young lady, stranger things have happened you know. I have after all seen the most staunch old bachelor that I ever meet become weak at the knees after meeting his future bride but you might be right when it comes to me I think."
"Rachana we will continue our talk later; the harvest festival is tomorrow so it will be the day after before I get around to that thing we discussed. Do not forget to go and visit Nazma to congratulate her on the birth of her daughter and be introduced to Myrna, she is a rather hardy baby I am told. After that Daphne and her lot have already returned home but I am sure the rest of them would enjoy talking to you about the funeral and everything else you got up to."
"Until later then milord, Elias thanks once again for accompanying Lilou and myself to the funeral, despite the circumstances I enjoyed myself thoroughly, good day."
As soon as she had left Elias handed the parcel over to Amondo who opened it to reveal a document pouch and an envelope with his name on that he opened and then proceeded to read it.
Dearest Grand Nephew,
If you are reading this then I am almost certainly dead and you face an uncertain future. I have met your brother, but he has a known left you in a bit of a bind that you may not be able to find your way out of. I have always intended to leave you what I now do, of my admittedly short number of male relatives I find you the most suitable. Even before Arne's descent into madness I never thought much of him.
My Nephew might delude himself into thinking he will recover but I do not share his sentiments. I have advised him to marry Arne off to someone who wouldn't mind his condition even if she would I think have to come from below our families station in life and preferably with no remaining relations or at least a few of them as possible. There are I am told medicines that can temporarily render him calm enough to procreate whether he wishes to or not.
I fear Levan will never allow this and when he too inevitably passes on then less other arranges are made and or Arne predeceases him it will be up to you to look after him and or the country. As you are reading this I am sure the possibility which has until now been remote is playing upon your mind.
Enough of my incessant ramblings, that is hopefully years in the future and for them to matter you need to be alive or able to pass on the burden to your future son and heir. Perhaps in its way, this inheritance will help this eventuality become reality.
Now down to details you or those associated with you have I imagined never heard of the Fulbright mercantile venture. And there isn't any reason why you should have for it is not the usual sort of mercantile company found anywhere in the Empire. Thought in the future they will I imagine become more commonplace. The Elves perhaps and certainly the dwarfs have I imagine made use of similar arrangements but that is beside the point.
Fulbright was formed nearly eighty years ago by my late husband's father Walter and certain others of his acquaintance to invest in business belonging to others. In exchange for this, they were given a certain percentage of the profits and other incentives which they shared equally amongst Fulbright's owners.
They invested in a number of businesses and individuals over the years and continue to do so I am told. Fulbright didn't retain the shares of all the company's they invested in, having sold some of them for various reasons. My father in law left nine percent of Fulbright to his son but for reasons, I won't go into here he left his remaining one percent to me.
There was a point a little over a decade ago that my single percent in Fulbright yielded me over two thousand gold a year. Alas in recent years I am lucky to receive one and a half. It seems the current generations running some of the business Fulbright own a share of are not up to the standards of their fathers and grandfathers. And yes we have looked into it and other than a single occurrence they are not short-changing us or at least no more than their ancestors did.
Together with this letter, you will receive a document detailing the transfer of my share in Fulbright to you. To make it final all that is needed is for you, your man of business Shere Rokes or one of his sons to present the document to the Fulbright Mercantile venture's lawyer Wilmer Bluehan in his offices in the imperial capital within three months of my death together with the gift I sent you a few years ago.
I realise that you have perhaps purposely or not lost it in the intervening years. If this is the case, then I am sorry, but the share will then belong to another. It is also possible that it will take to long for the gift to make its way from wherever you have left it to the capital, again if this is the case then I am sorry.
Signed
Milonia Crupen