Feyra took a seat too and old André opened the box. Most of the letters were on a pile and not sorted.
"My apologies. I've already mentioned that I have no one to share them with so they're a bit of a mess. I'll look through some of them too. What exactly are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for information on the lost princess, her death, the supposed criminal and everything surrounding this time.", Feyra answered taking the first letter.
As she opened it she saw that this letter was a love letter and put it to the side.
"Ah my wife's last love letter. She loved writing those even when she was on the deathbed. If you find them just put them aside. I can sort them later.", old André said also putting some to the side.
After that he finally found one and showed it to Feyra.
"My wife spoke of some diary the Alliance has that contains information of some of the first representatives when the Alliance was formed. Though she hasn't ever read it or doesn't know a lot of its contents she mentioned some things that are supposedly written in it."
Feyra took the letter and read it carefully.
Indeed some of those information or topics she mentions are from the time when the Alliance should have been formed. Though they speak of internal issues or political troubles with other nations it still seems there are some pages that only the person overlooking the archive knows.
Feyra studied the information and also noticed that a few things were written about the Empire.
The Empire was a name even Feyra knew as it had already endured far longer than even the Kingdom. The size of the Empire wasn't even known to a lot of people as it seemed to enclose more than just multiple nations or countries.
In the past Feyra wanted to also visit the Empire but was never allowed to leave the Kingdom so she was waiting for news from the princess when she visited. However, she never got a letter given the father would first read them and likely not even give them to Feyra.
"You should concentrate on your tasks rather than the princess.", he would often say and prepare the prayer hall.
Feyra couldn't say anything against him but had to endure.
Once the princess had returned she spoke of many things and the people she had met. Her parents and her had visited the Emperor and even the three Governors which had been implemented only a few years before Feyra was born.
The princess was so excited that she even gave Feyra a History lesson on the Empire and how with the last war they created a new system with three Governors overlooking three big areas.
This was supposed to help with overlooking the people and keeping uprisings down. The Emperor on the other hand would overlook the Governors and the court and manage the capital and some areas around it.
Feyra was sometimes glad she knew so much about history and politics thanks to how interested the princess had been. If it hadn't been for her Feyra would be struggling to understand what was going on now.
"Here is another letter specifically mentioning the princess.", old André interrupted her thoughts by putting another letter in front of her.
This letter truly contains some information on the princess. Oh! It even mentions why she is called 'The lost princess'. It seems that after her death her body went missing. However, more information are in the archive.
This is what the letter says roundabout. It seems like André's wife didn't work as closely with the archive together to gain all the details.
Feyra put the letter aside before looking at another letter that mentioned some troubles the Alliance had been facing years ago.
So people had started a riot and even tried to take farmland away to build a stronghold for their group.
However, the farmers didn't allow that and made short process of the riot ending it within a few weeks.
The people of the Alliance truly hold together. I guess I can understand the farmers now a little better. I should truly try to learn more about agriculture.
Feyra and old André spent hours sorting the letters and trying to find interesting information but many of them were more about things that happened within the Alliance or even how a criminal tried to escape the Empire knowing he would die. In the end he was caught by the Empire's people and executed for murdering a whole clan and some fishermen who had seen him.
"My wife had a lot to do... She often dealt with news from other nations. Often she expressed how much she hated the Kingdom and wished to destroy it. ", old André said before pausing for a while and looking out of the window.
Clouds formed in the sky and darkened it. The clouds swirled and rain started to hit the ground. Not long after and it was pouring before out of the swirling clouds a dragon came.
Feyra watched the dragon closely and noticed its wing had been injured and it was trying to escape.
Whatever this dragon has been through it wasn't anything good. Seems like it is fleeing trying to use the darkened sky to hide a bit. I hope it can recover again.
"A dragon. That's a rare sight. They often bring extreme weather phenomena with them when they're seen.", old André said.
"No. They only bring extreme weather phenomena with them if they need to flee or try to escape a fate of death.", Feyra corrected him. She had seen dragons before and even got to talk to them.
"You sure know a lot. I wonder... How are dragons normally then?"
Feyra looked at the letters in front of her for a while listening to the pitter and patter of the rain.
"If they aren't injured or fleeing then they're kind creatures that don't wish harm upon anyone who doesn't deserve it. You can't hold them as pets but they won't kill anyone if not threatened or..."
"Or?", old André seemed to be interested now.
"Or if a mother's newborn was taken by humans.", Feyra said looking out the window again. The rain was still pouring down and the clouds were still swirling. The sea would be rough at such a time.
"Is that all to it?"
"No. There was one dragon baby that was once taken from its mother and these people treated it cruelly until it eventually died of the pain and wounds inflicted upon it. Not only did these humans invite the wrath of a dragon mother but they also invited calamity upon them.
"The dragon mother burned their whole city down and the gods that watch over the dragons gave a warning by letting lightnings crush down.", Feyra made a short pause. This wasn't all there was to it.
"This was also the reason the sea had become rough almost all the time. The gods were furious and tried to protect the dragons as good as they could."
Old André looked at her quite surprised. He seemed to think of possibilities how Feyra was able to know all of that when she seemed to be so young.
"Let me ask you something. Are you really that young?"
Feyra was quiet for a moment. "No."
Silence filled the room and Alisha shortly came to bring them some glasses of water.
She looked between the two but didn't say anything before leaving again.
"I'm the lost princess' old friend who witnessed her death. I'm over 700 years old.", Feyra finally finished the sentence.
A smile appeared on old André's face. "I'm glad I got to know something my wife even didn't get to know. Now that we looked through these letters it's safe to say you better pay a visit to the Capital.", old André said standing up and walking to the bar. Alisha was a little surprised seeing old André in such a good mood after such a long time again.
"You haven't smiled in a long time. Ever since your wife died... Did something happen?", Alisha asked looking a little confused.
"Yes something good has happened. I've learned of something that I never expected. My wife would've been interested in it too."
He didn't mention any specifics and left Alisha guessing in her mind what that may be.
He returned to the table where Feyra was still sitting looking out of the window and watching the clouds change.
Old André put the letters back in the box and looked at Feyra.
This woman sitting there, as she looked out of the window, had a mysterious air around her with an undeniable beauty that one wouldn't see each day.
"Thank you again for helping me. I suppose you'll go on your journey and travel across the land for now. Do you want to take anything to eat with you?", he asked still looking at Feyra.
"No need. I want to save a bit of money and I also won't be traveling with this weather for now.", she finally turned her head again and offered a smile.
Old André nodded before he wanted to leave for the kitchen.
"Before you go... If you ever need help write a letter and tell the letter pigeon to look for a peculiar traveler with leather armour, a chainmail skirt and a peculiar hair colour."
"Thank you. I'll remember that."
After that she said goodbye and headed back to the inn.
"What do you want do?", Alisha asked old André. She still looked a little confused.
"I'm getting older and I don't know how much I still have. It's time I write down who should inherit our fortune."
"You trust her quite a lot, right?", Alisha asked being a bit torn between trusting Feyra and also being a little suspicious of her.
"Alisha... This woman... She isn't ordinary. If as they say Fallen Angels exist then she is one of them. She isn't lying."
Fallen Angels?, Alisha thought and old André left for the kitchen.
Feyra had just entered the inn as the receptionist waved her over to show her some bags.
"We have a variety of bags here. You can choose one of them. I already heard old André will pay for it."
Feyra looked at them and took one that had a strap going over her shoulder and being large enough to hold various items. It also wouldn't get in the way with the other bag which was smaller.
"Thank you. I'll take this one.", she said and the receptionist nodded with a smile.
"Please enjoy the rest of your stay.", she said and Feyra went back to her room.
I should've asked for a notebook too...
With that thought in mind she went back down to the receptionist and asked for a notebook and a pen.
Luckily the inn always had a few of these items.
Feyra now had a notebook and a pen too in which she could write down all the information she had gathered related to the princess and the various nations she visited.
Perhaps later she may also be able to start writing a diary but for now she just needed something to write down all the information.
The rain was still pouring down even late in the evening but the clouds had stopped swirling.
Feyra was sure the next morning she would be able to pack everything and start walking towards the next village which was already lying in the Alliance's territory.
Just as she had predicted the rain had stopped and so she took the map in her hand, left the inn and made her way further, away from the trading city and into the Alliance.
I'm lucky I have a map. Else I would get lost more than I wanted.
Most roads and paths were marked in the map making it easy to navigate but some also had warnings next to them mentioning that there had been strong monsters seen and anyone who would walk these paths should be careful.
Well I guess... Hopefully my luck is on my side for my travels.