Well I think he is feeling better. He isnt coughing as much as he was a few days ago. I still dont know if he will make it to the gala thing tonight though. Going alone just doesnt sound to appealing so if he cant go I doubt I will stay long IF I go at all.

I guess the visit from Alterio went smoothly. He hasnt said much about it. He says they talked for a short while then Alterio left. I dont question him, if he wants me to know anything I guess he will tell me. I think he was happy to see him though. I know he hasnt seen him much since we got married. Alterio doesnt come to visit him and they are seldom at dome at the same time.

And last night at dome, Alterio and I actually talked for a while and he didnt want to rip my head off. I dont think he is over me marrying his father though. And when I healed his hands it made me queasy so I ran out of dome. When i started back inside he was at the door asking if i was with child. He didnt seem to happy thinking I might be. BUT im not and had to tell him a dozen times. I have no intentions of having another child. Not any time in the near future -if- ever.

Its funny but i do still have feelings for Alterio. Feelings that i will keep hidden. I care for my husband also and wouldnt want to hurt him. Last night at dome I was kinda shocked when Alterio told me he still liked me even after all the times i had hurt him. I never meant to hurt him. But he hurt me also over and over again. I dont think either of us meant to hurt each other. I was just tired of being rejected constantly. I think he does still have feelings for me though, just as I do for him. He just doesnt want to admit he cares.

Well I have neglected the shop the last few days to stay home and care for my husband. I need to go there for a short while this morning to see about some things. I should be back by lunch time however. Then to decided if im going to that thing at dome tonight and what im going to wear IF i do go.

Journal Entry, 19 January, Vixen

"she signs it and waits for it to dry before she closes it and slips it in the desk drawer"

*After returning from an overnight in Achethe, she slept in most of the day, something she's indulged in doing maybe three times in her life..more than required sleep-taking. Rising, she looks out on the Academy grounds, approves as she watches the more experienced Knights instructing the pages, and after leaving the window, write an entry in her book.*

I tried to purchase a new spellbook I'd heard of back in Achethe, but the market was snowed in. Snow. Hadn't seen it in a while, and didn't think I'd miss it. I'm coming to terms with the fact that to keep my Knights competitive, I'll have to reenlist them on a six-month basis; six months on the Island, six months on the Mainland. Because when you're in such an indulgent climate as this, you forget what the cold can do.

My knees are aching. My skin feels raw. This is what led me to take to bed for so long..and I don't like these aftereffects. Spoiled, that's what this constant sun and heat does to the body. An everlasting holiday is this, and little work gets done.

*She is interrupted by a rapping at the door, a rapping with urgency. She glances up and calls "Enter", and is informed that one of the pages outside succumbed to heatstroke. Her lips press into a thin, bloodless line, and she then gives the orders to burn the body on the beach of the North End. What sense is there leaving a soon-to-rot corpse around? Plus, he wasn't a True Knight. Not yet. "The cost of doing business", she sighs, and returns to her writing.*

All right, I stand corrected. There are consequences to the climate. But this feels like a cheap death..It's not as painful I would imagine as freezing to death back at home, where you get caught in a blizzard and your platemail attaches itself to your skin, bonding to it..and you rot inside. You're not found until spring thaw. Here you can cook inside a set of platemail, or get sick if rust enters a cut. It does rust quickly here.

So, what does the future hold, Aemelia? Take the Island by force, taking the riches back home, claiming the entire island in the Emperor's name, striking a victory against the resistance? Or staying here as has been done almost a year now, feeling a detachment as this is not a true 'home'?

For the first time I can recall, I'm not sure.
I just don't know. It's likely the damned heat seeping and dampening my path of thought, making it hard to navigate.

We'll see what happens.

Journal Entry, 19 January, First Knight Aemelia Trione.

"she finishes the last of her wine and rises to leave for home as the dance starts, wanting to check on her husband and she is a bit tired herself..she enters the manor quietly so as to not wake up anyone and slips her shoes off just inside the door and tiptoes up stairs. She opens the door as quietly as she can and sets the shoes down as she looks at her husband and smiles seeing that he is sleeping peacefully. She hangs his jacket up and removes her gown and frowns at it then sits down to write quickly in her journal"

I think the gala was a bit to much for him after him being ill the last few days. Or maybe the oysters he ate to many off "She smirks as she remembers that she told him to not eat to many cuse they would make him 'orny" Well they made him sick. He had to go home soon afterwards. I think he had a good time though. But he didnt seem to like my gown and I worked hard on it hoping it would please him. He put his jacket around me and buttoned it. Gods it was hot in Dome but i kept it on.. I left when the dance started. I didnt feel like being there alone. And i wanted to see that he was alright as well. "she smiles as she looks at the pearl he gave her" He did find a pink pearl in the oyster and I found a blue one. It was a great event and i hope he had fun.

I hope he is feeling better tomorrow.

Journal Entry, 20 January, Vixen

"she shoves the journal over to the middle of the desk leaving it open to dry and places the pearls in her jewelry box and puts it away..she yawns and kicks the gown out of her way as she slips into bed beside him. She snuggles close to him and kisses his cheek lightly. She watches him sleep for a moment then smiles as she drifts off to sleep"

*she rubs the sleep out of her eyes and climbs out of bed, walking over to her desk in her bare feet, taking a second to glance at the dress hanging on her door and smiling before she takes a seat, pulling out her journal*

Dearest Journal,
What a night. I know that usually this type of phrase is followed by some terrible event that has occured but not this time. Last night at the dome there was a Gala. The dome was transformed into a very sophisticated and classy place, with trumpeters signaling each person's arrival, it was spectacular. To say that I wasn't nervous about attending would be a lie, I was completely nervous, especially wearing that dress, I never usually dare to wear something so revealing but it was a special occasion and I believe that is was all worth it, perhaps it added to the magic of the evening. *smiles to herself* Mags is really going to kill me now. My date for the Gala was Neo and he turned out to be the most perfect gentleman and very charming, not what most would expect from him, but he seemed sincere in the things that he as saying, he said a lot. We drank white wine and talked, we danced as snow fell on our heads and he kissed me as the music came to a close, it was all very magical, I couldn't have asked for a better night, nor a better person to share it with.

*sighs* This is going to be difficult for me to talk to Attrei about, but I think that I have to, whenever he comes around next that is, we are no longer courting but for some reason I think that I should explain my actions to him, maybe I don't have to, but we will see. *smiles again* Well Journal that is all I shall write, I know that I couldn't put into words just what a good time was had by all but I tried, so until we meet again.

Journal Entry, 20 January, Rosalyn Lovine

*she lays the journal laying on the desk and begins getting ready to head to her shop*

::sits in his study after having quite a shock::

Journal,
By the gods I had the shock of my life!! As routine goes, I walk Rosalyn home almost every eve, then retire after I see her home safely. I had repeated this last eve, and went to my Beach House as I always do. I went into the kitchen and up the stairs to the master bedroom, and got undressed to find myphallus was the siaze of a raisin!! A RAISIN! Oy, it almost made my heart stop I tell you. Luckily it must have been a spell because it returned to its normal size just a few minutes after discovery. WHEW! I do beleive it must have been Charquin... *laughs* She was the only mage at the dome beside myself last eve. She will get hers.. I assure you Journal...*laughs a bit more* she will get hers.

Journal Entry, 21 January, (Lord)~Neo~

::lays his journal aside and steps out for the day::

:: dusts off his journal and begins to write. ::

Dear Journal,
It's been quite some time since I wrote. I have not been to the dome for around two days. I'm not sure if I tire of the place or I just have not had the time to journey there.I was at the dome rather late that eve. Nothing really happened. I missed Chastity, but luckily I saw her today. It has been a long time since we've seen each other. I hope Raven is okay, she' been sick for a while, but I'm sure that she'll be alright sooner or later. Well, I guess that's it for today.

Journal Entry, 21 January, Eden Arcane

:: closes the journal and puts it down on his desk. ::

Memo

1. Ask about the blueprints for bank.
2. Manage to 'borrow' 10,000 gold pieces from a rich lady.
3. Disguise myself as a woman and marry one of the Carazzis then divorce him and demand half of his gold.
4. Clean my ears.
5. Recover 3 gold pieces Donk owes me.

::He slips it into his pocket and empties the gp's in his pouch to continue to beg for more while sitting in front of the dome::

--Memo to self, 21 January, Simon Wishka.

*She's unable to sleep, and steals off to the back room of the rented keep. Digging her journal up from the sand floor, she writes, in brief, what's on her mind*

I wonder if I'm doing as I'm supposed to. I smile, I stay relatively quiet (which isn't my nature at all!) and I do as he asks. What I can't do, I secretly arrange to have done, like the cooking. And the cleaning, and the laundry. I just don't know why he doesn't show me the same affection that the old man with the bum leg showed the less-pretty than me slave. What am I doing wrong?

I asked Vixen in passing, "what have you ever seen that slave do that got her Master's attention." Vixen rolled her eyes and said something about how Jasmin would kneel on a cushion and get drinks for him, but also do disobedient things too.

Well maybe a little disobedience might get a rise out of my Master. Anger is attention, and some attention is better than no attention, hmm?

*stashing the journal away, she goes to her bedroom and primps. Hair coiffed, she stains her lips with berries, making them dark red and full, poutier than normal. Her dress, although not too revealing, fits perfectly. She shines her collar and slips out for a walk this night to clear her head and maybe find some trouble*

Journal Entry, 21 January, Cipriana{NC}