Mint Tea and Companionship Invitations
Monday, November 9, 2026
Locations: Turmus (Nile River), Port Olni, and Shades of Turmus
All times SLT
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4:04–5:33 a.m. | Odette’s Tea Room, Turmus — RP
Cherry Audax arrived in a flurry, and Odette knew right away to put on her usual mint tea. We joined Uhtred of Babenburgh at his table after he assured us, with a straight enough face, that he had bathed last week. Odette brought blackwine, verr milk, sugar, and honey breads, and let Cherry’s tea steep until it was strong without turning bitter. Vitoria offered to help and kept herself busy polishing cups and seeing to the kitchen.
Uhtred said he was a warrior living in Lara and was traveling to see more of the world. My name sounded familiar to him, so I told him I had lived in Lara and taught at the school there for a little while. Cherry asked if he used Lara’s famous lavender soap. He preferred plain soap and, when she recommended the Cherry Bomb, said he preferred cherry pies. Cherry left to see to her exams, and Uhtred soon set off for home. The kennel girl 42 offered to serve, but Odette told her they had enough hands. Laela stopped on her way to work and admired the new walls and flowering tree. I liked the room better once Odette pointed out that the hanging carcasses were gone. She liked it too, though she had no intention of remodeling her tea room again.
Odette had seen several visitors from Lara in the last few days and wondered whether there was trouble there. She was worried about Pandora. I told her I knew of none. When she asked what she had missed the previous evening, I told her that two women had been locked up for intoxication and were now under house arrest. They had just learned they were half sisters and opened a bottle they had saved for a special occasion. It came from a batch shipped from Port Victoria, and what we found while gathering evidence could change the outcome of the case. I said one possibility was that the wine had been tampered with to give someone a reason to collar women who drank it. We did not know who had put anything in the wine or why. Odette thought that if their intoxication was accidental, any case for enslaving them should be dismissed. She also wanted to know how anyone could have counted on the women drinking that particular wine. I left the conversation with that question still in mind.
We turned to happier things after that. I told Odette the kitchen at home was ready, though I still had decorations and music to arrange for the companionship. She thought at first I meant to play an instrument myself. I explained that I was looking for a DJ to help with music for the ceremony and reception. She remembered that this would be our third companionship.
6:37–8:18 a.m. | Turmus and Port Olni — RP and correspondence
Nadia stopped on her way to open her shop while I was laying out newspaper covers. She asked where to get the adoption papers, and I directed her to the Scribe Hall. When she asked if I had taken over the newspaper, I explained that Jessika still ran it; I help with the cover so readers can see the article titles on the copy by the pumpkins. Nadia gave me two adoption documents before leaving. A copy of the Turmus adoption record for Nadia Kasimir also came through the Library mailbox at 7:32.
Kaellaed Rhode stopped by before work. I told him more people in the city had begun coming to me to get things done. He said that meant people trusted me and knew they could rely on me. I told him I liked being someone they could come to, even if it meant more work. He liked the new cover, and I explained that it would replace the one by the pumpkins when Jessika’s next issue was ready. He said we both worked hard, asked me to say hello to Ink for him, and gave me a hug before leaving. He expected to see me around seven.
Selia sent me items labeled bluesaint and Maxx55Wise. I spent part of the morning sending companionship invitations, with a brief trip to Port Olni before returning to Turmus. Later, Dexter confirmed he had received the invitation or announcement, and Jessika sent me The Turmus Times, Volume 1, Issue 2, dated November 13.
8:19–9:17 a.m. | Home, Turmus — RP and OOC
I passed along Kaellaed Rhode’s hello to Ink and told her how excited I was getting about the nineteenth. She was looking forward to it too. I gave her a sweater for the colder weather and showed her the kitchen. She spotted the two beds immediately and asked if she was getting a sister. I told her I had allowed for the possibility that Kaellaed Rhode might bring someone into the household. The beds and shelves were at a more sensible height now, and there was a ladder if anyone needed it.
I showed Ink the beef in the lower barrels, the dried fish, ham and bacon, and the bags of salt and grain. I had put in little spice drawers, a basket to take shopping, and a proper counter to work on. How I ever forgot a counter the first time, I do not know. Ink noticed the birds and the nameplate over the door, which I meant to move to the other side after the ceremony. She said the house felt cozy. I told her I wanted it to feel comfortable for Kaellaed Rhode, and that settling in together felt better this time. We know each other’s flaws by now and have learned to speak more openly. Ink said she could see how much we had both grown since the first time.
OOC: Ink and I talked about fitting the sweater and about the new table, which seats two, four, or six and can put food out from a small menu. She reminded me that she would be away for three days on a trip to Wisconsin after Wednesday, with perhaps a little time on mobile. I told her I had put it on my calendar. She had a vendor show Saturday; the outdoor farmers market had ended for the season, and she was glad things were slowing down enough for her to rest. Before she left for lunch and chicken chores, she told me she loved the kitchen. She also asked about ceremony outfits, and I did not get back to that question before we parted.
1:02–1:51 p.m. | Trade bells and Merchant Office, Turmus — RP
Risk Lofgren came looking to trade, with Ayla accompanying him. Hogarth explained that he could approach individual merchants for single trades, but a trade agreement should go through Lady Carola. Solthan offered to discuss wine, juices, and grapes. Risk explained that he dealt in particular goods people needed or wanted and did not carry bulk stock on the chance of finding a buyer. Once I understood what he was after, I offered to show him the Merchant Office.
At the office I showed him where to leave word and gave him the names of Ramius, the Head Merchant, and Carola Aromata, his assistant. Ayla repeated both names to remember them, and Risk thanked me with a wish that my chimney might smoke for a long time. He was thirsty by then, so I pointed him back to the building where we had first met. That was the tavern he was looking for.
3:18–6:42 p.m. | Turmus and home — RP and correspondence
I spent part of the afternoon working with the LibraryBox and its records. Back at the tea room, I looked up to find Davi kneeling nearby and offering service. I told him I did not need anything. At the Magistrate’s mailbox I found a note from Torm, a recent Gorean Campus graduate looking for a Scribe’s apprenticeship. He said he would be staying near the Turmus harbor for the next few days and could be reached there.
Solthan stopped to congratulate me and offered to donate wine from his shop for the companionship. I told him I would check with Kaellaed Rhode, and he asked me to let him know. It was a kind offer. By evening I was glad to see Kaellaed Rhode again. We exchanged greetings at 6:40, and a couple of minutes later I was ringing the bell at home. I had started the day telling him how often people were finding me with things to do. By then, I was glad to have someone I had been looking forward to finding myself.
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To-Do
◈ Get Torm’s apprenticeship inquiry to the Scribe leadership while he is still near the harbor.
◈ Ask Kaellaed Rhode about Solthan’s offer of wine and give Solthan an answer.
◈ Follow up on the DJ and music for the ceremony and reception, finish the decorations, and settle the ceremony outfits.
◈ Update the newspaper display by the pumpkins when the November 13 issue is ready for readers.
Done
◈ Sent companionship invitations and shared the welcome scroll.
◈ Received Nadia’s adoption papers and the copy sent through the Library mailbox.
◈ Received Jessika’s copy of the November 13 Turmus Times.
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