My dear friend and Lady,

I thank you for the gracious gifts that you sent, your understanding and your willingness to pray on my behalf. I know that you are a pious woman. I am not the most devout of men, but I offer the appropriate sacrifices and complete the necessary rituals. My mother was a devout woman who tried to teach me about her religion and the god Yahweh. My father worshipped Athena and Ares. While I do not know if it makes any difference, I do pray to all 3 of these gods before battle. I will likely never know if it did change the outcome of the battle, but so far I have lived and I shall continue this ritual until I fall in battle or I retire. I hope that this answer does not not displease you, but I felt it right to give you the honest answer.

I am glad that you handled this farce and found the child something more appropriate to purchase. The cons these people devise never cease to amaze, do they? Next they will put wings on a horse and call it the pegasus.

As for this girl, I do not know if she acts willingly. I do believe it is likely all that she has known. She told me that they had never had a permanent home and spent their lives in camps in the forest. I doubt she or her cousin have much choice in the matter. I would be concerned to see them roaming the lands free of the shackles of their family. I do not know what to call this feeling I have for her, but I do know that I believe I would be happy with her. She is not the sort of woman that I imagined myself with, but she is the one that I know I have most enjoyed being with. It may be a set back to my ambitions, but I think that I would marry her. If I can separate her and her cousin from the rest of the family, I know that I will prevent them from being taken by the guards, whatever the consequences to me are. This is truly a strange feeling and sensation, my dear Ophelia. It will take time to navigate properly.

Your friend,

Alexandros