Too much has been going on for me to keep up with my writing. We have a serious problem, currently even more pressing than the Southron encroachment. Two brigands, maybe more, dubbed the Stone Quarter bandits have been robbing people around town. Worse is that they are violent, resulting in one death that we know of and nearly killing the sellsword Gorlen. I found him at the West Gate being attended by another Dawn member and a woman, he was stabbed in the back and looked very pale. The loss of blood would have killed him but as I found out later the other sellsword cauterized the wound to close it. I have to admit, seeing the man there I had a moment of gratitude to the bandit. It is not something I am proud of, though I dislike the man I wouldn't have wished him dead. I knew it would break my sister's heart so before I knew it, I'd called Watchers to track the blood trail and I went to Pip's apartment to inform her that her boyfriend was likely to die and watched as her face grew pale and stricken. She ran down the stairs, and I watched her go, a heaviness in my heart and I found myself hoping Gorlen would make it. Damn him. The Bloody Dawn did save her though, when Pip was taken for ransom. I can't ignore that and I will be forever grateful for their quick rescue from Fat Tom and his brigands, as will all of our family. I told him as much when he was in the infirmary. I also told him if he hurt Pip or broke her heart, I'd cut it out and feed it to the wolves.
I caught up with Captain Redwood at the Town Hall where she showed me the wanted posters the artist had sketched up. I still think Tosie would have done a better job, she's got an eye for intimate details. I haven't seen her since the last time I was at her house and she was distant, looking at maps as I tried to talk to her about things in my past. Then she sent me that letter. I know it's over but I can't help but miss seeing her waiting for me on that barrel in the Pony. Life goes on though, and I'm certainly occupied with crap from work. I talked to Rhyva long into the night, about things I never really speak about and it seems she did as well. She revealed a secret that I will hold closely to me, I will not even write it on these pages. I nearly spilled my own but my tongue held still, I can't bring myself to talk about it and I don't know Rhyva that well. She might trust me but I don't.
We discussed Bree again and what we might need to turn things back, to make things right. She brought up that the Fourth Watcher position was up for grabs and that catching the Stone Quarter bandits might get me the spot, the only senior officer position left open. We joked about Brigwald and I found myself wanting to make her laugh. She's always so professional it was nice to see her genuinely smile. It was strangely intimate, a conversation between an officer and his captain, I felt we were more like friends by the end of it. She dismissed me, told me it was my choice to stay or go. I don't know why I did it but I asked her to breakfast. She declined, stating we both needed sleep and she was needed at home. Rhyva then suggested I take her to lunch someday instead. And not to wear my uniform. I don't know if this is the best idea, she's my supervisor and I should know better to mix personal and work but I enjoyed our conversation so much I decided to ignore that. We'll see what happens. I think we'll likely be good friends because of the trouble anything else could cause among the Watch. As she left, she turned and asked me to call her Rhyanda, that she hadn't been called that in a long time and she missed it, but only if we weren't around anyone else. That was unexpected but I agreed, she is the boss lady after all.
