More than two weeks pass before Madilla's response to Daegan's letter arrives - it's exam time at Healer Hall, which no doubt has played a part in the timing of her response.
Her handwriting is not much improved in this version, but it is obvious she has been trying as hard as she can to make it neat. Her spelling remains terrible.
- Dear Daegan,
- I am practicing very hard. I am writing lots of letters.
- You are the one doing the kissing. It does not seem to matter what I think. You keep doing it! Why would you kiss me if you do not like me? But I do not care. I am not going to marry you. Your kisses are okay.
- I am not very young. I will be fourteen at the end of the summer. You are not that much older, I think. Only a turn?
- I have passed my exams. I will stay at the hall! Journeywoman Delifa is happy with my herblore.
- If you do not write back, I will see you at the hatching. Journeywoman Delifa has helped find me something pretty to wear. I will look for you!
- Madilla
Sevendays pass since Madilla sent her last letter. But finally, on day 31, month 7, of Turn 16, a response arrives from Telgar. Written in the same relatively neat, if plain, scripting from Daegan's first response comes his second:
- Dear Madilla,
- Better, but keep trying. You want to be a decent Healer, don't you?
- I've learned a lot while I've been at the Weyr. My kisses are much better now. I'll show you the next time you're in Telgar or I'm at Healer. They say the hatching should be any day now. I expect I'll be back soon. I hope that Xhaiden won't be though. And Bergitte too. Xhaiden says his parents have picked out the girl he's to handfast when he gets back. And that will mean no more fun times, because its his duty to wed for the good of his family. I don't understand it, and I don't like it. Bergitte says that her brother is looking at an old man for her to handfast. I don't understand these holders. Wouldn't it just be better to handfast to someone you actually care about? I mean, if you're going to take care of the babies you make with them... It just seems to make sense. But I guess its not the same for Holders as it is for crafters. I'm glad Gran doesn't want me to handfast anyone until I make Journeyrank. It means I have a lot of time to figure out who I want to handfast. When you handfast, will you get to choose? Or will your uncle tell you who to marry?
- I guess you're not too young. I had my turnday while I was at the Weyr. I met the Weyrleader on it. It *Scribble out* wasn't great, but Xhaiden got me a towel and a blanket with a Master Crafter's mark. They're really soft. Gran didn't send anything. I think she's very angry with me for accepting search. If I had told her before I left, I know she would not have let me go. But I'm glad I went, in the end. Its been very enlightening.
- I'm glad to hear that you passed. Do you think you are interested in pharmacy specialty? I have been doing a lot of thinking about what I want my specialty to be because I expect that if I put my mind to it, I could become a Senior Apprentice within the turn. Maybe two. I think I want to go into trauma. Seems like it would be the most exciting. I'm not really good with kids like Gran is. So I guess being her specialty is out. I still have time to think, I guess.
- I suppose I'll see you soon since the eggs are so hard. Some folks got to go out and touch them. I was doing extra chores. Will you save me a dance at the hatching feast?
- Daegan
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