1st day of the Fourth Hand of the Month of Se'Var (10) in the Year 10,157 CA

Lady Parisete is staying on at Ananda Estates for a few days. Apparently, she is in dire need of a respite from her duties as moneylender for Port Kar. Every city has their drama, I suppose, but her life has been awash with it at every turn it seems. She finds my home serene and calm, and my company exquisite. I'm not trying very hard to be a charming host, I am just being who I am, a man that is proud of his upbringing and his home with the culture that surrounds it. We never did get to testing her for her signature scent so busy were we, reminscing of my father, Trevan's memory as a merchant. Parisete had a lot to say about him, her life as effected by his kind words and advice, and a memory of his taking her on a picnic once when Camarius and I were but little boys back in Jorts Ferry. Its seemed like ages ago, yet I felt that something more was troubling her in regard to a place called Dar Viktel. It was place in the North near the Sardar, that my father had taken the position of En'Merchant once upon a time. He was unhappy there, and missed Schendi and family at the Estates. I was only 10, my brother 4. We didn't like Dar Viktel either, and a man named Renva started to spend more and more time with my father, much to my mother's dismay. Whatever the case, my father wasn't the same after the experience, and retreated back to Schendi, where he conducted his business dealings from until his untimely death. Parisete asked me a peculiar question about companionship, as to whether I felt that a person should love and want to be with that person. I told her in very honest words, that it didn't make sense to join someone else when you could neither stand that person, or you had nothing in common with that person because the companionship would never last. I never knew my birth mother, Ofelia. The women between Shinnan and Cameron were a blur, where I gravitated from lap to lap, calling each one "mother." The relationships never lasted, but it had a detrimental effect on myself and Camarius. I vowed to never fall in love with anyone, female or male unless I was absolutely serious about the relationship. No relationship was perfect, and I was surprised to see Parisete so accepting of my choice of lifestyle. It took great trust to tell her something I generally keep private. After the conversation, she found out that I had several hidden gifts, one of them being that I play the kalika and sing. I gave her a few samples of my music, in our music room at the house, and then she retired after her long journey to Schendi in the guest room across from my step-mothers room. With a jokester like Camarius around, Parisete might find a rock spider in her sheets if I put her in the guest room across from Camarius' room!

3rd day of the Third Hand of the Month of Se'Var (10) in the Year 10,157 CA

I stopped at the Storm Schendi Inn last night, with Torrin Vesper and Nduli, my faithful guards. As usual, the good food and drink brought in loads of people taking off from work such as myself, and it made for good company and conversation. I met three women. A scribe named Lady Jessenia, an apprentice Physician named Shay, and a mother named Karmi. It seemed the main conversations centered around their companionships and children. Oh, and pregnancy. Some of the odd quirks of women came out in that conversation, and it only grew more interesting when Lady India showed up with her son LJ, short for Lukas Jase. It seems many parents give the names of people who actually exist in order to honor them, as well as nicknames for each other that don't always fit the formality I express in day to day conversation. It was somewhat frustrating to feel included in the group dynamics, when everyone seemed to know each other. I plan on doing business with Lady Shay and her brother, Marc Dawntreader, to help supply their mobile units with herbal medicinals. I am also checking into houses, as to whether their spice needs are being met. It would be good to become the supplier to the finest houses in Schendi, now wouldn't it? I must get with Camarius and discuss with him our inventory of herbs, as to whether we carry the full amount of what the physicians needs are. Until then, I wait for my guest to arrive in the city, so I can go over the signature fragrance that she desires.

2nd day of the Third Hand of the Month of Se'Var (10) in the Year 10,157 CA

Lately, the Estates have been loaded with activity. Harvest of the cocoa has been done, and I have made efforts with the shipwright, India Hunter, to get two merchant rounds built, as well as two heavy rams to protect them. I have named the ships already, to replace the ones I lost. One of course will be the Spice Runner, the other called Kindred Spirits. The rams were a bit more difficult to name. I thought the Sea Tharlarion and the Sea Viper were appropriate for the job that they are cut out to do. I have heard recently from one of my father's oldest friends, Lady Parisete Vaux, a moneylender from Port Kar. She wished to have a refill of the signature scent that my father, Trevan had the recipe card for. It still exists in the safe. But the Lady asked for a lighter scent for the summer. So I invited her to visit Schendi, because it is customary to visit with a prospective client when defining a signature fragrance. She is expected to arrive this hand, and we will conduct business. In the meantime, I've spent some quality time with a guest of the city, a woman of the North, named Lady Danika Haydon. She seems kind, although a bit of a risk factor. Her first visit to Ananda resulted in a spanking from the guards which she escaped from to come down the Nyoka alone, without any protection. I have the feeling she is fond of me, but the sentiments aren't reciprocal. Don't get me wrong, my journal. Danika is a beauty, and she is proud of her upbringing. She is also good company. But when she arrived in the way she did, it did upset me. If I were her companion, she would have worn a punishment collar to teach her that it was I who allow her the freedom to come and go as she pleases, and that she must obey the rules that I set out for her protection. It is no joke that there are dangers to be wary of in the Ushindi Rainforest, including wild larl, taluna and mercenaries. I already had one woman vanish due to mercenary attack when she put herself at risk for it. I don't need another that doesn't mind her guards. But I do enjoy her presence, and showing her around my Estates. If at all, we shall become good friends. I don't expect more than that, having learned from past experience. But her and her kinsmen are a bright spot, in the midst of my own chaos with business dealings, and potential trade in other cities. Another exciting thing is that Lady Katie Brant, has caught up to me in correspondence. After finding out about my ship problem, she gifted me one of her ships, and has allowed me to borrow three ships that I must return as soon as my own are built. These ships will allow me to get my cocoa and medicinals exported, so for that I am eternally grateful. It appears we will have a very profitable season, according to my brother Camarius. I am looking forward to it, and the visit of Parisete, whom I have not seen since the fair.

5th day of the Second Hand of the Month of Rastar (9) in the Year 10,157 CA

Things are settling down at home just fine, although I may have to re-swear my allegiance to Schendi, which is something I don't mind doing. Camarius is also up for swearing in as a citizen of Schendi, and it is very likely that I would be present to witness my brother's first swearing in. In fact, I wouldn't miss it for the world. I feel as though time has slipped completely from my grasp. When I left Schendi, Camarius was only 14 going on 15, and Azuri was 9, almost 10. Now Camarius is 18 En'Var, and Azuri now 13 En'Var. Time quickly flies. It feels as though I missed so much with my siblings, all the milestones that I should have been here for, I wasn't. Camarius was so proud to show me how he could isolate the scent from a teriotrope back at Moonlight Whispers Spice and Herbal Enterprises. I was mightily impressed. I guess you can say, that I am making up for lost time. My office was indeed a mess, and I had to get all my papers in order, write scrolls to various people in the city to establish my place here. I need to have ships built, and contacted India Hunter, a shipwright out of Schendi, but have not yet heard a response to my query. If I don't hear anything from her over the next several days, I will write again to contact her about my scroll. If I see no satisfaction, there are hundreds of shipwrights awaiting my coin, that are willing to build ships for me. Until then, all I can do is work on restocking my inventory, which allows time for ships to be constructed. So far, I have not ventured out too far from my jungle home. I am giving myself time to adjust to the weather patterns, and just the feeling of guilt that I have for not being here. Mama has told me not to feel that way, because a young man needs to sow his wild oats before settling down in one place. I suppose she is right. Things are starting to feel like home now.

A Return to Home

The Ushindi Jungle called to me, and I responded by coming home after En'Vars away. Four to be exact. Time enough for a boy to grow into a man, and for him to mature and become more worldly. I kept in touch with my step-mother, Lady Cami during this time. Camarius, my brother had been trained as a spice merchant by my caretaker, Magadi Ahali, and he was managing Ananda Plantation. Its hard to believe that my little brother has grown so. I remember when he was dragging at my heels to go exploring in the jungle and along the river, much to our parent's chagrin. How we used to pound on each other!

And little Azuri. She was only 10 when I left and she will be 14 in a few months time. Not too much longer before she swears to the home stone of Schendi, and enters training as a spice merchant too. She will be taking over operations of Almasi Mines, a source of rich sereem diamonds that had been held in interest from my Grandfather, Camarius and my Father, Trevan. They had ensured that the next generation of merchants in their house would live financially sound, and so it was. I myself had taken my father's spice wagon on the road, traveling to and from places like Bazi, Turia, Ar, Lydius, and Port Kar, selling my Moonlight Whispers Spice and Herbal Emporium's best products.

But with all that traveling, came homesickness. I missed the place where I had spent growing up at Ananda Estates. I needed to return home, back to Schendi, back to people that knew me and cared for me since I was old enough to talk and walk. I hope that my return finds everyone in my house well. Lady Ashara, I am told is very excited about my return and plans on cooking a huge feast in my honor, in which my step-mother, siblings, Magadi, Tendren Nazarir, Hestia Bendaze, Zebrina Merven, and their daughter Njeri will take part. I am excited as well to see the transformation of the home I left, and see if there are any changes. Coming back to Ananda is always bittersweet considering my father is no longer here to put a smile on my face. But Ananda means "peace" in Ushindian dialect, and I know he is finally is at peace, so my heart can finally be at peace also.