Juniper plunked herself down on a bench in her garden, sighing massively in relief to finally be off her feet. With the defeat of the Zhentarim in Narfell, she and her Knights had been called back to Silverymoon. Since getting back from Peltarch, Juniper has fallen back into mom mode. It's not the life and death, high geopolitical stakes of hunting down and thwarting a Zhentarim invasion, but no less grueling.
She had the five children in her family's care, four of her own and one foster child, busy weeding her garden by hand. It was one of her two oldest who voiced complaint on behalf of all five little worker bees. Coraline chirped up from the flower bed she and her siblings were hunkered down in, "Amil, why can't we just have Aunt Cherry or Aunt Arel'in use some of their magic to do this?"
Juniper chuckled kindly and fixed Coraline and the other children with a warm smile, "You can't fully appreciate the gifts of the Weave unless you do things with honest, hard work first. And that builds character and the wisdom to use those gifts judiciously."
A collection of young eyeballs roll, joined by a disjointed chorus of, "Amil! Mooom! Moom! Ammmiiil! Ms. Amalith!"
Juniper chuckled again, sipping her tea. She cheerfully chided them, "Don't but Amil or Mom me. You all agreed weeding the garden would be your chores for the day. The sooner you get it done, the sooner we can go meet your cousins at the park. And Loretta, you don't have to call me Ms. Amalith. You can call me Juniper."
There is collective grumbling, but the five hellions get back to their chore of weeding. With hard won and very temporary peace and quiet in hand, Juniper settles back to enjoy her tea. She also pulls out her one journal unrelated to her botany and nature studies. Quill and ink brought out to the garden for just this purpose also ate fetched from her pouch. Opening to a fresh page she starts organizing her thoughts in written form.
Hello again Journal
I know. I know. Long time, no write. I also wasn't sure I'd ever write in you again, so this is a surprise to us both.
Thinking back on it, writing about the Zhent Invasion of Peltarch back when things were at their grimmest really helped me sort things out. Now that Geraldine is taken care of, and the Zhentarim will be getting nothing more out of Narfell for awhile, I thought it might help to put my thoughts down one more time on all of it.
It was great being back in Narfell, yet I'm very much relieved to no longer having the Zhentarim threat hanging over us every day. I look forward to visiting again, hopefully for more purely social visits, though I know I'll be heading back in a professional capacity in the not too distant future. Speaker Leonora Starym has informed me that High Mage Silverhand has no intention of Silverymoon being blind to Zhentarim activity in eastern Faerun again.
Since the Knights in Silver are always needed in and around Silverymoon, agents of the Moon Garrison (They handle most external threats anyway) will be handling most the information gathering up wnd down the East. They need only be our eyes.
Narfell is another matter. There may be Zhentarim remnants who did not get their new superior message, and worst of all the Butcher's whereabouts are unknown. High Mage Silverhand herself, has assured me, we will not stop until his fate is ascertained. And if he's still alive, he will meet Silverymoon justice one way or another.
Another small contingent of Knights in Silver has taken my contingent's place in Narfell, rotated in to keep an eye on the post-war developments and any sign of Zhent activity. Mostly reconnaissance with a special aim toward investigating the fate of the Butcher. I wish them all the luck in finding him and bringing him out down. Part of me hopes he eludes is just long enough for me to be the one to bring him justice. Too many of my comrades in arms and friends fell and were eaten by that monster!
To end on a positive note journal, it is so, so, so good to be home again, and to be able to see all my children every day again. After we finish our turn patrolling the Moonwood and help fend off a couple raids of Menzoberranzan drow or drive back the usual Malaran nonsense (There's no shortage of troubles immediately around Silverymoon), then my squad and myself will rotate back into Narfell and relieve our own replacements. Whether I will be leading a manhunt or information gathering remains to be seen.
Until next time, Journal.
Knight Captain in Silver Juniper Amalith
P.S. During the invasion, one of my Knights in Silver, Lokelani, came to me asked for a leave of absence. She lost her family to a Zhent raid on her village in the Moonwood, and was one of the fiercest volunteers to serve in protecting Peltarch and Narfell.
I cannot fault her for jumping at the chance to kill Zhentarim. That's why her request for leave came as quite the shock. If anyone would see our mission against them to the bitter end, I would have bet it would be her.
When she informed me she had learned of a promising lead on the whereabouts of her twin sister (a sister that it was my understanding Lokelani believed lost), I understood immediately.
Considering how undersranding my old commander in the Moon Garrison had been when it came to preparing for the Amalith family raid on the City of Bronze to end our family curse, I couldn't deny her the same chance I was given.
Wherever your search has taken you, Lokelani, know your fellow Knights in Silver and your captain are with you. May the Moonmaiden watch over and guide your search until both you and your sister may return home to us.
