(2023-02-25) Letter to Mrs. Marin Hazan

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	Jonas writes to his mother.
Rating:	T for Teen

A paper-and-twine wrapped parcel is dispatched to Southshore, addressed to Mrs. Marin Hazan in care of the Holliston Estate: It contains a slim volume, more pamphlet than book, and a letter.

22 February

Mum -

I’ve been remiss; you’ll be glad (I won’t say 'smug') to know it’s not because I’ve crossed the Portal but because I’ve been waylaid by a strange business in the south. I’m enclosing for you a book I chanced across in Stormwind City. You’ll note the author’s name. It seems I’ve stumbled over Father’s southern kin — and to my luck, the decent ones. (Apparently they were, in the main, not.)

I inquired after Cobalt Company in Stormwind and was told that the greater part of them had gone to Northrend with the Alliance, but that they’re based in Ironforge. In Ironforge I was told that several of them, including Lt. Hazan himself, frequented a tavern called Bruuk’s, and at Bruuk’s a kind proprietress immediately lent me his home address. A little startling to be handed such information so freely, but I came to understand the why of it as soon as I arrived on his doorstep; I gave the young lady now living there quite a shock in my apparent resemblance to the absent lieutenant.

Her name is Miss Mayellen Mullby and she’s the half-sister to Lt. Hazan, making her a cousin of mine it seems. The proof of this is that she took me to meet Lady Niris Ference, née Hazan, wife of Cobalt Company’s founder, Lord Elohad Ference. She’s Father’s younger sister and the aunt of Lt. Hazan (and myself), who is himself the son of Byron Hazan, Father’s eldest brother and apparently a thoroughly rotten bastard. She — that is to say, Lady Ference — is also evidently Lt. Hazan’s adoptive mother, a peculiar arrangement I didn’t much prod. Anyway they’ve all been gracious, and to shorten a story for the sake of what candle I’ve got left at present, I’m now a member of Cobalt Company. (No plans to be adopted, never worry.)

(I realize this is all complicated. I’ll draw you a diagram.)

Lord Ference has been discouraging about my venturing through the Portal; I’m sure you’d get along famously. (Lady Ference is, by the by, obviously his Lady by way of marriage, and Lt. Hazan their heir by way of adoption. That doesn’t make us anything ourselves but related by marriage to nobility, but I thought it might entertain you.)

I’ve been spending time in Westfall of late with Miss Mullby and two of her friends, doing Local Good Deeds at Cobalt Company’s behest, which means I’m scraping up some regular pay once more and not just by odd jobs, bounties and hides. Westfall itself is in pretty poor shape but the people — Hazans included — are staunch and determined to salvage, which is admirable. Not much to salvage of the old homestead, though, which was burned to the ground in some sort of family feud (as I said: rotten bastards) some years back. (I also note the Hazan name and resemblance has gotten me quite a few looks, and not many of them friendly. The ones that have been friendly worry me a little.) The lads of the Westfall Militia have been decent, though; apparently Lt. Hazan got his start there and did all right. Mostly. (There seems to have been some regular trouble about young ladies, and some brawling. Miss Mullby assures me he’s quite reformed, although some of her remarks about his continuing manner with young ladies leave me wondering. Still, he’s married now and by accounts doting.)

I think you’d enjoy Miss Mullby. She’s a sensible girl, if occasionally too blunt for her good, and determined by tooth and claw to make something proud of herself. I daresay she will.

As to young ladies, you’ll let me know when Liara’s story-mongering’s died off? Though I don’t expect it’s wise to show around there anytime soon even after it has; I’d probably just set her off again. You’ll tell me the temperature, though — I don’t know whether anyone’s nose actually prickled at her 'wild talk,' but safe, sorry, et cetera.

Any rate, I’m proper denned in Ironforge for the moment, being Cobalt. I figure I’ll hang around until the Lt. himself turns up, by which time I might’ve earned credit enough with the Company and Lord Ference to get a real mercenary sanction to cross the Portal with comrades-in-arms, which you ought to appreciate. You can write me back at this address.

Love,
J.