Spring 1378 AF

My tutor gave this to me. He wants me to practice my handwriting. I suppose I will, but I'll do it in a fashion I choose. I suspect Master Aliar wants me to copy out phrases from our Holy Book. He's foolish, if he believes I will do that. But then, he has not seen yet what goes on in our house. Master Aliar is intelligent, but not exactly far-seeing. So many people who consider themselves intelligent have not an ounce of common sense.

Sping 1378 AF. Planting Festival.

It's my birthday today, so I'll tell you about myself. I am the fourth child, and the third daughter of Lord Adrian Cory and his lady Alianne Cory. My name is Ariana, Lady Ariana Cory. I am of a noble family, and an old one, but as I said, I'm the middle child in a family of eight children, and not particularly remarkable. I don't get much attention, but this suits me, as I'm shy, and...well...there are downsides to attention in my family.

I'm not particularly happy being who I am, despite the rich noble family and all. There are times when I had much rather be the daughter of a peasant family, work hard, and be loved, rather then a noble child, idle and ignored. There is not much I'm allowed to do. I'm an expert in sewing, spinning, and weaving. I can cook moderately well. I'm a superb horsewoman, since riding is the only sport I truly enjoy that women are expected to do. I try to ride as often as possible.

I can read and write and cipher. I can speak as many languages as Master Aliar can think of to teach us (us being me and my brother Justien).

Don't think that I can do everything. I can't fight. I was never allowed to learn. I can use a bow moderately well, but only enough to hit the target with two out of three arrows. Most of those arrows do not go further then the fourth ring out. I certainly cannot clean or make weapons. I can't clean even ordinary things. I don't know how to wash clothing. I have no idea how to survive in the wild, how to find my way through wilderness, how to perform even the simplest of farm chores. No glimmer of a Gift lurks in me. I can't sing, or play anything. My music teachers gave up on me after a week. I heard one of them say to my father that I am 'tone-deaf' and that I 'could not carry a tune in a bucket.' And I daydream far too often.

Essentially, I'm only good at domestic things. I wish I knew more, but how would I learn? I wouldn't dare try to learn to fight by myself. I daren't even try to beg lessons from the armsmaster. Even if he didn't tell, my hands, which are white and smooth and altogether unsuited for fighting, would be ruined, and that would give the game away. The same goes for farm chores, and survival and pathfinding.