The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Day 2
I continue to write things on nice paper with the fountain pen - it's interesting how often my brain tries to skip ahead when I'm writing longhand.
Do I need index cards for people so I can keep track of them if they recur?
This section runs to 764 words. Please enjoy.
Here is the Index Page.
Onnaday, 12 Ochd, 1893 C.E.
Dear Journal,
I spent the night at the Eagle's Arms, the inn my family always uses when they come to Glastriel. This time I wasn't sharing the room on a truckle bed and the experience was much more enjoyable.
I left straight after breakfast and took my luggage to the airship terminal. I checked my luggage so it could be loaded onto my vessel and made the necessary arrangements to safeguard my bookings. When that was done I still had two hours before I needed to be back for permission to board the ship, so I did a little shopping.
Mother assured me that everyone in Great-Aunt's household would speak Imperial, but I bought myself a Coatl primer, a pair of commonplace books, pen, pencils, ink, and an eraser.
My cabin aboard the Pearlish Star is smaller than my room at the inn last night and my room at home, but it is much more comfortable than either. It is a first class cabin - Mother insisted on there for gentility's sake but the Pearlish Star does belong to one of the smaller, less expensive lines, which is how we are keeping costs under control on this trip. After boarding but before castoff we were served luncheon in the first class dining room. It was a sit down, served meal without assigned seating and the Chief Steward gave a little speech to explain to those of us joining the vessel that breakfast would be an informal buffet, self-served, in the dining room each morning, lunch would be as today's arrangement, and dinner would be a formal served meal with allocated seating each evening.
I am glad that I managed to talk Mother and Tallaig into allowing me some new outfits for this journey that did not come out of general household expenses.
Because this is not a large liner, the number of passengers in first class is relatively small - two families, including children, governesses, tutors, and companions, and a dozen military officers.
The Abheerghins are a wealthy manufacturing family with their roots in the Weavers' Guild. I have heard of them because they donate to our diocese to fund the teaching of letters and numbers to those in our workhouses who don’t have these skills.
The dh'Ghainthears are a cadet branch of a cadet branch of that family, and I understand that Mr dh'Ghainthear is in government service.
The officers are from all five Regiments of the Solaich Brigade. Two are using a walking stick, one is on crutches, and one has an eyepatch over his left eye. I understand that they and their men in the other cabin classes are going north to the Army base at Ulgorial for further convalescence and rehabilitation. Some of them are young enough to call me "Ma'am" although the half colonel and the major call me "Miss".
We had an emergency drill an hour after castoff. There were some differences to the procedure for our local airships, mainly because of the greater height that we travel at.
I spent the afternoon making sure that I knew where everything was in my cabin, and then took tea with the other ladies in the first class balcony parlor. Both senior ladies made efforts to find out more about me - no doubt to double-check whether I was someone they might wish as a continuing acquaintance. I suspect that I am not because I do not move in either of their circles, my connections are limited, and I am not an heiress or well dowered.
After tea I took myself off to dress for dinner and I believe I achieved a credible result. I was seated at the second table, which was presided over by the Chief Engineer, between Captain Adais dh'Thainbhaign and Lieutenant Pullox Ghearaint. Captain dh'Thainbhaign is in Prince Bhorain's Own Regiment of the Royal Engineers and Lieutenant Ghearaint is in the 6th Regiment, Royal and Imperial Artillery. I found both to be charming dinner companions and I did not ask what their injuries might have been.
After dinner the ladies retired to the balcony parlor for a small glass of fortified wine, or a shot of spirits, and conversation. A tea tray arrived half an hour after that, closely followed by the gentlemen. I had a cup of tea and two little sweet notions, then I pleaded tiredness, made my excuses , and went back to my cabin.
I followed some of the advice I was given before I left home and both locked my door and propped a chair under the handle.
Anadrasata Nearabhigan