Her Majesty, Queen Yanni of Colchis,
Your majesty, I hope this missive finds you well. We have reached Taengea and have a brief stop to reprovision before we sail onwards. I had intended to write before I left to thank you for the gift, and yet time was not on my side.
I confess I have been finding your kindness difficult to accept - don’t get me wrong, for it is welcome and appreciated, but similarly to the chiton, a gift I feel a little unworthy of.
There are things you do not know which make it so, and I couldn’t in good conscience go on accepting your generosity and good opinion without confessing to you why it may be misplaced. Then you can at least form your thoughts of me based on the whole truth.
A few months ago, I made some errors in judgement, more than one of which pertained to members of your own family. Without offending you with the details my behaviour was unseemly and thoughtless and it was these events that saw me come into the service of the Crown Prince: my punishment if you will.
Prince Vangelis has been merciful in holding me to account for my actions, I see this now, but it grieved me to think that you would be so kind towards me and then feel deceived should you have come by this information from another. I do not write with expectation of your pardon or forgiveness, but only to thank you for your kindness and consideration and offer you my honesty in return.
Should I return to Colchis ere this war, I will rightly tell you all and accept any further consequences you should wish to impose.
Your humble servant,
Silanos of Valaoritis
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