To Dearestest Avaril,

[Authored by Audry Wy, executed under the Yuan Dynasty on the day of the letter's arrival: 3rd of March, 1333]

This here melancholie missiue claymeth to conuey to thee mine intent of non-returne. In Xanadu hath I found solace. Alas, I may not reueale my precise abode, for feare of its betrayall by neereby missionaries vnto mercilesse Mongols. It hath been sayd the tyrants possesse scant regard for skippings of taxe, resorting to the local ritvall of Lingichi, the signification whereof is slow slicing, as capitall penaltie. Mongols and missionaries — straunge bedfellowes; yet oft the seemingly loyall are seldome true, aye? Yea. Neuerthelesse, matters in this realme remaine as aforestated, more or lesse, as thou didst oft intreat me to regale thee with tales in tymes gone.

Fortunately, the likelihoode of any soule vncouering this minuscule refuge, hid amidst mountaynes and monsoone, is exceeding lowe. We our selues had missed its vncouery had not a diuersion been wrought by a band of gray gibbons, who pilfered our mappes and vanished into the depthes of the wildernesse. The chace led vs hither.

I shall abstaine from proffering the copious, but, as thou mayst surmise, what we hath witnessed maketh it preferable, if not anone, to eschew the path from whence we came. In briefe, it is a land of vtter solitarie, stillnesse, pooles, yirdes, and swethe bathes. Mistake not the dessicated teare of ioy at this page’s ende for one of deepe heauinesse. ’Tis paradise, in comparison to that which it keepeth out in China or England. We were bid to tarry, on the prouiso of seuering tyes with the world without. We consented all, saue Milano, whose demur caused much marvel among our companie. He would not disclose his cause, though I can enuision one most compelling reason awaiting him at home. Through him I pray this epistle shall reach thee, perchance in its pristine envelope. Aye, Milano?

Deare and dearestest sister, albeit I had hoped thou wouldst succeede in keeping this clandestine, I allowed for thy native indiscretion; hence the restraint in my report. Informe mother and all others that I be not deceased. Also, appryse Ryia that I am cognisant of her daliances with Hue, and although I holde sinceritie as one doth brine for the flux of his head, yet their want of discretion hath not escaped my notice, and hath given some offence eke-wise. I knewe her for a harlot from our verie first night together. Here abound maydens far younger than she, and I haue not refrayned from vnfaithfulnesse.

Yea, I shall not returne; yet verily, the sole thing I yeerne for is thee, and thus I felt constrained to write. In Khanbaliq’s market a damsell played a straunge instrument that caught mine eare and eye. And ere her father’s stall she performed, or so I supposed, and suppose so still. It be called a Sheng, and I bought a pinke one for thee. ’Tis but a curious kind of flute, methinkes. It may proue for a tyme a difficulty, yet I trust in thy musicall disposition. Through Milano I hope it cometh to thy threshold; mayhap it arriue vnscathed. Disturbe not others with thy nocturnall practice.

With loue, loue, and loue,

thy Audry.