Sabbanath Awaits!

Hi everyone,

In this post, I hope to give you a taste of the world in which my first novel Sabbanath is set. To this end, I will share with you sketches, personal letters, royal reports and official documents (without giving the plot away).

In this first entry we have some personal letters from those aboard the ship "Sea Queen" which is about to dock in Sabbanath. As with any newly discovered land, settlers arrive with their own hopes and dreams, fears and expectations, their perceptions shaped as much by rumours and tavern tales as by truth.

Sabbanath, as first seen from the sea. Taken from a book of illustrations entitled 'Memories' by Matthew Hawkins

1. Letter from 16 year old, Daniel Graves, to his mother:

Dear Mother,

We are nearing land now, and I can scarcely contain my excitement. They say the rivers in the north run with gold, and that a man prepared to work hard may make his fortune in a relatively short time. I will not return empty-handed, you may be sure of that. I look forward to the day I can send you back enough coin to ease your burdens and those of my sisters. By the time I return home, we will have enough to buy a new house, in the countryside, one with a big garden. The fresh air there will not do little Marie any harm, I am sure. I will write to you again once I have secured work in Sabbanath or perhaps on one of the caravans that run north.

With Love

2. Letter from a Miss Crawford travelling with her fiancé:

My Dearest Anna,

We are to arrive at Sabbanath by midday, and from there we shall seek a plot of land of our own. Robert says the grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see, and I try to imagine it as a place we might call home. Yet I have heard whispers among the passengers , of the native people who keep to the forests, and of what becomes of those who wander too far. Still, I must believe we have made the right choice in coming here and that all will be well. Say a prayer for us.

Yours always

3. Letter from a merchant To Mr. Halberg:

Dear Mr Halberg,

We are expected to make port at Sabbanath within the day, and I anticipate favourable conditions for trade. The settlement, by all accounts, is growing quickly, and with growth comes need. Livestock, tools, and provisions are in constant demand, and I expect to conduct business promptly.

I will however be glad to be off this ship. The holds are packed with animals, and not even the ocean breeze can take away the smell. I shall require a long bath and a new suit before I am fit to be seen conducting business again.

On arrival, I will focus on what Sabbanath has to offer — hides, timber, perhaps some wheat, and whatever else of value I can get my hands on. There is profit to be had here, though of course I shall need to be careful in choosing with whom I do business. There are always those who feel they can be less than honest with ‘outsiders’ like myself. For the more exotic items on your list, I have it on good authority that the town of Noda may be a better option, and I will do my best to find a ship on the return leg that will call there first before continuing back home to Kiryn.

I shall write again once I have a proper picture of how things are.

Yours Sincerely

Sabbanath Awaits! Keep an eye out for more updates from Liam O'Connor regarding his upcoming title, The Elements of Destiny. Thanks for joining us on the SFI Blog.