A note from a concerned official

[Treadwell]

Giscard Guillaume might be surprised to find a note, roughly napkin sized and rolled up and sealed with a little pink glob of wax, left on his front step some time around dusk. On the outside, the words "Councilor Giscard Guillaume, Lothbury Estate, Myrken Wood, Myrken Wood Province." On the inside, if opened? The handwriting is dreadful--a familiar script, though, marred with inkstains and smeared in small spots. It's the handwriting of a former colleague.

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Councilor Guillaume,

First and foremost, greetings from New Hibera. All is well, here, and life goes on mostly uninterrupted by such dreadful things as insects. . . which are, admittedly, the subject I care to discuss.

There are apparently quite a few fairly vicious bugs out here in Myrken Wood--insects supposedly quite dangerous to such big folks as the wonderful inhabitants of your fair province. Now, as the old saying goes among big folks, "it takes one to know one"--that is, as many of your kind think of many of my kind as bugs, I'd dare say we are more than a little prepared and competent to handle such creatures. I wish to discuss the possibility of helping you rid Myrken of these monsters.

I understand this message should most likely have gone to Councilor al'Nerun, given his role as head of defense; however, he is one with whom I've never been terribly familiar, and I certainly don't know how to contact him. Given that little technicality, however, here is what I propose:

Item: The insects facing Myrken Wood are by and large rather dangerous beasts to big folks. Humans are very large (by comparison to these threats), out in the open, and, apparently, quite susceptible to the stings and bites these bugs possess.

Item: The fairies of New Hibera are suitably sized, quite well entrenched against invasion by these beasts here in our cave, and rather used to fighting all manner of flying critters that give them a dreadfully bad name. We also have the advantage of fairy dust, which, in large enough quantities, can prove lethal to insects or small rodents. Finally, though this has only been tested a minimum of times, it seems we have some innate resistance to various insect poisons and the like--their being some of our natural predators and such.

I propose that the government of Myrken Wood allow my green-winged guards some time to help deal with these threats--for our combined safeties, sir. However, in return for our expertise in handling such threats, I ask a private and open-minded audience with the Council at large at the earliest convenience. We have a number of concerns to discuss about the relationship between our respective realms.

I wish you good day, as well as perfect safety and good health concerning these flying monstrosities. I eagerly await your reply. Simply leave it in the first cavern in the caves we call home behind the old Treadwell cottage by Silver Lake, and I will receive it safely.

With all due respect and concern,
This day the 15th of May,
Richard Aengus, King of New Hibera
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