A Letter Bound in Crimson

[Vanidor]

There came a time, early in the morning, that a lad in the livery of one of the local postal houses would come to the office of the Constables. He had in his hands a small wooden box, a thing that was tied closed with ribbon the colour of freshly spilled blood, the tassels of which were made of thread of gold. The lad half trembled when it came out of his satchel. It wasn't something he wished to carry long, and he hoped that the Governor was in residence so he could hand it over. The sender had said that it was for his hands only.

There was no denying that the small box came from another land, for it was etched with symbols depicting horses running through fields. Footed in silver, the wood was dark mahogany so the feet looked particularly brilliant, with hinges that looked... looked like they were made from mithril! The scrollwork seemed to be painted with gold, so they stood out. All in all, it was a particularly marvelous piece.

Within it, if the Governor would be so inclined to accept, and then open the parcel, was a letter that was once again bound with crimson threading. It was a piece of cream-coloured parchment folded inwards against itself, and sealed with dark green wax. The sigil upon it was the seal of Almark. It was up to the Constable-Governor to open it now. Or send it away. The boy would wait for either option.

[Cinnabar]

An interesting package, and one which the messenger boy will be able to deliver after little delay; the Governor is in his office early today, and thus able to accept this undeniably valuable object. A slightly distracted thanks for the lad, a few shilling-bits for his diligence as a courier, and he is politely but very firmly dismissed before Calomel pays closer attention to the thing.

For a time he simply inspects this opulent little casket, turning it this way and that upon his desk with bandaged hands, brushing fingertips over the carvings, the dainty metal fittings, the elegantly-applied gold leaf. He has an appreciation for fine craftsmanship, a taste for the well-made, and it is undeniable that this box fits that description. A span of minutes passes before he even unfastens the ribbon that holds it closed, picking apart the knot with patient fingers and setting the narrow strip of fabric aside.

There's a further pause as he considers this thing, already surmising the likely identity of its sender. Of Thessilane make, and rich manufacture. Some sort of gift, perhaps, a grand gesture of the sort beloved by wealthy nobles. Hm. A thumb rested to either side of the lid, then, to swing it open on smooth hinges, revealing the letter within, which is lifted out carefully and turned over between curious fingers. A letter-opener is retrieved from his desk drawer, slipped under the seal to slice it away from the paper beneath, and at last the letter is opened, unfolded.

This should be interesting.

[Vanidor]

The letter within came from someone other than whome Cinnabar would have expected, however. Though the mark was, indeed, not that far off. The letters were written in a strong and angular hand. A forceful person had written this, for surely whomever had penned this had put more pressure upon the nib of his quill than was truly needed. Still, it was well written.

Governor Calomel,

I give you good greetings and wishes that your injuries recover swiftly, and without mar to your abilities. I hope the Remembrance Box came to you in good condition, and that you find it a suitable thing within which to put whatever you hold close to your heart. It is a gift, of that there is no denying. But it is also part of a tradition from Almark, where I was born. A gift when one enters the House of another, and surely Myrken is your House as much as it is could belong to anyone else.

My name is Christoph al`Nerun, and I have come at the behest of my Lord, Duke Burel, to act as factor, ambassador, and bearer of the good will of my people to Myrken. I hope to secure a residence here in town shortly, where perhaps you and I and any other of your choosing can meet for a light supper and conversation. If you have any recommendations as to where I could find a suitable home. I would highly appreciate any suggestion you may have. For the moment, I have taken residence in a inn in Myrkentown by the name of the Shepard's Crook. Please send any correspondence there, and I will be more than happy to respond as soon as possible.

Of course, any questions you have now are more than welcome. If you wish to meet before the purchase of a house, I will also be available. Thank you for your time.

At Your Service,
Christoph al`Nerun
Baron of Almark

[Cinnabar]

A letter in a smooth and elegant copperplate is conveyed to Baron al'Nerun's lodgings at the Shepherd's Crook, a roll of smooth, creamy paper sealed inside a scroll tube of polished brass.


To: Christoph al`Nerun, Baron of Almark

Baron Cristoph

My thanks for your recent missive and the well-wishes contained therein, and my sincere apologies for not replying sooner; I fear that the generosity of your most gracious gift in part contributed to this delay, as while we lack such charming customs as the Remembrance Box in Myrken Wood, I held off on a response until I could secure an appropriate token of welcome to offer in return.

Alas, it would appear that events have overtaken us, and so I trust that you will forgive my lamentable breach of etiquette in sending this letter on its own - I shall endeavour to correct this oversight at earliest opportunity, but I fear that matters of office have become somewhat pressing of late.

On the subject of official matters, however, I note with some dismay that your lord Duke Burel has brought to Myrken Wood a quite inappropriate number of troops, some of whom marched through Myrkentown earlier today - apparently an escort for the Duke Burel and Duchess Lenore with their daughter the Lady Vara. Please convey to your lord that this impromptu state visit has caused no small degree of inconvenience and brought considerable unease to the local citizenry, which I am sure was not his intention; additionally, the lack of advance warning rendered it all but impossible to coordinate an appropriate reception for the Ducal family. While Myrken Wood seeks to offer every courtesy and hospitality to visiting dignitaries, a certain degree of courtesy is expected of our guests in return. We trust that such regrettable breaches of protocol will not be repeated.

On the subject of housing, I am led to believe that Merchant's Row may have a property or two on the market, and the houses there are of quite sound construction; however, I would politely recommend holding off on any property purchases until the current misunderstandings are resolved. In the meantime I have taken the liberty of instructing that an honour guard of Constables be posted at your current abode, in order to insure your continued safety and comfort. Please be advised that a curfew is in effect throughout the hours of darkness, and as a visitor it is requested that you do not venture out of doors during this time.

Sincerely

Cinnabar Calomel


True to his word, a detachment of Constables arrives soon after the letter, taking up positions about the inn such that they might prevent the passage of unwelcome intruders - and, indeed, to politely bar any attempts to leave the building during the curfew.