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[Thraxas]

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A courier from Thrax delivers a letter to the home of Ceinwyn ab'Arawn...

"M'lady Ceinwyn,

I regret not to be able to speak to you about this in person, but I am preparing a move that may help me regain my lost place and stature in Yew society. My brother has offended the elves of Heartwood by permitting a known elf-hater, Magnate Isk, to lecture on Humanis philosophy at Alderglen Academy. You probably know that. Well, I intend to unite them and give my aid to their efforts. I have a little money and some influence left and hope to get more. If you have any to spare, I would greatly appreciate your help, but if not, do not worry.

One thing I do need is something that only you can tell me... that is, the true name of my brother. Oddly enough, after all those years of us being united in one body, I never was able to learn his true name; he kept that secret from me. He told me how he came to be, flaunting that knowledge with typical daemonic pleasure, and, as I told you the night you freed me from the prison in the void, I do not blame you. However, you can do me, Yew and many others who will be harmed by him yet future, an enormous favor by telling me that name. I swear I will use it only to banish him, if possible, but control him if that is not possible. Please tell me.

I have a meeting to attend tonight, but after that, if you wish to visit me to talk, or have me visit you, I would be amenable to it of course.

I eagerly await your reply,

My love and care,
Thrax"
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"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."

[Ceinwyn ab'Arawn]

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Once-Lord Thrax,

It is probably best that you did not come in person with such an insulting request. What you ask of me is akin to asking me to murder one of my own children. Consider yourself lucky that I choose to write a response to you rather than responding in person and punctuating my reply by removing your offensive dishonorable head.

Don't begin to mewl to me about the pathetic tree-hugging elves of Heartwood. You will find that my compassion does not extend to cowards. Nor do I find myself particularly concerned about the city of Yew, it has been prosperous and not come to any war in the time Thraxas has had charge of it. Speaking of which, I did note that you preceded asking for Thraxas' true name by asking for gold, which tells me which is really more important to you.

Such shame, Thrax, that you would stoop to this low when you should be content merely to be alive. You almost cause me regret for pulling your wretched hide from the Umbra. Perhaps I should have left you there and not wasted my time. You can be assured that your actions are no doubt known by your obviously much more intelligent counterpart. I have every confidence that his spies are aware of your scheming. Perhaps you should be questioning your own motives, and not those of your brother.

It would seem that you have become a miserable example of one of my long-standing and oft taught philosophies. Only the strong survive, pity that you do not number among them.

You are judged and found lacking, in Honor and more,

Ceinwyn ab'Arawn


P.S. Pray that we never meet again, or an eternity in the Umbra will be the least of your dishonorable worries.

[Thraxas]

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The courier returned with the reply. With groundless confidence, Thrax opened it and read it.

His expression changed from an expectant joy to one of complete bafflement. He let the letter fall to his desk and held his hands in his head. "How could I have been so foolish?" he asked himself. "How could I have thought..." he left the sentence unfinished. He had believed that she cared for him in some way having offered him the use of her home to stay while he recuperated from the multitudinous complications of being restored wholly and intact to the mortal world. They had parted on good terms, or so he had thought. He had believed she had changed, for the better, and while not being Light sworn, had surrendered the ways of the darkness of Umbra... and maybe she had, he mused. What he just heard from her was more like what she had referenced: the threats of a mother in defense of her endangered child.

His miscalculation threw him into deep depression the more he considered her words. Perhaps she was right... his brother knew everything and was waiting to strike.

He called Esric in and told him to tell his elvish friends to cancel the meeting.

"But sir, you gave them your word," Esric countered.

"Aye, I did, but it may all be a mistake. I suspect if my journal is lost, my brother's spies may have stolen it. If so, he will be watching this house and me."

Esric paused a short time clearly deep in thought. Then his eyes lit up as he spoke rapidly. "I have a plan sir. I will go out and return with a monk robe on as if a friend is paying you a visit. You will leave in that very robe. Go to the Abbey and loiter to make sure you are not being followed. Then make a circuitous route to the middle of town keeping in hiding. When you see me standing by the Heartwood moongate, prepare yourself. As long as I am standing there, do not approach. When you see me leave, go nearer to it. If you see anyone other than the Emissary around it, head back to the Abbey. I will go later and tell them you cannot come as you are being watched and followed."

Convinced of the soundness of the plan, Thrax changed his mind. "Your counsel seems good. Go now and return later with the robe. I need some time alone."

Esric bowed and left the villa, heading toward the Abbey. Along the way a huge raven swooped down to rest on the limb of a tree near him. He called to it and it flew to alight on his arm. He scribbled a note and tied it hastily to the bird's foot, then sent it on its way. "To my Lord Thraxas," he said. The bird squawked once and took flight.
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"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."