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[Itannar]

---

"Report to Lord Regent Thraxas
Concerning the Will of the Late
Thraxanduril of Yew and the
Findings of the Investigation
of His Murder

Milord Thraxas,

Your brother visited me one day and gave me a sealed document. He gave instructions for it to remain sealed until his death, and then I should open and read it. I have done so. I found the document to be his will. I will proceed with the commission of the terms unless you can provide legal grounds that they be dismissed.

1. He bequeaths all his worldly possessions, title, and house in Yew to a female elf named Kayla Ariesus. I shall visit the Abbey bank and obtain the items in his vault to give to her

2. He names an elf female named Black Swan to inherit the oversight of the lands of Alderglen. At the time of the writing of this will, he did not know those lands are now mine. I have spoken to Lady Swan and have agreed on a compromise. She will oversee the lands on my behalf and also the Academy. I will maintain my office there but will concentrate my business upon the township of Yew. Recent events dictate that I should be there more often and I cannot divide my time between the two locations and do a creditable job in either area.

3. He makes a few very outrageous and absurd claims concerning you which he had already divulged to me in a former conversation. I will not even waste your time mentioning them. I perceive that he had a vendetta against you and was willing to bandy any accusation to put a smear upon your name. I have known the man for a long time and, if you will pardon my criticism of the dead, and your kinsman, very little of what he said could be taken as truth.

If you wish to see the will, I will certainly bring it to you. I saw no need since it is a very brief document which I could summarize myself as I have just done.

As for the report on the killing:

1. There were no direct witnesses of the murder in Heartwood to come forward. This is a very bad sign to me. The elves seemed to take the killing on their doorstep as something slightly less than bothersome.

2. A monk's robe was found outside the entrance to Heartwood, but it cannot positively be linked to the crime, even though one elf said he did see two monks speaking to one another just inside the entry to Heartwood. I presume it was cast away by one of the killers, but no blood stains were found upon it.

3. A female elf named Kayla Ariesus is in my custody; the one named in the will. She is under house arrest in Yew, at Thrax's villa. I have the place heavily guarded and patrolled. The former owner, an elf named Esric Tal, has disappeared but left the deed to the villa in Thrax's name. I can only assume Esric sold Thrax the place prior to his death. According to the terms of the will, I have signed over the deed to the place to her.

From this, I deduce: 1) the murder was premeditated; 2) the killers were professionals; 3) there is a high probability that the killers were elves or in the employ of the elves of Heartwood.

Kayla gave me a deposition which stated the following:

1. She did not murder Thraxanduril, your brother.
2. She does not know who did murder him, but that he feared for his life.
3. She does not have any knowledge about a militant elvish faction in Heartwood that may have wished him harm, or dead.
4. She admitted she was collaborating with him on an effort to protest the allowance of Magnate Isk into the Academy in Alderglen over his teaching of Humanis philosophy there.

I have no reason to doubt her statements but as she is the only suspect, I have detained her. If you wish to question her yourself, that can be arranged, of course.

I am at your disposal to fulfill your wishes in this matter. Send word or summons and I shall respond with alacrity.

Itannar Darkanor
Archwarden of Yew"
_________________
-The bonds of fellowship are forged in the flames of adversity-

[Thraxas]

---

The Lord Regent received the letter and examined it carefully.

Why did he not send me the Will itself?

The question troubled him. He was certain he knew the nature of the accusations that his brother had made against him. He recalled the conversation where he had confronted his "twin" with the facts of his genesis and made demands against him and how they agreed to keep it a secret. Now he wished that had never happened but he could not worry about that now. Taking pen and parchment, he wrote a reply to the Archwarden:

"Lord Itannar,

I thank you for the report and summary. However, I would like to see the Will myself. It is not that I do not trust your word... I do of course... but that a document such as that should remain in the family, of whom I am the only surviving member. Please send or bring it to me at your earliest.

As for the investigation... I believe your assessment is accurate, and I do wish to have the woman Kayla interrogated, though not by myself. It is beneath my station to do so. I will have someone I trust to take custody of her for that. I will inform you when that time comes.

I do not know who Lady Swan is, but I have no issues with her assuming control of the school as long as you do not mind. I know your duties take you away and now that there is a gloomy portent of hostility that has arisen in Yew, your services and attention is needed there more. Do as you see fit.

Fulfill my request as soon as possible. Continue the investigation.

Best Regards,

Thraxas
Lord Regent of Yew"

He sent a courier to deliver the letter.
_________________
"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."