The letter was clearly dated far older than the envelope and package that had accompanied it. The folded sheet within was yellowed and frayed, but the hand it was written in suggested that the author was educated and spent quite a while writing official documents. Perfect, orderly lines crossed the page, most of them were simply a list of names indicating persons in attendance. A later hand had gone through and shakily scrawled through most of the names in mottled, thickly applied ink that stood out from the page's true print. Among those left untouched were one Sir Guy Arnulf, Bard Urien II, and his predecessor-brother Aripert Urien. The name Karl Leid featured prominently at the end of the list. Underneath, an officially worded notice and agreement that all parties named had certified the passing of King Arduin II. It was a common sort of document, the necessary paperwork for when a king died and his authority was to be passed to an heir. However, the sender apparently thought little of the message other than its utility as a list of names. Only a few moments after the parchment had been exposed, its surface began to crackle and the text below the list burned away in a flash. Left behind were large, letter shaped holes spelling out, with blackened borders, 'TAKE HOME YOUR DOG.'

---

"I wouldn't cut it out that low just yet," Feril said, trying to sound cheerful. She wasn't so callous as to say only two people had died and so settled on telling Sophia, "We're all still alive, so there's at least something to be grateful for." Her smile faltered a little, she wasn't convinced even by her own words. Things were going poorly and there was no question to it. No matter who you were, the events at the palace weren't leaving you well off. "With any luck, your guy will still find a way out of town. There's smugglers aplenty in a place like this, and I don't think your country is gonna care what laws you break getting back to them." With those words of wisdom, she shrugged and picked up a class from the table, drinking whatever it was, she didn't quite remember pouring it but it was still sweet enough.