Most beloved Zann,

Tharus told me about Lord Clear’s plan to sit in the ruins of Cas Crid and crown himself king. I didn’t really understand the details. I think Ambe had explained it to him and he left out some important parts. But the idea was that if he, Clear, did it right, he would be the real king in some magical way, and then he’d have power over the people of Crideon.

I asked about Wande. Tharus said that she had actually come all the way out here looking for me. This was before he found me. They sent a message to her when I had been found, but the messenger couldn’t find her. That was strange, and worrying.

I had had other visitors while I was unconscious: Candur, Ellewen, Chath, Srix. Ambe told them that I’d need about a swing to recover enough to do any guarding or anything. I didn’t know how much of the swing I’d slept through.

Ambe returned. She gave me a punch on the arm and a small bowl of broth and then went back to work. I think she didn’t want to burden me with troubles. I told her I could handle more than a dish of soup and she asked me if I could handle cleaning up my puke.

Candur also returned. Ambe didn’t want to let him in, but he shouted her down and sat down on the edge of my bed.

“Sir,” I said. “Pardon me for not standing to attention.”

“Don’t do that,” he said. “We’ve got larger problems.”

“Lord Clear? Tharus has been telling me about what he’s done.”

“He hasn’t told you the worst part. I only just found out.”

“What’s the worst part?” I asked.

“Our oaths as Rosolla Guards may bind us to Lord Clear. We may have to go to Cas Crid and work for him. Unless you can scheme some way out of it.”

Love,

Ybel