Rjon,

I hope this letter finds you safe in Calvarin. Quite a distance from my current location, but what is the human expression? Better not put all your chickens in one basket.

The news is dire, I fear. No less than four other missives have received no response. I worry our eyes and ears into the eastern country may be blinded. A heavy price for our freedom. I shall perform the ceremony to find any lost souls myself, at the next full moon. We shall not lose them, though a worse time for a pregnancy I cannot imagine. Two of the lost were female. I shall have to bear twins to renew the balance. I am aware of the health risks, but we have no other options at present.

We must, above all, regain the crystal. It matters not how many fall in that goal. Without it, we are truly damned.

The courts here stir, like a shaken bee’s nest. The human king shouts for our blood, and many are the voices that reply. I am above suspicion, of course, but the same is not true for most of our people. I will feel greatly relieved when I hear of your arrival in Calvarin, as will the others. You are key to our success.

We had no time, before, to speak of your mission. Did your research bear fruit? Did you find any additional information on where the crystal is being kept?

I weaken. There is a young knight at court – a raven-haired youth, full of fire and promise. So eager I could almost feed from him at dinner last night. You men, you feed upon fear and glory in terror. I pity that you cannot taste the sweet syrup of sensuality, the juicy spice of a human in heat. One of many differences that allow our culture to thrive, I suppose.

The king will be mad with jealousy. The boy will most likely be killed for my indiscretion, but I shall only get a second, more passionate feeding from the game. They are so easy to manipulate, the humans. If only they could also be trusted or anticipated.

Worry not. I shall not make the same mistake twice. When the time comes, I will slit the throat of the king myself, affection or no. Their treachery may have been forgotten by their people, but you and I, we still bear the scars from our last war.

~Kyuu

KYUU,

I HAVE ARRANGED PASSAGE ON THE NEXT SHIPMENT OF GARNISH AND BEDECKMENT TO HEAVILMAUN. DON’T WORRY IT HAS A STOP IN CALVARIN ONE DAY INTO THE TRIP AT WHICH POINT I SHALL DEPART THE CARRIAGE.

IT SHOULD BE EASY ENOUGH TO GO UNNOTICED AMONGST ALL THE TYPICAL SIMULACRUM, THOUGH UTILIZING THE SACELLUM FURTHER THAN THAT IS PRECARIOUS SO I AM HAPPY TO BE LEAVING.   I HAVE ENSURED THE SQUIRES QUIET BY HIGHENING HIS FEAR AND DEVOURING IT ALONG WITH MUCH OF HIS MENTAL CAPACITY, HE WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THESE TOURTURES. I HIGHLY INTEND TO HAVE ONE LAST DISPLAY BEFORE THE TOWNSFOLK PRIOR TO MY LEAVING, WITH THE HOPES OF MAKING THE TRIP ITSELF LESS OF A STRAIN, AS I DO NOT INTENT TO BE HELPLESS WHILE WE TRAVERSE THE ROAD TO CALVARIN.

HAVE YOU ANY GOOD WORD TO SEND OF THE OTHERS?

RJON

P.S. I HAVE HESITATED TO ASK, DO WE HAVE HOPES OF SURVIVING THOSE THAT RULE THE NIGHT?

RJON,

WE’VE BEEN DISCOVERED.

NOT ALL OF US, BUT SOME. THEY’LL FIND YOU SOON ENOUGH, AND I CANNOT LOSE MY LIEUTENANT BEFORE THE WAR IS TRULY FOUGHT. NOT THIS TIME. TWO POSTED IN THE CAPITAL CITY HAVE BEEN FOUND AND BURNED. THEY WENT THROUGH TWENTY INNOCENTS TO FIND THEM, BUT THE HUMANS BREED LIKE FLIES.

TWENTY OF THEM IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE LOSS OF TWO OF OUR OWN. NOW THAT THEY KNOW WE ARE HERE, WE CANNOT HIDE AMONG THEM FOR MUCH LONGER. THEY ONCE KNEW TO TEST VIA FIRE AND WATER, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE FOUND WHEN THEY REMEMBER.

SO RUN. EAT BEFORE YOU GO – FEAST IF YOU LIKE, THERE’S NAUGHT BUT BEAR AND DEER ALONG YOUR PATH. GO TO CALVARIN, NEAR THE MOUNTAINS. I WILL ARRANGE FOR A DRACWING EGG TO BE THERE FOR YOUR ARRIVAL. BIND THE HATCHLING AND USE IT AND IT ALONE FOR MESSAGES. NO OTHER METHOD IS SAFE, THESE DAYS.   I DON’T HAVE TO REMIND YOU TO BE CAREFUL.

~ KYUU NAJJ

P.S. KILL THE BOY. HE KNOWS TOO MUCH.