"Which obviously makes being in their cellar a bigger problem. We could always do 'get help' I suppose..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Aerendir receives two reproving glares for this comment.

"This is your fault, you know," Tyronius turns to Marabir, "Just because you do not want to marry the princess of Morne does not mean you have to run of into the heart of Caladormist territory."

Marabir meets his gaze evenly.

"Our realms are a long way off arranging a marriage, I assure you," he replies. "But that isn't why I snuck out of Carendisal."

"Oh?" says Tyronius, raising an eyebrow. "Then why in Verun did you leave?"

Marabir pauses, eyeing his brother for a moment before sighing, and reaching into his tunic to withdraw a crumpled letter, now stained with blood, sweat and mud.

Tyronius eyes the letter dubiously, but at length takes the proffered piece of parchment, scanning it before reading it aloud.

"'Marabir. There is more to your mother's death than you know. Dark forces are at work. Meet me at dusk on the 7th of Midfall at the ranger's lodge in the Helard Woods. Trust no one. Not Morfion. Not Vard. Red glows the sun and sapphire the sea.' And there is no signature," he finishes, looking unimpressed as he glances up at Marabir. "Who gave you this?"

"I found it tucked under my quilt on the evening I departed," Marabir replies, extending a hand for the letter once more. "I have no idea who placed it there."

"Probably the Caladormists," Tyronius surmises darkly, not returning the letter as he scans it once more. "Or perhaps someone attempting to sour our relations with Morne."

Marabir shakes his head.

"That phrase. 'Red glows the sun and sapphire the sea'. Our mother used to sing that song to us when we were children."

Tyronius raises an eyebrow.

"I have no memory of any songs."

"Perhaps you were too young," Marabir replies, before chanting softly. "'Red glows the sun and sapphire the sea, when the battle is won and the heart is set free.'"

"I see why you never became a bard," Tyronius shoots back cuttingly.

"I can always count on you for encouragement," Marabir quips back.

"So someone happens to know a song our mother used to sing," Tyronius shrugs. "A very dubious reason to trust them over Morfion and Aglorn Vard, two of our father's most loyal lords. And if you trust this dubious individual so much, why did you bring Aerendir, Morfion's brother, along on your escapade?"

"Well, I trust Aerendir," Marabir replies, attempting to fold his arms and deciding against it with a wince. "He has saved my life on more than one occasion. Besides, I am sure he is as interested in discovering if his brother is hiding something as any of us."

"I'm right here, you do realise?" Aerendir says sourly.

"Indeed," agrees Marabir. "And what are your thoughts on this letter?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

"What? About an anonymous letter with no evidence or proof saying please run off into Caledormist territory without any bodyguards and don't trust anyone who can send competent guards with you like my brother?" Aerendir sniffs.

Tyronius sends Aerendir an approving nod, before glancing back to Marabir.

"Well, you two can refuse to see the proof if you wish," Marabir sniffs, wincing as he gingerly pulls himself up. "But I did take you with me, Aerendir. And I can handle myself."

"So you have proven," mutters Tyronius as he passes the letter back to Marabir and resumes his pacing.

"Split that side of yours open again and I will throttle you," Aerendir says grimly, glaring balefully at Marabir's side.

Marabir pauses, eying Aerendir for a moment before sighing and seating himself once more.

"What is today's date?" he asks, after a moment.

"You are not still thinking of going to that ranger's lodge," Tyronius shoots back firmly. "The moment we find a way to escape we are going straight back to Carendisal."

"But we are almost there," Marabir reasons. "You don't feel the slightest bit of curiosity about our mother's death?"