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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Good my Baron and Baroness,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yesterday, my lord husband and young Arias spent
the day with the armorers, fitting him with a new gorget wrought with much skill
at the anvil. Apparently the sound of the hammers drew attention to our
keep, nestled among the hills of the far reaches of the Barony on our
northwestern border. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks to the screams of a young maid, who had
risen early to start the baking of the bread in the wee small hours of the
morning, we all awoke to find our armory being raided! She spotted the
unfamiliar lot as she went to fetch wood to feed the ovens. </FONT><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Our small company of men gave chase, but could catch none of
the band who carried with them the best of the new weapons to come from the
armorers' hands.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>While I was inspecting the wreckage, I did find
something of great interest: a piece of cloth, ripped from one of the
thieves clothing. A ram's horn is carefully embroidered upon it.
Need I remind you that a ram's horn is the primary charge upon the arms of
Bordermarch?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The care and skill of the work shows that this man
is not some gypsy come to relieve us of a few goods here and there as they pass
through your lands. As my dear friend warned me, I believe that we have
been attacked, all of us, by those marauding bands from Bordermarch and are
taking the best that this Barony has to offer back to their castle. They
will drink our best wines, make their food savory with our spices, gift their
ladies with our jewels and give them silk threads with which to adorn their
clothes. They have our game to eat on their trek home and study a how-to
book on waging more effective war and more weapons with which to wage
it!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My friend from the coastal lands of Ansteorra
stands in danger of losing her life if she is found out. But I will echo
her words to me once again. She believes that there is one amongt us who
has told these brigands what to look for. How else would they know of the
manuscript from Valerius? Elfsea's lands are vast and the game keepers are
keen. How else could they have eluded their watchful eye? Jewels and
spices are kept safely for they are of great value. They are not left out
casually for everyone to see. Our keep is high in the hills, far from many
of our dear friends. How did they know to come listen for the sounds of
the hammers?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My hope is that their nocturnal visit to our keep
was on their way out of our Barony, but I fear that many of our good gentles
have not yet discovered their losses, for we are blessed with bounty in this
land.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I fear for those who have travelled to Bryn Gwlad
for their great festivities. The blood red moon we saw earlier this week
is waning, but still gives enough light to allow that lot to spot their pray
upon the roads. I have lit candles for the safe return of all who have
ventured forth.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My lord husband, your Knight Marshal, stands at the
ready. We have but to hear your words to begin preparations for
attack!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I remain in your service,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Honorable Lady Medb
Liath</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>