Dearest Lady Constanza Orduño,
It is with a bit of humbleness and caring that I read
your letter, however, I have nothing but dread and concern that weighs
heavily on my mind as I return the letter in kind. I have been
cast out of the Embassy for being what would be known to all as a "Spawn
of Legion", due to my unfortunate circumstance. I reside now
at the Fox and Hound Inn, just off of the main street through Freiburg.
So, any further correspondence to me should go there. My hound
has also stayed by my side at the worst of times. And for that
I am grateful. Don Juan Orduno has informed me that I
am to be paid five hundred marks for my aid in the trouble that they have
had with the raving lunatics called the "Mad Wolves" of Freiburg.
They have managed to destroy the Castillian Embassy yet again...lest the
front door lies on it side rather than upright anymore.
Don Juan tells me that half of the money that I was
paid is to go to the debt that I owe Don Lucas, which by all means is fair
and just. However, I have every intent to pay him back in full, being
that he was generous enough to loan me the money to begin with. Unfortunately,
desperate times have called for desperate measures. I have
happened to come across a small vial of what appears to be a clear liquid,
almost like water when poured from a tap. It was sealed with a solid
wax and a cork at the top. I did not know what to make of it,
so I took it to the apothecary shop found here in Freiburg.
The lady behind the counter told me she did not know what it was, but she
was sure it was like nothing she had seen before. She wanted
to know where the vial came from, I inadvertently told her that I ran into
a woman who was mugged on the street and tried to help her, but she died
in my arms... asking me to give the vial to her sister, and she had the
looks of a fate witch, but I wasn't sure, it was too dark out.
So, off I went on my way back to my room. As
the night went on, I thought of how I could pay back the money I had owed...
and it came to me. Pen a letter to one Redmund Erhart, the richest
man in Freiburg. Not to mention, Don Lucas has had trouble with creditors
as of late and they wish to have twenty thousand marks for the mortgage
of the Embassy, and it looks like there are several of them, up to over
one-hundred thousand marks worth of debt. I'm not sure why
all of them showed up at once, but I think it might have to do with Erhart.
Erhart was to be married soon and we had received invitations, it was rather
odd that he would do such since I did see Don Lucas slight his honor a
bit at another social gathering... but perhaps he will make reparations
to him? I don't know. I wrote up a letter to Erhart that
I might have something that he would want in exchange that he paid off
my debt and that he let the Castillian Embassy's mortgage lapse.
The next day, a man in livery showed up and asked me if I would be kind
enough to be escorted to the estate of Erhart. I agreed
and we arrived there.
What came next, I'm not sure what to make of it...
but it's certainly not pleasant... I had spoken to Erhart and explained
to him that I had this vile. I wasn't sure what to make of
it, but I had a feeling that there was something that was going on with
his bride to be. I explained to him that if he paid my debt in full
and forgave the loans on the Embassy, that he could have the vile.
He wanted to know where I obtained it from, and hesitantly I spoke of the
lady who had died. He motioned over to his guards to bring
in one lady by the name of Theresa, apparently his bride to be.
Since I was not fluent in Vodacce, I couldn't understand the language they
spoke between them, but as the conversation wore on, she became very scared
and very worried. Erhart motioned over to his guards who then
held her down on the ground, as she kicked and screamed for help.
He wanted the vile from me at that point. I glanced over
at the woman and then the guards who kept me in my chair. There was
nothing I could do. I reluctantly gave him the vile.
He proceeded to open it and pour the liquid into her open mouth.
She screamed in utter horror and pain... and all I could do was watch.
It was definitely not a sight that anyone should have to see... or hear.
Erhart paid me my money, and told me that he had done
me a favor, as the guards dragged the corpse off. He said that
if he had other information on the Castillian Embassy, he would gladly
pay well for it. Now, being that I had already made this mistake
in trusting this man, I feel it my duty to avenge the death of this
women whom I did not even know. She died needlessly, I tell
you! I am in a bit of a quandary however... I feel as
if both Theus and Legion are watching over me, and now I feel as if the
possible fate witch may have cursed me for all of time. If
that is true... may we all find salvation someplace safe.
Respectfully,
Ferdinand de La Reina del Mar
