A Report about the Excavations Note · Pickups

Sir,

As you requested, I travelled south, to the Silts, and found the excavation site you mentioned. You were right – everyone there is working on Lady Xanthe’s orders. I tried to chum up with one of the officers, a fellow I remembered from our service together back in Svartrau. But he wasn’t too keen on sharing any information with me. In fact, my presence made him anxious and he urged me to leave.

When I rightly pointed to the fact that we are all loyal servants of our Knyaz and there’s no need for secrecy between us – and incidentally reminded him of the time I saved his life a year back when we got involved in a nasty brawl in Altenmarkt – he seemed on the verge of telling me something more. But one of the Blood Guards noticed us chatting, approached and very curtly told me to ‘fuck off’. And so I did, not wanting to get involved with those creepy sods.

So – it seems like the good Lady is up to something and I don’t think the rest of the vrakhiri know what it is exactly. My advice? Drop it, sir. We should focus on our orders and let our betters sort it all out between themselves.

I hope this letter finds you in good health.

Riquin