19/04/1897

To my precious Natalia, 

It is I, Pablo, writing from Peetsurg, In Bzalnia. 

I hope that you and Carlo are fine and well. I hope that Henrich and Arnold are taking care of the court well enough in my steed. I know you will direct them correctly if any matters get out of hand. 

I’m sure that our people will not have to fear the Gustovo coming to seize our lands for a long while. We have already quelled their ambitions to take over in the last war. It’s been about 30 years already, and there still has not been any talks of Gustovo conquest. They know that my county is in strong hands. So, worry not about them, my dear. 

I understand that reminders of these matters may seem strange. And so, I must tell you of why I write you now. 

I may not return to Dysrab as soon as we all hoped. Things have not occurred as smoothly as I had planned. I do not wish for you to be alarmed, my precious Natalia. But I am not well. I may have led myself into matters far more dangerous than I would have ever imagined. 

This ordeal is something beyond anything my powers can contest. This is no political matter. I am the Lord of Dysrab. There are many things that a man of my position can counter. But no. What I face is something beyond the usual power of man. Affliction. 

This is no common affliction I face, my dear. Not the sort we fight with even the best physicians. It is the sort that may occur when dealing with the terrors involved in my other unspoken trade. 

There was always the risk of something like this when I took the job to exterminate the beast haunting Bzalnia. We of the Unspoken Authority knew the risks involved when dealing with the dark world. But this was not anticipated when I reviewed the risks involved in the job. I was only tasked to deal with a moon howler. Nothing more. But I was careless as I roamed alone in this foreign place. And now, I suffer a curse. 

I am currently in trustworthy hands. Fortunes blessed me with a formidable ally here in Peetsurg. I am not sure of which Unspoken Court he deals with, but he seems adept in the matters I now face. I believe he may be arranging me a possible treatment. I hope. But I am currently under his care. And I can only pray for the best. 

I cannot tell you how long it will be until I return to Dysrab, or if I can even return at all. This affliction doesn’t seem a simple matter, even to my new ally. 

And so that is why I hope you take care of our land while I am away. Do your best to lead Herich and Arnold in managing the council. And tell our little Carlo that Father may not make it back in time for his birthday. I am ashamed that I may miss him on his special day. But my absence may be for the best. 

I know this is a lot for one to ask you, my dear Natalia. But please do not worry about me. Be strong. For all of us. For me, even. My will demands that I get through this ordeal. And so, I know I will overcome this affliction. I must! And so, I hope that you keep your faith in me too. For me. For you. And for our dear Carlo. 

I love you both. And my strength comes from my will to hold you both again. Let us keep strong, even as we are apart. There are grey uncertainties ahead of us, and we must have faith in each other if we are to survive. 

I still have much time to write this letter as I await more help from my new ally. I am safe at his own place at the moment. And I have been provided with goods to rest, and to even write. And so maybe writing is the best I can do for now, while I’m still fit to do so. 

I will use the rest of this letter to document my experiences coming to Peetsurg. Through this, I hope to at least have a written record of my experiences here, in case it may be required. I hope that through writing of the occurrences, it helps me better remember what happened. And it’s also best I write all that happened so that you truly understand the depth of my situation. 

Please be patient with me, my precious dear, as I outline all that has happened. 

---

I arrived in Peetsurg two days earlier. Arnold put me on a trader caravan so I could enter the country under cover. I’m sure the traders knew who I was. Enough coin can keep any man’s mouth shut. And it’s not likely anyone would have suspected a high lord draped in such a worn-out rider’s cloak, with no men at his side. 

The Grand Park Hotel knew a wealthy man would come. Arnold had already paid for everything, so I don’t think the hotel truly cared who I was. A luxurious place. I don’t understand why our men place me at such a jewel. Safety I’m guessing. No matter. 

The agent of the task met me at the hotel as promised. All the details were all in accord to the call. Moon Howler. Likely alone. High risk. Had been causing havoc out in the country for several months. Now likely in the city. Clever about where they hunted. Locations with several people, but not crowded, with many escape routes. Likely to secure several targets in a short time frame but evade capture. Request, kill on sight. 

I’m actually glad that Arnold placed me in such a rich hotel. I was dealing with a late-night task, so I had too much time to spare. I took a rest. Then after had a proper bath. I guess the benefit to such upper classed places was the privacy. And the selection of foods. I was able to fill up on the right meats and breads I preferred. Nothing to risk my stomach during my long vigil. And I curiously found several whetstones and oils in my quarters. The hotel may not have known who I was, but they knew what I was there to do. 

That night was surely the night the best would strike. Full moon, and breezy. Just enough win to muffle any noise that would cause panic. If the beast was as deadly as they claimed, I would have thought to bring out my spear. But the thing was said to be clever. So, I needed to use something more concealable, lest I scare the thing away in my guise. My saber would be enough. Hidden well enough behind my cloak, and easy enough to coat with solutions and ointments to blight the wicked. And besides, the beast was a moon howler. A man. We of the Unspoken Authority do not fear man. Not with what else lurks out there. 

My earlier scans of the city found that if not for the countless alleys and lanes, then the fountain place near Peetsurg Market would be where the beast strikes. It was a crossroads where many different roads branched out into the city. It’s where I would have hunted if I was the foul thing. And as it drew closer to midnight, the scene seemed perfectly set. Very few people about, most of the city soon fallen asleep, the moon bright and full high above. I knew it would come here. 

I waited upon a side street, keeping view of any who passed by. And soon enough, I felt it. The air stirred slightly, and I recognized the feeling right away. The intention to kill. 

I saw two men walking past the fountain. Workmen, likely, on their way home after a drink. It wasn’t them, but I knew that they would soon be involved. Quickly I got up and started towards them. And soon enough, we all heard the howl.  

The two men turned behind them to see what had made the sound. I yelled for them to run as I quickly tried to approach. It was too late for warning. The beast jumped out from the shadows and pinned down one of the men. The beast quickly made for a bit at the man’s neck. Sword drawn, I quickly made a jab at the howler’s head, just nicking its crown before it could close its jaw on the poor man. The beast knew I was there for it, and, in its fury, wanted to prove its might. 

It made to pounce on me, but unfortunately for it, it had never encountered someone who knew how to handle such headstrong, forward focused aggressors. I quickly leapt back at a sharp angle and drove my blade into its neck. Deep in its flesh, I quickly twisted my saber for more effect, withdrew the blade, and made for another strike as it tried to snap at my arm. But it was too late. My first strike had already maimed its swiftness. And I quickly found my saber deep in its neck once again. This was enough to surpresss the beast from moving any further. 

The howler was large, standing several heads taller than any man. But as it drew still, the transformation from man to beast soon faded. The howler fell to its knees. And as its fur began to fade, and its snout began to retreat to human form, the thing reached for its neck. Now a man, the foe gasped for air. But there was no chance for that as his throat flooded with blood. Fortunately, the two innocent men earlier had already run off, and did not have to witness this beast – no, this man – come to his blood drowned demise. 

The howler was an enormous brute of a man. If he were a soldier, he’d be one to be feared. He must have been a Bzalnian fieldhand, now bolstered up with his new diet. He likely wouldn’t be the only one left out there. Such traits were an ancient hereditary quality spread throughout all our people around our lands. What triggered a man to awaken their howler nature still remains an unknown to the Unspoken Authority. My job was just to bring them down. 

I got my lamp ready for the marking. I branded my court’s mark across the man’s chest, so that any who found the body knew what they were dealing with. But then, that’s when I felt something. Someone was watching me. 

When I looked in the direction of where the gaze had come from, I could not see anyone. Too many shadows had draped that lane way. But as I kept peering in that direction, as I was certain I was being watched, something emerged. A woman. She could tell I knew she was watching. Most folks, once caught observing, usually move on not wanting to bother me. But this woman remained. Curious. I figured she was of the Unspoken Order. So, I called her over. 

I still question this now because of all my confusions, but this woman looked just like you, my dear precious. Her eyes, her nose, her hair, all her features were similar. Only her complexion was more pale, and her expression more tired. She looked as if she had already seen enough of life. And this occurrence of me and the howler was likely nothing new. 

She told me she had seen what had just happened. But she was not in the slightest bit alarmed. I asked her what she was doing out so late. She smiled and said she was only passing by. 

There was a strange air about the woman. The sight of death did not bother her, and yet you could hear the pure innocence in her expression. The women approached the dead howler and softly caressed his face. I asked if she knew the man, but she just shook her head. She was honest. I could tell. Maybe she pitied the fellow. But didn’t she see what the man was earlier? When she asked me if I was a slayer of such beasts, it was clear she saw the man in his other state. 

This lady was intriguing. You could feel her innocence, but you could tell she was no stranger to the darker matters. I asked her of where she was from. I thought she may have been a distant relative of yours, Natalia. The resemblance was uncanny. She just told me she was a local of the city. That much was clear with her strong Bzalnian speech and her city-like dress. I told her of her resemblance to you and asked if she had any relatives in Dysrab. All she said was no and then quickly seemed inclined to leave. I don’t know what came to her mind, but she seemed in a hurry to leave. Maybe it was already too late in the night to linger. 

The Peetsurg River was close by. I went there to clean my things. I know I could have returned to the hotel, but I had forgotten about the privileges the place had to offer. And I was too accustomed to dealing with things in the shadows, especially after a night’s work. I question my choices now. But does it matter, now that everything is done and past. A man cannot help but still feel regrets. 

While I dried off my saver, I could sense that somebody was around. As I looked in the direction of the presence, the woman appeared again. This time she made to quickly leave. I stopped her to question her. I asked her what she was doing, and she told me she was only passing by. I could tell she was being truthful. She then asked about what I was doing. I showed her that I was cleaning my equipment. And then she sat on the ground beside me. I made to help her off the ground, but she stopped me and said she wished to sit. I figured she was just curious about me. 

When I had finished with my equipment, I got ready to leave. But the woman remained seated. So, I asked her, didn’t she have somewhere to go. But she shook her head, then eventually told me her family was dead. That may have explained her familiarity with death. I understood then that she was lost. But I couldn’t just leave a woman alone outside in the night. I offered to pay for a room for her to stay in. I even handed her a small pouch of coin. But she told me she felt most comfortable outside in the night, and that she would find somewhere the next day. 

I was going to leave her behind, there by the river. But something wouldn’t let me go. And I admit, because she looked so much like you, it didn’t help the matter. The way her face lit in the moonlight as she sat there, made me feel as if I was watching you. I’d never want to even tempt the thought of leaving you alone in danger. I decided to sit close by to her, just in case any strangers came by. She told me not to worry about her. But it just did not feel fight. And the morning was only a few hours away.

I woke up to the blaring, busy commotion of the city. Peetsurg was alive and awake. Too awake for my liking. The sound of everything was unbearable. And the daylight was too bright! Much too bright. I wanted nothing more than just to rest. My body ached terribly. I felt as if I had fought a whole war. And now this whole city wouldn’t even let a man rest. My rage grew tremendously. I wanted nothing more than to rest my damned body. But the city was too noisy, and the daylight was too bright. And even the damned river wreaked so foully, almost as if the sun was boiling an awful soup of garbage and people. I couldn’t stand any of it. 

I got up to move. Oh, how my body ached. I needed to get away from everything. I saw an opening down under a ledge under the bridge. I don’t know if it was a sewage way or not because of the smell, but it at least it kept me away from everything. 

Inside was dark and quiet. The smell was not pleasant. But the deeper I walked into the cavern, the more the irritating noise and light of the outside had quietened. I was sore. I just wanted to rest. Was that so much to ask? Once I was deep enough in the quiet, I let myself slouch along the wall and relax. 

When I finally relaxed, I had time to think about all that happened the night before. The moon howler was no real trouble. I had slain the foe quite easily. Why was I so tired and sore? All that happened after was my interaction with the woman. I did not fight her did i? Of course not. So why was my body in so much pain? Did I even have a drink? This couldn’t have been the effects of wine if I never had any. And then it occurred to me, what ever happened to the woman? Did I fight anyone to protect her? I couldn’t remember. And where was she now? I could only remember trying my best to make it the safety and quiet of this city cavern. She must have left earlier and found safety since the city had awakened. 

The city was still alive and awake from what I could hear. I wandered too deep into the tunnels to see any light. Not that it mattered. All I wanted was peace and quiet. To rest my body a little longer. 

But then I sensed something close by. Something dangerous. There was no way I could relax with something wicked lurking about. It was in the tunnels. I could hear it walking closer and closer. I could even smell its stench. A strong fragrance of flowers, wood, and candle wax. Such a strange smell to suddenly arise so deep in this cavern. 

And then I saw something. Light. Bright light. Approaching. And quickly, too. I soon figured it was lamplight. But why would anyone bear a lamp so bright? It was too much for my eyes. I must have sat in the darkness for too long. My eyes stung so much that I had to shield them. Only a man would carry around a lamp, right? I called out, asking whoever it was to dim their light. 

That when whoever had come, stopped. I heard them halt their approach. But they did nothing about their light. I felt the raise their lamp, likely to get a look at me. My eyes couldn’t handle it. I cursed out and told them I was there if they wished to see me. I’m guessing they understood my irritation as they dimmed their lamp calmly. But they did not move. I could sense their spirit. I could sense the power of them. They had killed before. They were surely dangerous. I asked them what they wanted. 

The voice surprisingly spoke in Dysrabian. A Bzalnian accent, but it still asked clearly in Dysrabian, why I was there in the tunnels. I asked them back and explained I just needed somewhere quiet to rest. 

I couldn’t trust a sudden stranger that felt so dangerous. I was still on guard. But when the stranger answered, I felt his intensity calm. “Count Pablo” he said. He knew who I was. Likely why he spoke in Dysrabian. 

He told me his name was Jean, and that he was looking for someone else. Not for me. My eyes soon adjusted, and I could see that Jean was a strong, young man with deep eyes. He had clearly seen a lot in his day. Jean was armed well. I could tell by the saber at his side, but also by the different smaller daggers I could sense on his person. He was on a hunt. When he asked me if anybody else was about, I told him I was sure I was the only one. 

The young man was quite polite. He gave me honour as a count and talked to me respectfully. Even helped me to stand. The fury of his air had already subsided, so I knew I was safe to trust him. 

Jean told me he was part of the Shadow Order of his people’s Unspoken Authority. And so, he heard I had come to Peetsurg to deal with the moon howler. When I told him I had already completed my task, he gave me thanks with polite bow. It had been a long time since I had been treated with such courtesy in this dark trade. Nowadays everyone was just short, sharp, and direct. Almost as if ashamed of what we do. Or maybe it was because of the church, and all the trouble they caused. But this man gave me hope. 

Jean helped me walk outside. My body was feeling better the more I moved. But what shocked me was what I saw when I stepped outside by the river. It was already nighttime. It was already deep in the evening, according to the young man. I must have slept. 

When Jean asked me if I had anywhere to stay while in Peetsurg, I told him that I was already sorted at the Grand Park Hotel. He laughed and offered to gran me stay at somewhere much safer. I knew what he meant but told him not worry as my work in the city was already done. 

I was curious, so I asked Jean who he would have been looking for in those city caverns. My heart sank when he told me. I already knew who he was looking for. “A woman” Jean said. I didn’t want my suspicions to be right, so I asked him for a description and details. He told me was not sure of looks, but he continued by saying that all he knew was that she would be lurking in dark places where no one would find her. 

The woman he described could have been the woman I met the night before. I did always find her hidden in shadows. And her reluctance to stay anywhere but outside was a peculiar thought. But was he looking for this woman. The women I met was innocent. I could tell that much. 

The think thing Jean told me brough a troubling confusion. He said it firmly and informingly. “She is cursed.” 

What did he mean by cursed? Was she sick? I was sure I had not touched that woman even once. My devotion to you, my precious dear, would not have allowed me to get closer to another woman. I would have been safe in that record. But I was talking to a man in the Shadow Order looking for a woman. Cursed could have meant many things. So, I asked about the curse. 

He didn’t tell me too much. He just said she bore a curse that would bring death to any man who got too close to her. And that if a man were to survive a night with her, they would be forever changed and no longer welcome into the light. They would harbour the course that she bore. 

These things sounded more than mere disease. I didn’t know if the woman I had met was the same one he sought. But I grew worried, nonetheless. I told him that I may had met such a woman last night. 

Jean asked for details. What she looked like, where I met her, why I may have suspected that the woman I met may have been who he was looking for. 

I told him all about my experiences with her. I also made sure to tell him that I was sure the woman I met was innocent, that I could sense that she had no intentions of hurting another. I’m sure he could feel that I was a good judge of character. We were both of the Unspoken Authority. It was a trait required for such an industry. 

He wasn’t sure what to make of what I told. He wasn’t given much to go on, either. He may have just hoped to rely on his senses to pick out the target he was searching for. But if it was the woman I met, how would her innocent nature effect how he judged his investigation. 

There was something inside of me that did not feel right. Something that did not feel safe. Something about her. 

I told Jean about this, about how I didn’t feel completely sure that she was not the culprit. I told him I had a feeling that something was not right. 

I felt Jean begin to eye me cautiously. I didn’t blame him. I wanted answered as much as he did. I didn’t know why, but I just didn’t feel safe. Jean then set up his lamp and asked if he could inspect me. Was he searching for a mark? Would the curse leave behind such? 

He raised the lamp closer to my head. It was quite bright, so I had to shield my eyes. And then he gestured for me to lean my head a little to each side. He was inspecting my neck. That was clear. When he dropped his lamp, I think we both felt relief. No sign of the curse. 

He dimmed his lamp soon after. He could see the light was still a bit much for me, and was considerate enough to put it aside. It was not as if we needed it, anyway. 

Jean then asked me for a reminder of my last experience with her. I told him of how she strangely didn’t want to find anywhere to stay the night. And then I pointed to where she sat, and where I leaned against the wall until I fell asleep. 

We spent a few moments staring at where I pointed, until Jean suddenly clapped his hands together loudly. The clap was so loud and sudden that it stung my ears and frightened me. I jerked back and covered my ears, lest he made another sudden noise. And then he stepped closer to me and asked to check my arms. 

I rolled up my right sleeve and let him check my arm. All seemed fine. So, then I rolled up my left sleeve. Then and there, we both saw it. In an instant, I felt hope slip away from my body. I didn’t want to believe what we saw. But we didn’t need lamp light to see what was clear. On my left wrist. Two blacked wounds. How did I not notice? My entire body was so sore that the pain on my wrist was barely perceivable. But now that I saw it, I felt those very wounds. The rotting, black wounds. 

I suddenly smelt a thick, burning flare in the air. I knew exactly what it meant. I jumped back and drew my sword, en garde. Jean’s sword was already drawn. I felt his will to kill me in an instant. I just never imagined it would be something I could smell. 

“The curse!” he spat. He glared me as an enemy. I didn’t want to, but I had to kill him before he killed me. Yes, I had the curse, clear on my left wrist, but I never thought that matters would have ended like this. There was no way he could best me at the sword. He could not win. I was sure my reputation preceded me. And that’s why I’m sure he didn’t immediately strike. But he still stood en garde before me. 

Did this mean the women I had met truly was the one he was looking for? I was sure she was innocent! I felt it. Bow I was cursed. Did that explain the aches? I raised my left arm to have another look. The curse was truly there. I growled in frustration. 

Jean continued his glare at me, then said, “My apologies, Count. But I have to do this.” I looked Jean up and down. He was young and strong, but there was no way he would best me. I did a quick prance forward to test his reaction. His retreat back was a split second too slow. If I had made for a strike, it would have hit true. And I’m sure he knew that. 

I checked my arm again. The blacked wounds were clear. I cursed at the sight and told him that I didn’t know that I had been cursed. Jean only glared back and told me it was too late. 

I was not ready to accept the damned curse. How could the course of my life just change in an instant like that? And now I was to slay a find, young Unspoken agent? He was of the Shadow Order. Did he not know of how to deal with this curse? 

I asked him, for when after our fight was over, what could I do to alleviate the curse. He told me he didn’t know, and that his main role was as a guardian. And so I asked him of who I could find to help me deal with the affliction. I lowered my sword to show him that I did not wish to fight. He could tell I was honest about trying to fix the curse. But he didn’t lower his guard. 

Jean then asked me why I drew my sword. I remember what I told him, and it seemed to clear our troubles sooner than I expected. “I felt your intent to kill me. I’m merely protecting myself.” 

Jean soon lowered his sword. I sheathed mine to show no hostility. I’m glad he calmed. Jean may have been the only help I would find while I was still here in Bzalnia. I needed him. 

Then he asked me if I had any intentions to kill anyone, if I had a lust for bloodshed. I didn’t understand what he was asking, but I figured it was likely conncted to the curse. We talkes a little about how I felt. We both agreed that my aches and sensitivities were likely connected to the curse. And then he told me to follow him. 

The whole time, Jean had men with him. Down the road, he had a carriage and several men waiting for him. They were suspicious of my arrival, but the fact taht I walked along side Jean must have eased their worries. 

Jean brought me to a strange hotel. When we entered, I could feel all the staff go on sudden alert. They were all armed. Concealed blades, I could sense. Jean informed everyone that I was a special guest, and they eased at that. Apparently, the hotel was his. And I would stay here while he arranged help to deal with the curse. 

They put me on the top floor in a villa. Jean’s hotel was awfully dull compared to the Grand Park Hotel, but it had a comforting elegance. It was more classic and refined like our castle, rather than loud and prestigious. I felt safe in an unexplainable way. Expect for the damned cursed, of course. Besides the pains and sensitivities, I couldn’t tell what else would be a problem yet. 

I’m surprised at how quickly they built it, but Jean had his men bring an enormous box into my room. Then they filled the box with endless amounts of cushions, pillows and blankets. Jean told me that when I wished to rest, the box would help deafen a lot of the sound and light. 

The box was thoughtful, and it helped me get some rest last night. I feel that being on the top floor also helped. 

The room here has this grand desk with papers, pens and envelopes. That’s why I decided to write this letter and account of what happened last night. 

I am safe here for now, my dear precious. I am in safe hands. I have hopes that Jean and his Shadow Order can find a way to rid me of this damned curse. It’s still too early to know what the complete effects of the curse will be, but I know that I am with the right people. 

I hope now you understand why I cannot just return to Dysrab. I am technically in containment here in Jean’s hotel. Let us both pray that I make it through this ordeal. 

Wait! 

I sense something. 

The woman! 

It is her. I can tell. She is close. 

There is a knocking at my door. 

Okay. Worry not, my love. It was only Jean. He has brought me refreshments. 

I asked him what of the woman and why I could sense her, be he promised me that she was not about and that he would explain. 

I must go now. Jean has much to tell me. Hopefully it is good news. 

Tell Carlo that Father loves him dearly and will be back as soon as he can. 

Keep safe, my dear precious Natalia. I love you forever and more. 

I promise you I will write again as soon as I can. 

Do not lose hope in me. I will return home, whole again.

Love from yours truly, 

Pablo