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Mon 2nd Sep 2024 03:05

80. A note

by Lady Leticia Scarlet-Bloesembhel Voetdhel-Montaneus

(Scene links to channel entry)
 
A pigeon fluttered down to the windowsill, a small scroll tied to its leg. Scarlet's heart quickened as it always did when she retrieved these missives, her fingers deftly untying the knot. The paper was thin, the handwriting semi-familiar but coded, just as she'd expected.
 
She unfolded the note and scanned the lines. At first, it seemed like gibberish. Her brow furrowed, and she read it again, slower this time, each word a puzzle piece that refused to fit.
 
Frustration gnawed at her, but she knew better than to rush. Scarlet sat down at her desk, pulling out scrap paper. She began scribbling down potential keys, her mind drifting back to the countless ciphers she'd learned over the years. One by one, she tested them, the tension in her shoulders easing as familiarity crept in.
 
Finally, it clicked—an older cipher, one she hadn’t used in years. The words shifted into clarity:
 
Message: (Scene links to channel entry)
 
Scarlet’s eyes narrowed as she studied the decoded message. The news was both a relief and a burden. The child was found, but their condition was uncertain, and time was running out. The mention of the head sent a shiver down her spine—this was a complication she had anticipated as a possibility but had hoped was just paranoia; she had pleasant memories of them as a child.
 
She leaned back in her chair, the message still clutched in her hand as she mulled over her next move. Each decision had to be precise, each step carefully orchestrated. The stakes were higher than ever, and one wrong move could unravel everything she’d worked for.
 
With a sigh, Scarlet stood and moved to the fireplace. The note had served its purpose, and now it had to disappear. She held it to the flames, watching as the fire licked at the edges before consuming the paper entirely. The words blackened and curled, reduced to ashes that she carefully stirred, ensuring no trace remained. She burned the scrap paper for good measure as well.
 
She added a scrap of newspaper to the pile, a simple trick to disguise the remains further, before tossing another log onto the coals. The fire roared to life, and Scarlet allowed herself a brief moment of warmth before turning her attention back to her plans.
 
The message was gone, but its implications weighed heavily on her. She couldn’t afford to falter now. With renewed determination, she returned to her desk, ready to plot her next move.

Continue reading...

  1. 01. Settling in
  2. 02. Fist Fight at a fancy Ball
  3. 03. It's a Lion not a 'Cat'
  4. 04. Patron's tea and dance
  5. 05. The escort job
  6. 06. Update: Today's purchase list
  7. 07. Escort for Bella and the Loot King
  8. 08. Sirens and a chase in town
  9. 09. Got abducted again
  10. 10. Jams and Jellies
  11. 11. New Dog
  12. 12. Guards in the Trees
  13. 13. Temple Visit
  14. 14. New Pup & Outing
  15. 15. Training exercises
  16. 16. Fighting over an idol
  17. 17. Jobs galore
  18. 18. New stationary
  19. 19. A small visit
  20. 20. Slaps and shows
  21. 21. Today's meal
  22. 22. Homesick
  23. 23. Lanterns in the sky
  24. 24. Baby in the park
  25. 25. The Heist
  26. 26. Update: Guild
  27. 27. Mines and Traps
  28. 28. New clothes
  29. 29. I made Journeyer!
  30. 30. Investment shopping
  31. 31. The Pit (fights)
  32. 32. Ghosts of the past
  33. 33. Unexpected ending in a Play
  34. 34. Today's meal
    https://www.worldanvil.com/hero/journal/1aa083c5-ae1f-4624-a724-197a3f8704e3/view
  35. 35. Spies and secrets
  36. 36. Wanted: Three Hand Gang (WED)
  37. 37. Well it's official
  38. 38. Hags and stones
  39. 39. Death and visitations
  40. 40. the shell game
  41. 41. Anger and plots
  42. 42. The jobs so far
  43. 43. (Doodles)
  44. 44. Meetings and Partings
  45. 45. Double checking
  46. 46. An office Scene
    8/01/2023
  47. 47. An(other) office Scene
  48. 48. Paperwork
  49. 49. Behind the curve
  50. 50. Notes and notation
  51. 51. Cake and notes
  52. 52. Paperwork on the high seas
  53. 53. Pics and notes
  54. 54. A small talk
  55. 55. Small notes
  56. 56. The Dressmaker
  57. 57. (food)
  58. 58. Notes
  59. 59. Putting the clues together
  60. 60. Notes
  61. 61. Tea cakes (& slights)
  62. 62. Updates
  63. 63. Board Meetings during battles
  64. 64. Updates
  65. 65. Field command
  66. 66. I am okay
  67. 67. Mountains of paperwork
  68. 68. Needed Vacation
  69. 70. A note
  70. 71. An update
  71. 72. Dissapointment
  72. 73. Notes
  73. 74. Journal entry
  74. 75. Ledgers
  75. 76. Food
  76. 77. An update
  77. 78. A thought
  78. 79. Basking in Dusk's light
  79. 80. A note
  80. 81. A letter home
  81. 82. A dream/a journal entry
  82. 83. An update
  83. 84. Working long hours
  84. 85. A dream, a memory
  85. 86. A meeting
  86. 87. The ride home

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 01:20, Nov 15 2024