Izira had put the books on the Ny?Halian aside, centering her attention on the blank sheet of paper before her. Within her mind she worded and reworded what she wanted to write, then decided it would be better to just start writing.

?Alain ?? She started with the ink pen scratching against the surface of the paper. A Pause before she continued?

?I thank you sincerely for the invitation to the opening of your bar. However, I will be unable to attend.?

She considered if she should leave it at that. Surely she could, but? she wanted to offer Alain a reason for her not being there. She didn?t want him to assume the worst. But she also felt hesitant about telling him the truth? that she wanted to stay locked away safe without anyone putting ripples into her pond. A partial truth would work? recalling the heat of the study from earlier.

?My gift has been unstable as of late and I do not think you would thank me should I accidently burn your bar down on its first night open to the public.?

Another pause, her emotions a mixture of troubled and amused. Izira would like to think that it couldn?t get that bad. History would tell her differently.

?I hope the affair is a grand event for you and all who attend.?

Signing her name at the bottom of the short note, she dug out an envelope addressing it to Alain and waited for Hope or Light to arrive back from the hunt. One of the Ravens would deliver the letter for her.

The raven perched quietly in higher branches of the tree. Unmoved by that which happened around it. Morning came and went, then afternoon and night. Two days. The mark came and went, the bird sat still and unconcerned. Wind rustled its feathers, exsposing bald patches and pulling loose feathers free to scatter them further away.

Day three, as the man passed the bird left the tree. Making an ungraceful landing near the feet of Alain. Damaged wing or leg, perhaps both. Parchment was dropped from the raven's beak, the writing hectic as though the writer had been in a hurry. It read,

Alain

Forgive me. I need your help again. I do not know what to do, please hurry.

Izira Nyte

The moment the bird release the paper into the care of the man, it took wing into the air. Circling once before turning in the direction that would carry it home.