Qabian unrolled the skin with the feather edge of a quill and an expression of disgust. Unconventional message delivery didn't necessarily mean anything, but he was always suspicious of a flair for drama. He read the letter, such as it was, with a frown, but when he saw the signature, he pushed his chair back so hard that despite its overwrought size and weight, it slammed back against the floor with a loud bang when he stood and began to pace.
"Nnnno, no, no, no." He muttered to himself. "This must be some kind of joke. Someone thinks they're hilarious. But who? Syreenna might try it." He paused as he passed the desk again to look down at the unrolled message with an odd expression, as though he were surprised it was both real and still there. "I can't. I can't do this." He continued his pacing once more, a thousand thoughts of panic and desperate, poorly constructed rationalizations forming through his mind. "Maybe it's a coincidence? Someone else? No. Too unlikely. Maybe she lost her memory? That might work. Maybe it would be good? Put some distance? No, you idiot. It would do just the opposite. There's no way this ends well. None. I can't."
...
The letter that found its way back in reply looked like it might have once been on tidy white paper with elegant writing, but the paper was crumpled, as though it had been held in a pocket or a clenched fist for a little too long, and the ink was drippy, blotched, and the writing inconsistent, as though the writer had paused in the middle of words or outright abandoned the task several times.
I know that name, or at least one that is far too close for comfort. There is no power in this world or any other that could give it a quality better than severe disappointment.
You have some choices, if you are set back on this path.
You can speak with someone else. I don't know that Gavril and Khorvis have the pleasure of your recollection. Syreenna does, but what's an ear or two in the Mandate's grand scheme?
Or you can meet with me. Nagrand Arena in Outland, after sunset. Do you remember what happened there? Did you ever know? I imagine we might have a few things to discuss.
~Qabian
It was signed without titles or ceremony or story.
((If you want, we can meet up tomorrow (Monday, April 1st, War Mode ON for the phasing)? Your app said you play at night, so maybe 9pm server time? If that doesn't work for you, we can arrange something that does. Or I can throw you at somebody else, bahaha.
Welcome back~))