Dawn arrived after a sleepless night for Uzmaen. In normal scenario, his day would begin after sunrise but today he was earlier than the birds flying to south. Nothing could fade his restlessness and everything could elevate his worries.

Vessel.

It had eaten him from inside like a spider devouring on cricket. He had seen the vessel once with the lid on but somehow it took all of his interest. The vessel was innocent in this case and Uzmaen refused to call himself a culprit.

Birds chirped on tree branches. Sunrise was about to happen soon. Animals in the forest of Vorr came to life and made noises. Boars, bison, foxes and stokes. A horse also neighed in the forest. Uzmaen left his bed and unlocked the door.

There were no wild horses in Vorr. Most of all, he could recognize sound of the horse he had raised by himself.

Saer waved the vessel at Uzmaen through woods. Uzmaen was excited like a child but buried his feelings infront of the cut-throat. Uzmaen left the door open for Saer and sat on his table, running his hands. He celebrated the success like that till Saer got in.

“Give it to me.” Uzmaen stepped forward with his hands ready to clutch vessel out of Saer’s hands.

Saer pulled the vessel at his chest, depriving Uzmaen of even touching it.

“Have you made the paper?” asked Saer.

“Ah….yes.” Uzmaen said, “Just need to put your name in it.”

“Then do it quick. Don’t make this vessel wait long.”

Uzmaen back to his table where he scribbled Saer’s name on the empty space reserved for the name in the appointment letter. He lost the elegance he had in his handwriting. Saer’s name rested in the space in clumsy handwriting till the ink dried. He rolled the thick paper and tied it with a ribbon. Then he lit the candle for melting wax. He gazed at Saer while the flame was doing its work.

“What?” Saer asked.

“Your eye. It’s red.”

“Didn’t sleep last night.”

“Just your left eye.”

Saer watched his reflection on the glass of a cupboard. His iris had turned somewhat bloodshot. When he moved his head back at Uzmaen, he was stamping emblem on the seal.

“I have replaced one man with you.” Uzmaen said, offering the scroll from one hand and demanding the vessel from another.

Saer bartered the scroll with the vessel. Uzmaen grasped and hugged it. Saer held the scroll, waiting for Uzmaen to give him a short farewell. But Uzmaen was in a different realm. Saer was not a part of it.

“Your sword.” Saer started strapping the belt.

“No. Keep it. Take the horse too.” Uzmaen said.

Uzmaen removed the lid and pointed it at the inkpot. The inkpot vaporized from its place. The black smoke made its way to the vessel, whereas the quill which was touching it remained still on the table.

Saer received a look of amusement from him. Some part of it was also gratitude. Saer smiled, buckling his belt tight, and went out by closing the door.

Uzmaen opened its lid, then faced its opening towards the floor. The empty inkpot clanked on the wooden surface. The lightest thing first. The innkeeper, soaked in black ink, fell next with the crossbow intact in his hands.

Scared innkeeper planted the arrow in Uzmaen’s chest. The arrow point sprouted from his back, shredding his lung. Uzmaen kept hold of the vessel despite of collapsing to blackness.

Innkeeper stared at the body under him. He was not Saer. He was a complete stranger.

The door flung open and Saer planted his sword on the innkeeper’s back. He twisted it both ways, slicing every bit of vein coming in the way of the blade. The innkeeper was rigid at first but later started to slide downwards. The body separated itself from the sword, impaling it.

Saer sprinted over him for reaching towards Uzmaen’s body. He pulled Uzmaen’s fingers wrapped around the vessel, then put the lid back on it.

“Would I let anyone of you take such an important object?” Saer said to the corpses.

"And why would I leave a manipulative man alive?" he whispered in Uzmaen's ear.

He lodged Uzmaen’s sword on innkeeper’s back and walked for Avena.