Duke Qual was having a marvelous tea on the veranda of his Ducal house when his youngest son came flying through the main doors.

“Father! Father…there’s a bear in Whisper’s village! They are asking for a full re-enforcement.” I do love the boy, but he really has too much energy. I have wasted a lot of money on etiquette lessons, maybe I should just form a hunter group and let him go wild.

“William, what is this about a bear, where is official communication? Did you open it?” If he did, he will certainly be spending the next week cutting firewood for the poor…official communications are not something that should be opened by random 10 year olds.

“No, No, of course not…no, but I was there waiting for Master Silver to come for my lessons, when the pad just went red, and then the missive column was there, and then Sir Wainsburg ran over, and he looked at the missive, and then he looked at the guiding note…aaaannnnd I read the letter over his shoulder…well, not over his shoulder, more like under his arm pit…but who says I read it under his arm pit…sounds gross. So, then I offered to run it up to you, and Sir Wainsburg was happy for that…because he has bad knees and can’t handle the stairs like he used to…”

Walking back to my office, guide my youngest son through to my desk.

“William! May I have the communication? Or, will you destroy the envelope you are currently crushing between your two hands?” I do love the boy…but this has to be from his mother’s side.

Like a startled rabbit, William looks down…realizes that he is currently crushing the communication…turns red, and then quickly hands it to his father.

“Ok, let’s see what we have.” Mumbling to myself…this day had started out so well. Sitting down quickly, I verify the seal, then pickup my missive knife, and then slice the envelope open.

The words begin to tumble out, random, incoherent to all but the most attentive 10 year olds.

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“Bonded.”

“Earth, light, and wind?”

“Avatar”

The last trembles on my lips. I know Whispering Village, it’s one of my main satellite villages. I know every person in authority there personally…specially chosen for the village. They wouldn’t get this wrong. The village…I have hidden my best crafters there, kept them out of political intrigues and money grubbers. I quickly sketch out two notes. One I put in a gold envelope. The second I put in a black envelope.

“William, run back to Sir Wainsburg. Take this black envelope with you.”

“Yes, Father…but what about the bear, what’s going on…”

“William!!! You will run that envelope to the transport pad as fast as you can. Do not speak. Do not stop for sweets or to gossip. If you don’t, you will be chopping firewood for the next 8 years. Move boy! Move!”

To his credit, the boy sucks his breath back in, and turns…running like the god of firewood is hot on his tail.

“Marshal Fellows, did you get all that?” I voice this to the room, and not directly to anyone specific.

A man materializes out of shadows, like two curtains are parting for a new player to begin on stage.

“Yes. You want me to investigate or form an assault group?” His words are short, clipped, and unearthly quiet.

“Form an assault group…3 Strongs…one earth, one water, and one of whatever is strongest after that. Pull 20 Parities, in addition to the Strong keepers. Focus on defense types. Add 10 or so transport people, pull them from all the active and inactive duty rosters. Shutdown all transports for the next 4 hours. Get the reserve transport people here. We will need some transport essence condensers…I think the village only has the Wilbur plants and some reserves…pull everything. If it is an avatar the best we can do is stall and delay. It should be enough to get some of the people out of the village if things go bad.” Looking up, I catch the shade of fear on my body guards face. It’s new, and not something I hope to ever see again.

“Yes, sir. Will you be coming with us?”

“Yes. This is my duty after all…and it’s not like I am totally helpless.” I spark my hands a little to reinforce my failing bravado.

“Do you want me to deliver the gold missive?”

“No. I will be holding on to this. If the bear, or this bonded, decides to level the city and head for the next one…then, I will consider sending it. If I die, you are to hold the missive until you get back here, and then send it.” The last statement causes my friend, my body guard to go a little more dark…which is really a feat for someone of his talents…but, this is that bad. We could all die in an instant and never even get a chance to scream our regrets…but I need to try.

“Move, it didn’t indicate it was attacking the city, but need to get people moving through the transports as fast as possible”

“Yes, sir.” And then, he is gone. My friend is really something, too bad he likes to hide more than guide…he would make an excellent Duke.