Copernicus, unlike many from my city, I have known you as a personal friend from your youngest days, I have had the pleasure of visiting you in your small cottage in Thera a few times, during which I've come to learn of your love for Thera, your kinship to the Therans. We may differ in views, but we have been able to discourse on various issues of interest to ourselves. To my regret, we have to come to this .

If there is only one Theran I can trust, that is you, Copernicus. If you will, be the spokesman for Thera and make sure that Thera remain neutral grounds from now on, not inviting any foreign force in conspiracy against Ashtan, then I as Overseer of Ashtan will relieve the Peacekeepers of their responsibilities and let the Therans govern themselves.

I can't verify if it is the same blacksmith, but from what I've heard from Morlana just now, the blacksmith declined Tylin's recent offer to station Shallamese forces in Thera. That has changed my view of the blacksmith somehow, despite the unkind words said of me.

Drazik, unlike Neokove, ever since you have become Seneschal, you have never approached me for further talk or responded to any of my requests for a meeting. This is something that have bemused me, not something I would expect from a prominent leader of another city. All this while, I've kept hearing rumours about Hashan forming an alliance with Shallam against, and now this posture for war.

Mistral, Overseer of Ashtan

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Ero, in the year 263 AF.