My Esteemed Publius Helvius Laeca,

My greatest apologies for not writing sooner, but with how matters stood between us when last we talked, I feared you would want nothing to do with me.

Regardless if you want to hear from me or not, I felt I must send you news and tidings. I am back in our wondrous city and events are moving fast around me. Hopefully all of them will turn out of the best and our city will be better for it after these trials.

You might have heard, I am a full-member of the Collegium, although I know how you feel about my patron, so I am not sure how happy you are for my admittance. You also might have heard that I was ambushed in the Collegium library by Lorianne of house Lascaris, including with the use of fire.

And this gets me to my first reason for this correspondence. It has been said by some that your dear Helvia Minor has been working with some treasure hunters, and I would ask after her well being, as many in my line of work can be somewhat unpalatable.

I know we both want what is best for her.

The second reason for this letter, is that some of my competitors know that I still have a fondness for yourself, and might attempt to use it against me. They already lured me to the ambush with a letter falsely signed by yourself (a copy has been included to sooth any curiosity you might possess). With how dangerous things are in our fair city currently, I beg that you take extra precautions.

If you need communicate with me, send to me through the Lord of Mithril.

With a nervous heart,
Alexis Laelius, Of the Crimson Calling

<Copy of message addressed to Alexis, that was the lure for the ambush by Lorianne of house Lascaris>