Albert sped through the encampment, trying hard to maintain his composure. He navigated the maze of tents with surprising ease, and barged through those unlucky enough to be in the way. He had no time to waste - there were actions that must be taken immediately, for the sake of the Order. They must know at once.

  Before long, he reached his tent and took a seat inside at a cramped desk that was more function than form; it was battered and worn, etched with innumerable markings from those who had used it before him. He laid out a sheet of parchment, took his quill, dipped it in ink, and began to write with fervour.

  Your Most Blessed Excellency,

  I write to you from the outskirts of Seraford, at the encampment of Duke Barrington. I have yet to complete my journey to Grantford and investigate the rumours of rebellion, but I have worthy news.

  He paused in thought, considering how best to continue. Duke Barrington was obviously corrupt, to the point that Albert wondered if the man was even bothering to hide it, but he knew how to grease the wheels to keep things quiet. The duke was fool enough to think him an ally, bought and paid for, but he would soon learn of his mistake. That didn't mean Albert wouldn't take Barrington's bribe, though: his future retirement could always use an injection of funds.

  It was dangerous business to act as he did, too easy to be seen as complicit for taking the money, but if the end result was all the same then he knew the Order would look the other way. When it came down to it, Albert's faith and allegiance was unquestionable: he had his vices, but did not truly wish to see the realm come to harm, and they knew it. He had too many years of proven results under his belt. Still, he erred on the side of caution, thinking it best to lay the foundation of his suspicion early to dissuade the coming accusations of treason, if the duke decided to play those games.

  Duke Barrington has assured me that the presence of his forces in Seraford is merely defensive, but I have reason to doubt him: there is a surplus of soldiers, far more than we were informed of. I will send further word regarding the alleged separatists upon the conclusion of my investigations at Grantford.

  The thought of open rebellion had disgusted him since he had first been informed of the rumour. If the rumours were true, it could spell real trouble for the Order - many dukedoms were implicated. He would investigate in Grantford, leaving no stone unturned, and bring his findings back to Halbury. The military presence along Milney's border was too easily dismissed as posturing or defence, and left the Order with no grounds for a response. If things continued this way, they would be forced to act regardless, to extinguish the flame early.

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  He dipped the quill in ink once more, and continued.

  However, there are still some fortuitous tidings: I have, I think, borne witness to the bestowment of a True Blessing. William Redshaw, a boy of no more than eighteen, was the recipient, possessing promising martial ability. The boy will need to undergo testing for us to be certain, but he does not have the telltale fatigue after usage of his Blessing.

  Alas, the Blessing is that of focus, but I have witnessed its use in combat first-hand. It is my learned opinion that he should be considered for entry into the Order as a combatant. The boy is a fighter, with no inclination towards study as far as I see it, and so I find it hard to comprehend his Blessing being for anything but combat - no matter how abnormal that may be. I believe he could at least match the combat prowess of a squire, given appropriate tutelage.

  He wrote no lie - the boy was talented, and could serve the Order well if nurtured. True Blessings were so powerful that they simply could not be overlooked: the ability to utilise a Blessing without its associated cost was invaluable. Their rarity and significance alone was enough to guarantee entry, though the nature of William's Blessing in particular meant that he may still face difficulty taking a combat role. Positive word from Albert would go a long way in helping negate that.

  There had been others in the history of the Order who had utilised their Blessing in unconventional ways - though never in such a counter-intuitive fashion - so why not allow William the chance? It was in the best interest of the Order, and the Seraph evidently thought him important enough.

  Were it not a True Blessing, I would not think fit to recommend him as a combatant, but I cannot deny the results I have seen. I must admit that I was shocked to see the Blessing used in such a fashion, having relegated it to scholarly pursuits. Whilst still green, he performed among the best I have seen for his age, and his Blessing played a crucial role.

  He stopped, and span his wrist in a circular motion, trying to soothe the building ache. Writing would often aggravate old injuries, these days.

  The break gave him time to contemplate his next point, something that was undoubtedly good news for the Order, but gave him pause. He steeled himself as he put quill to parchment once again: it was for the greater good of the realm, he reminded himself.

  This brings me to another matter to which I must bring your attention: the boy has knowledge of Hallowed Words. He possesses a prayer that bestows some manner of temporary strength, one that I have never before encountered. Short lived, but potent.

  As he tells it, there is a Hallowed Shrine in or otherwise around Wealdham. I would formally request a purge of the shrine itself and those who know of it, to contain the spread of knowledge.

  May the Seraph keep you,

  Albert Holwell, War Priest

  He sealed the letter, and set off to find a courier in the encampment that could deliver it in time.