"We've had dozens this week."
The guard waved dismissively.
"Royal letters."
"Noble letters."
"Emergency letters."
"Love letters."
Kai blinked.
---
"...Love letters?"
"One guy got desperate."
The guard pointed toward the refugee camp.
"Point is, everyone's got a letter."
He crossed his arms.
"The gates stay closed until the Queen says otherwise."
"We're delivering a message from King Akshay."
The guard yawned.
"Good for you."
Andre stepped forward.
Very bad sign.
---
Kai immediately grabbed his shoulder.
"No."
"He insulted the king."
"Andre."
"He insulted the letter."
"Andre."
"He insulted me."
"That's the least important one."
The thief grumbled but backed down.
The guards laughed as they left.
Neither Kai nor Andre found it funny.
As evening approached, they joined the refugee camp.
---
Hundreds of fires illuminated the growing darkness.
Stories spread between travelers.
Rumors.
Warnings.
Speculation.
---
Nobody seemed to know what was happening.
Only that things were getting worse.
---
Kai sat beside a campfire.
The sealed letter remained safely tucked inside his bag.
---
"Think they'll let us in tomorrow?"
Andre snorted.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because our luck sucks."