Delivered by a cloaked messenger at sunset, this letter is not sealed with the crest of Condos, but with a simple seal wax. Nevertheless, the elegant scrawl that graces the envelope is unmistakable. Written upon the envelope are the words 'Captain Alexandros' in the calligraphic script of Lady Ophelia. This is the first letter she does not place her family seal upon.

My dearest friend and Captain, 

You will forgive, I trust, the absence of the Condos Rose upon the envelope, and the lateness of the hour upon which my messenger came to you, but I felt a great need for caution in the deliverance of this particular letter. I urge you, for both our peace of mind, to destroy this missive as soon as you have committed its words to memory, for curious minds may be inclined to pry. I know not how honourable these new recruits of yours are, and it may be that in seeking information about their superior, they may stumble upon this letter and learn more than they ought to about us both. 

I am very pleased that the cloak is a comfort to you. I much prefer stitching meaningful gifts with my own hands, particularly for those who are dear to me. Into the stitches, I can weave my hopes and dreams for their future happiness and present well-being. No hired seamstress can know a person as I do, and weave a garment of dreams for them to wear. It touches my heart that you wish to bestow upon me a token in mind, but I assure you that your trust and friendship are more than enough. I have come to find in a brotherly figure, a person upon whom I can depend for complete honesty, who will not judge my own honesty in turn as reckless or foolish. This is the greatest gift you could have ever bestowed upon me. 

I do not believe you sacrilegious in the least. It may be that they have yet to intervene in one of your battles, for they think you capable of holding your own. To trust in one's own abilities is hardly a sin, for those abilities have been cultivated through many years of hard work. I doubt they will mind your acknowledgement of that devotion to your craft paying off in the skill you show on the field of battle.

You have the right of it, as always. You are a wise man, and it means more to me than I can ever say to have your trust and confidence. I shall take your word then, for I know that a soldier's honour means much, and I shall divulge my secret to you. It is indeed a matter of love that has plagued me these past eleven years, and the person of whom I speak is not only the fairest in all of Taengea, but in all of Greece. Well, in my eyes. I am certain that they pale in comparison to the beloveds of every other man and woman, but I hold this person on a pedestal of roses, gold and sapphire. I have spoken of them to you before, and they were among my companions when first we met. No doubt you think you know now who they are. Perhaps you believe it is Theron, the handsome captain of my guard, and that the reason our relationship is forbidden is a divide in our rank. You are half right; there is a divide in the ranks between this person and myself, but the person of whom I speak is not Theron, nor the other guard who accompanied him. The person of whom I speak is not of your gender at all, but of mine. 

You may recall the rare and radiant Evanthe, with hair of sunlight, skin of moonlight and eyes that danced with joy. I believe I told you once that she was proficient in self-defense, and accompanied me often on my philanthropic endeavours. 'Tis she who has my heart, and I am of the mind to finally tell her so when we reach Athenia. My dear friend, Gianna, has convinced me that I should torture myself with this denial no longer, and that Evanthe has a right to know that she is loved. 

You may be shocked, perhaps even disgusted, but I beg you to look kindly upon me and my dearest Evanthe. I have tried to banish my feelings for her. I have prayed to Hera, Aphrodite, even Eros. None have answered my prayers. I can only conclude that this means they approve of my love, or at the very least scorn it not. I do hope that this confession on my part will not end our friendship, which has become so very dear to me. 

On the fact of your own heart's great matter, I urge you never to stop searching. I too sincerely hope that it is you who finds them and this all ends in an amicable manner. I do hope that she will be amenable to marriage, for the arrangement will benefit both her and her cousin, and you would make her a worthy husband. Should you need any new realignment for the girls, please feel free to contact me. I would be more than happy to sew them several seasonal garments, or provide some from from my own wardrobe. If I can aid you in this endeavour in any way, big or small, please feel free to reach out to me and make any request. I shall be more than happy to oblige you. This is, of course, providing that the lady herself does not continue to elude you, and it may be that when she is found, she wishes to remain anonymous and have nobody know that she is staying with you, lest her origins be traced back to that dreadful family. I will completely understand if she wishes to begin anew, and asks you never to let me know that you have found her. Should this be the case, I assure you that my trust in you will not wane for keeping such a secret, and I will consider you the most honourable of our species for honouring her wishes. 

Your true and trusted friend, 
Ophelia