Price of Honor | Part Six | Conclusion

This letter was pinned to the square of New Ashen by unseen hands. It is worn, tattered, but boldly displayed until a guard rips it down and tosses it to the side.

"Mother, Dearest Mother,

If this letter reaches you... Then it probably means I never made it home despite my best efforts.

I confronted Everdeen tonight. I told him the watch was meant to protect the people, all of Arcvelt.

Not to feed coin into his secret games.

He cackled, and mocked me by wiping a tear from his cheek.

Said the frontier doesn’t run on honor, it is costly, poorly prepared. The frontier runs on deals made in the dark to keep it all running.

He gave me a choice.

Forget what I’ve seen over the last few weeks… or take tomorrow’s patrol alone beyond the deep woods.

The same patrol the others never returned from.

I’m writing this by my dwindling candle while the Outlook sleeps.

If I do not come back, remember that I tried to do the right thing. Remember that I love you, and little John.

And if you ever hear soldiers speak proudly of the southern watchroad…

Tell them to look closer, into the deep woods.

- Theo"