Chapter XVIII – Nuntrustworthy (877-878)
[The letter appears to have been partially burned, only half is legible. "[UNKNOWN]" refers to the portions of text either too illegible to decipher or have been destroyed by burn marks.]
Congratulations on your latest hunt, that was a spectacle not seen since the death of the former King Childeric.
We once again have a client in need of our service. The king of Alt Clut has ownership of the counties of Powys, which [UNKNOWN] desires greatly.
Both counties are vassals of Neithon, but neither Grygor Owaining or [UNKNOWN] Burke hold any love for their liege. Both have [UNKNOWN] should the king [UNKNOWN].
Which is, of course, where you come in.
The matter of [UNKNOWN] is up to your discretion, although I hope to see your "Wayward Nun" masquerade put to marvelous effect once more.
However, I am uncertain as to the client's word in regards to our payment. As such, should you deign to toy with your quarry, consider [UNKNOWN]. Particularly if he chooses to resist rather than play.
Good hunting Sister.
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This heavily damaged letter was unearthed from a cache in Ternyllwg, in the 1960s. The Ternyllwg Letter is believed by many historians to be the contract of assassination for King Neithon II, who was found in his chambers with a dagger embedded in his throat on the evening of March 21st 878.
Those who ordered his murder have never been properly identified, such was the number of potential suspects. His wife Viviana, exiled brother Caradog, the Powysian Counts of House Owaining and Burke, the King of Brythonaid, all of these parties have been theorised to be the mastermind, but with no evidence outside of the Ternyllwg Letter (Which appears to have been saved for the purpose of blackmail, although it was clearly never utilised), there is little chance of the true culprit being identified.
The perpetrators have similarly never been identified, however it is highly probable that the Pale Riders, a cabal of spies and assassins for hire active in the Early Medieval Period. Little is known of their hierarchy or how they came to be, however they are linked to many murders or suspicious accidents throughout the 7th, 8th and 9th Centuries. The Riders disappear from records during the Muzaffaraddin Caliphate's conquests in the mid-10th Century.
Whether they were destroyed by the Shi'a, or integrated into the Hashashin is unknown. They have long been regarded as one of the earliest forms of Post-Roman espionage and inspiration for the foundation of many other organisations such that of the aforementioned Hashashin and the "Gwe'r pryf Copyn" in the mid-11th Century.
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