A Letter to Orion Lysander

[Malchus]

A hulking man draped in a black cloak entered the inn, his remarkable height drawing the attention of many a patron. As he made his way to the bar counter, some may have spotted the eyepatch beneath the hood, which he wore pulled down far into his face. Even as he sat down to order a cup of warm mead, which he leisurely sipped, he kept his hood on; a lack of etiquette only excusable by the outside chill and the Hemp Necktie's open windows and lack of a hearth. As the initial curiosity waned and the patrons returned their attention to their drinks and chatter, the hooded man produced a folded parchment from his cloak and placed it on the counter with a few coins on top, more than enough to pay for several drinks, and slid it to the dwarven innkeeper across the counter. With a lowered voice the man explained:
"When you see this man, make sure this letter finds its way into his hands, and his hands only."

The dwarf unfolded the parchment to find the mentioned letter within, its wax seal showing the crest of the Runewick Guard. The folded parchment itself showed the rough sketch of a man's slender face, sporting lush, curly hair and an equally curly, thick beard. "Orion Lysander" was written below.
The dwarf nodded in silent agreement as he slid the coins into his purse and Lysander's portrait together with the letter under the counter.

[Karrock]

After a several days when Orion got his letter from the bartender he decided to send a reply. For this purpose he entered the Hempty Inn. Few known faces nodded to him. After those months of hiding he got some reputation in the wilderness. Orion stepped to the bar and handed a letter to the dwarf saying "it's to the captain of Runewick Guard when he arrive". After this the man of slender face offered the dwarf some coins hoping that his reply get the fitting person.

[Malchus]

Yet a few days later, Malchus returned to the Hemp Necktie, this time in his usual armour of boiled leather, covered by a dark blue cloak; the sign of his current professional allegiance to Runewick.
"Any tidings?" inquired the one-eyed giant from the dwarven barkeep as he sat down on a stool at the counter.
As if to remind the dwarf of his identity, Malchus produced a ring from his purse and showed it to the dwarf, who inspected it with shrewd eyes. It was plain and unadorned, save for the image of an eagle set in the middle of a heater shield - the Guard Captain's signet ring, which previously had sealed the letter to Orion Lysander.
"Ah, indeed," the dwarf affirmed, now assured of the Captain's identity, and pulled a letter from under the counter.
Malchus slapped a silver coin on the counter and immediately left with the letter for Runewick, not even staying for a drink, as he usually likes to do.

[Malchus]

A familiar, eyepatched face returned to the inn, bearing a letter, which the barkeep received together with a coin.
"A message to you-know-who from Councillor Caswir himself," explained Malchus as he handed him the letter and his pay.
The dwarf assured his commitment by pressing letter and coin to his heart with a small bow, and tucked them away behind his beard.