The letter - and the other pieces of mail accompanying it - never made it into the clan’s walls.
Levianha had warned that something steeped in shade was coming; able to tell due to the frightening absence of any clear vision that had gradually worsened over the last few days.
A small army had been prepared in defense of the castle, only to be met by a rather terrified postman who dropped his parcels and ran after a brief exchange.
One of the castle servants was sent out to copy the letters’ contents, and was sent away to “quarantine” immediately after setting the contaminated pile alight.
---
Atop one of the watchtowers, far above the brushfire that the burning letters had started, stood Pepper. The transcription of the black-stained letter was held in her unwavering hands.
Queen Avonne stood just behind the fae, silently reading over her shoulder.
“They called you ‘mom’,” she said, breaking the long silence.
Pepper didn’t respond.
“Who do you think it is?” Avonne prompted further, crossing her arms in defense of the frigid wind - and a feeble attempt to calm herself. “One of my elder siblings?”
“No,” Pepper replied, her voice monotone. “The few who live would not have sent me this.”
“Oh... no...” Avonne breathed, covering her mouth. “One of the triplets?”
“It must be,” Pepper replied, neither her voice nor body language betraying any emotion.
"What should I - what’s the best course of action?” Avonne asked, shifting to be in Pepper’s line of sight.
“Send Ghost and the others searching for them,” Pepper replied, folding the letter neatly. “Do not pass word to Spice just yet. I will consult with Lady Levianha and see who she can pick up on at this point.”
“Don’t pass - but shouldn’t he know?” Avonne stammered. “What if one of those girls comes here?”
“They are not to be let in,” Pepper replied simply, pocketing the note. “Up surveillance, order the guards to turn any of the three princesses away until we hear from Levianha.”
“And if they refuse?”
“The zero-tolerance policy applies to everyone,” Pepper replied, turning and descending the tower. “If they refuse, they are to be culled.”
Avonne flinched, then nodded. After Pepper disappeared from view, she gripped the tower’s railings and took a deep, shuddering breath.
Far below, the fire roared.