Well, a year has passed since Adrik declared that forestals could seek no path but his own. He has made good on some of his threats, and I, whose last interaction with Adrik before my enemying was to inform him of a forest fire in the Aalen, and to work side by side with other forestals to deal with it, am now apparently an enemy of the forest, according to the High Warden.

There is a small problem with this linear if sad account: Adrik had promised the forestals of Cyrene not one year, but two. In the midst of the negotiations, he made clear to us that this offer was not in any way predicated on our accepting his ultimatum, and even accused the Imperiate of bad faith because I had not heard of it before reaching out to him. He does that a lot. When I asked him why he had rescinded it despite his prior guarantee, he said it was because Keorin spat on his Lady and called him a liar. For the one, the reply the Imperiate gave to his rigidly insulting ultimatum was polite, measured, and followed by a good deal of discussion and soul searching in Cyrene. For the other...

I write this as a warning for anyone else who must negotiate with the High Warden. His words are as dust. His promises are wisps of smoke. His guarantees are carved from ice and set in the Mhojave in summertime. He will offer you the carrot and show you the stick, then throw both in your face to free his hands for a proper tantrum when you dare to take any action other than to lick his boots. Save yourselves the time we spent, trying to find a true way forwards, and reject his offer before he has even finished making it. A bully cannot be brought to compromise, and will never offer you a fair trade or a true word.

Penned by my hand on the 9th of Miraman, in the year 856 AF.