A messenger hurries through Woodtop, searching for Rose Cottage.

Eventually finding it he knocks on the door and hands a note to Keraptis.

Taking it Keraptis glances at the seal and gasps. Hurriedly tipping the messenger he closes the door and runs through to the kitchen where Monica is eating her breakfast.

Keraptis drops the note on the table and sits down heavily. Monica looks at the note and with a feeling of foreboding reaches for it.

Slitting the note open she stares at the one word

HELP

Nothing else.

'My love does this mean…..'

'Yes it means the one thing we have feared for a long time. We must leave at once.'

'How long will we be gone?'

'I don't know it could be years. I'll have to send a message to Alvogyl..' Monica nods. Keraptis unpacks a quill and parchment.

'My Lord Alvogyl and Monks Guild Members. It is with deepest sorrow that Monica and myself must announce our retirement from our positions in the Guild with immediate effect. We wish we had been able to give you more notice but something has come up which will take both of us far from the guild for long periods of time. We bid you farewell and hope you will continue to thrive under a new GM.'

'I'll go deliver this right now' Keraptis says Monica nods and kisses him Hurriedly activating his ring Keraptis pins the note to the guild notice board.

Returning quickly home he finds that Monica has already packed and the backpacks are waiting in the hall. Lifting the pack onto his back Keraptis steps outside. Monica locks the door and together arm in arm Keraptis and Monica walk towards the northern mountains…..