Dearest Brother,

I know you urged me not to enlist, and I begin to wish I had listened. We have been stationed in these cold mountains for the past few months, and none of us quite know why we are here. There are no open battles here, no armies of the Endless Court to face, and we must keep a strained peace with the Defiant while we honor the Icewatch’s rules. This is not about Guardian business, but about Kain’s.

The coldness here saps a man’s soul, and all of us are affected, even our commander. His temper is a raw force of nature these days, and we begin to fear his darker moods. A week ago, one of the men was late to morning formation. Kain broke his leg so he could know what an appropriate reason for lassitude would feel like. This is not the commander most of us know and respect.

I am looking forward to my next leave. Give mother my best.

-Meirdi Burem-