The Message

There was only one way out.

He'd give them the blasted scrap of paper and secure her freedom. How did they know Dochia was of... value to him?

He'd never forgive himself for putting her foolishly in danger. He indulged a tankard too many at the Red Rose Tavern and won at dice against a fop from Hermannstadt. The man refused to pay so he snatched his pouch and left.

This morning an arrow flew through his window with a message demanding the return of the piece of paper he found in the pouch, in exchange for Dochia's life.

He turned the small piece of parchment on both sides. Someone wrote on it a string of letters and it looked like a calligraphy exercise.

qenpb yvggrenr iravrag qvrf qrprz

A lock of hair was wrapped in this morning's message. The letter suggested other gruesome proof might follow if he was not in the church, alone, by nightfall.

He closed his eyes, and memories assaulted him. He remembered the snowflakes flying wildly on a cold winter night and the smell of her hair when she leaned her head on his chest. He recalled her otherworldly luck in the jeu de boulles that helped secure her brother's throne. Her delight in her brother’s books flashed on and he decided fondly she was a bookworm equal to the new Hungarian king.

He opened his eyes and looked again at the piece of paper. Mathias let them once in his library, and a commentary on Al-Kindi captured his interest. The examples looked like a bunch of gibberish similar to the text on this paper. Could it be a hidden message?

He had too many hours to stew until the sunset and perhaps finding the hidden meaning would take his mind off it.

He sat at the table and made a list with the letters appearing several times.

q-3 e-2 n-2 p-2 g-3 r-6 a-2

He spent a long time on the Al-Kindi commentary, listening to the ohhhs and awws coming from her and her brother pouring over the books.

The key was the r, provided the paper was not a well-done calligraphy exercise. Otherwise why would it be worth her life?

What if it was a trap?

He stood and went to the window and stared into the distance at the heights surrounding the city.

There was only one way to find out. He would assume the text had a hidden meaning and try to decipher it.

He frowned and tried to remember the numbers in the commentary. He only remembered his annoyance at the endless chatter between Dochia and Matthias. Perhaps he also felt a twinge of jealousy at being left out; however, he'd never admit it.

He'd take his chances and assume it was either German or Latin. He remembered that he thought it odd that e would be the most frequent word in both languages.

He replaced the 'r' with 'e' and snorted. It didn't make much sense.

Then he remembered he had a letter from Peter, thankfully written in German. He spent the next hour translating it with great care into Latin. One hour later he had a sample set of frequencies for the two languages.

The frequencies of 'r', 's' and 't' seemed reversed in Latin and German. That was good, it should rule many choices out and save him precious time.

Did the fop say something about the glittery life at the court in Buda? Matthias knew well both languages. However, the strip of paper didn't look like an official letter, so he couldn't assume Latin.

He had to try all the possibilities. He started with German because the man said he was the offspring of a rich German merchant in Hermannstadt.

It took him nowhere. He took a deep breath and hoped Latin would give him better results. He'd hate to involve his men without need. Knowing he had something of value would help greatly.

He tried replacing q, but it went nowhere. The sun started going down, and a shadow settled over his window.

The g must be a t, he thought, as double 'a's or double 'u's weren't usual.

One of the letters appearing twice must be an 'a'. There was also the mystery of 'q'. None of the 'r', 's' or 'n' made sense. The breakthrough came when he chanced a d for the q, against the numbers.

He could detect the word litterae or at least he hoped it was. After replacing the word dies also formed. From here it snowballed, and he looked at the message.

He closed his eyes and then opened them to write the whole sentence.

"draco litterae venient dies decem"

Dragon's letter will arrive in ten days.

Why would a German merchant warn Matthias of a letter coming from a runaway prince, assuming the note was in fact for Matthias?

He looked at the widow and the shadows falling over the city made him wear with haste his chain-mail, grab his sword and stomp out of the house.

He entered the church, where Miklos waited for him with a grin on his face.

Miklos pushed Dochia toward him and the echo in the church ominously carried his voice.
"At three you throw the pouch to me. The coins better be in too. One..., two..., three..."

Duncan threw the pouch, grabbed Dochia's hand and run outside as fast as he could.

He only stopped when he reached his quarters and barred the door.

He asked breathing heavily.
"What do you know about the letter the Dragon sent to Matthias?"

Dochia's relief was plain on her face.
"He only sent a messenger. You're looking at her."

"There's a letter from the Dragon arriving to Matthias within a week."

Dochia blanched.
"We must arrive before the letter."

Duncan took her in his arms and sighed. Miklos wouldn't take any chances now, and he doubted they could fly faster than a pigeon.

The letter was forged and the Dragon was doomed.