[ He sighs again, more deeply this time. ]

I’d meant to poison him, but from what we’ve overheard he isn’t taking blood. Which means he’s weaker than he ought to be, but- fuck, that still isn’t saying much.

If this doesn’t work, you take her to safety. She and her people can help people to leave Wallachia. They bring bodies to the forgemasters every two days. I stay and hide among them, then kill them when I’m brought to the forges. If he doesn’t have his army, there’s time for people to evacuate. He’ll have to dirty his own hands. There’ll be chances to catch him in sunlight.