To the most esteemed and gracious Lakshmi of the School of Behaviorists, she whose scales shine like mother-of-pearl:

I am deeply honored to have been asked by my master to pen these words in my own hand, in the script of your people. The Emir, may his years be as many as the stars and his offspring as numerous as the lights of the Procession, wishes that you and your Skreek be ready to vacate the premises at such time a vessel is sent to bear you out. The Emir, may his people sing his praises, has heard of your concern for the welfare of these creatures that have been discovered at the tower, and has all good purpose to see to it that these animals are cared for properly. The wisdom of the Emir, may his sandals never catch grains of sand, is legendary, but it was beyond even his formidable foresight to know that there would actually be living creatures in this tower of wonders, and that they would be in need of food. It is with many apologies that his viziers and servants did not think to prepare for such an eventuality, that there might be a multitude of animals living all these years in the desert and suddenly being in need of sustenance at this very time. May our robes turn to sackcloth, and may ashes sprinkle our foreheads for failing the Emir, may kittens utter his name as their first words! Your humble servant is confident that you meant no insult to the Emir, may his ebon claws never grow dull.

Mages of the Guild Hall of Abu Dhabi shall move upon the swift feet of the winds to hasten to the tower, and be ready to take your place, should you be kind enough to send word that you will be ready to leave upon their arrival. It is your humble servant's hope that you will send such word back with this messenger, for it would be with great disappointment that otherwise your servant would be forced to advise the Emir, may his fur shine as golden as the sun, to stay his hand for a season and leave you to your own devices at the tower, so that you may be satisfied with your work, and that another messenger may come to see if you are yet ready to leave some holidays thereafter. It is with great humility that your servant notes that if you are unwilling to leave, and if these animals are in such dire need for sustenance, surely you, oh wise and honorable one, shall be in similar need for sustenance should no one come to provide you with supplies. But far be it from this humble servant to go against your wishes for solitude, should you insist upon staying in the tower. It would greatly sadden the Emir, may his whiskers be long and straight, if we should learn that these wondrous creatures had wasted away during this time of solitude, but it is unacceptable that we should risk the lives of mages by sending them into a contested place in this time of war.

If you, however, should turn yourself over to the authority of the Emir, may his tail remain ever fluffy, I shall assure you that even though you have committed trespass on his property, and placed the Emirate in a most perilous and undesired position of conflict with the desires of the Nagai Empire, you shall be treated in a most civil and honored manner, and shall be shown the hospitality of the Emir, may his eyes glow brightly, until such time as you shall leave the lands of the Himaat. By doing so, you would be preserving the honor and integrity of the glorious Emperor-Potentate, by asserting that your actions were entirely of your own initiative, and that by no means should this be considered an encroachment upon the property of the Khattan Emirate by interests of the Nagai Empire.

It is with great regret that I fill the remainder of this parchment with my writing, and hence must bring this letter to a close, as much as I am honored to be writing words to you, oh noble and learned one. May your actions be pleasing to the Emir, may his fangs shine as bright as the Procession, so that he may smile upon you.

Signed, your most humble servant, Hazhim bar Alarat.