Greetings Overlander!

I would be happy to fill the position of gym teacher in your school for young pups. Though I do not know how much pups would listen to a man with only one leg. I suppose it is fortunate that I do not need my leg to talk.

I am still in charge of the training sessions in the stadium here in Regalia. Perdita clearly has some confidence in my abilities, though I worry that her confidence is at times misplaced. I have been partnered with Luxa the few times I have been free for training. I put her twisting skills to good use. She makes an able assistant, and no pup of any race dares to ignore Regalia's queen. It is a most advantageous relationship.

But we spend most of our time shut up in a meeting room in Regalia, trying to find a compromise for territorial borders after the war. Luxa wants one thing, Lapblood insists on another, the spinners want a third, the crawlers need a lot of space which the rats do not want to give, the diggers are still sore about what Sandwich did hundreds of years ago, and Heronian is too afraid of all rats to do more than cower in a corner. I fear that we will still be at this when I am as old as Vikus.

Yes, there is still a Regalian army, and Perdita is currently in charge of it, though it is greatly reduced in number. Ripred and Lapblood promise that there will never be any need to fight the rats again, but that is difficult to believe. Humans and rats have fought as long as I can remember. I wish you were here to interfere. Not a day goes by that I do not hear at least one warmblood lament the absence of your negotiating skills. The way you stood up to both Luxa and Ripred at the same time to break Sandwich's sword and refuse your help in another war is quickly becoming legend. In your honor, not fighting is as much a strategy now as fighting. Hamnet would be proud.

Fortunately, I do not need a leg in order to fight, not that we are doing any fighting today other than in the meeting room, and that is more arguing than fighting. So I guess it is fortunate that I do not need a leg to argue. You are sorely missed. Till next time…..

I too miss Ares a great deal,

Mereth