Smelgar spent the morning in the Ephesos Station house of the Office of the Logothetes tou dromou.

"Station master, I need a one time pad to be used to secure a communication I wish to make."

A grey haired man was summoned, and emerged out of a concealed door built into a painting of Alexander's victory at the Granikos.

"Your Majesty, I am the crypto-master of this station, how can I help you?"

"Construct a one time pad in my presence, then leave it with me."

Smelgar watched with great interest as the pad was constructed. It was truly fascinating to see the crypto-master go about his work.

After the work was done, Smelgar received the pad on fifteen sheets of paper. He then dismissed the crypto-master and all the other people present. And after that, he threw eight of the fifteen sheets into the fire.

Now ready, and alone, he began to write.

QUOTE:

His Majesty Locke, King of the Moors

Your Majesty:

I trust you are well, and are now recovering from your recent war with the Sicilians.

Regrettably, these are troubled times, and unusual security measures are required. Accordingly, I have encrypted the remaining section of the message below, and you will be unable to read it until I supply the key, which I shall do separately, and later.

QUOTE:

Recently it was put to me that your Majesty was in fact nothing more than a Vassal of the English Crown, and merely King Gregory's Viceroy in Tunis and he the actual King. Of course, I rejected this scurrilous impudence, saying "I know Locke to be an Honourable King, and his own Man, and Certainly not anyone's Cur or Running Dog!". Did I do well in saying this, your Majesty? Is your Honour thus maintained? Or would you have me reveal the identity of the Miscreant who made the Allegation, so that you can obtain Satisfaction?

Further, it is apparently the case that Gregory has proclaimed himself the Head of the Church. Whilst I am no Divine, I had always understood that the Head of Our Christian Church was Christ Himself, and not any Sinful Man. I suspect Gregory means to establish himself in competition with the Pope, as a rival Vicegerent for God upon the Earth. Sir, as a Christian, do you adhere to Gregory's rule, or that of the Holy Father in Rome?

I have the Honour to Remain, Sir, Your Majesty's Most Humble and Obedient Servant
Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Romans