Dear Gabriel,
As you are surely aware, in the wake of the count's death, all responsibility for the care and management of Belgaard has fallen on me. In that capacity I turn to you for help, for you are both the best rhabdomancer in all the duchy and also a dear friend, so I pray you will not refuse me your services. Curious how your services might be needed by me in managing my vineyard? I shall soon tell you.
Before his death, Count Crespi ordered an extraordinary valuable batch of seedlings and if we do not plant them in the very near future, they shall all wither and perish. Sadly, the count left no record of where in the estate we are to prepare the ground for these seedlings. The geologist whom the count had summoned to show us the most fitting soil collected his (hefty) retainer, then disappeared. I would not be surprised to learn he was a common cheat. But let us get to the heart of the matter. I wish to ask you to use your rhabdomancical talents to locate where we should plant these valuable vines. I dare trust you shall take pity on an old friend and see to the task right away. Belgaard's coffers are, it is true, empty, but I think I shall find a way to compensate you for your troubles.
Your Friend, Thierry Pires,
P.S. Be careful, for ever since Count Crespi's death, this area has not been as safe as it once was.