shit's going down in thorne (what else is new)

[funbreaker]

[ It's early evening when Thancred's message arrives, sent specifically to Istredd, Kyle, Stephen, and Yennefer. These are the people he's identified as the most at risk based on the note he received. To narrow it down to a number that could safely travel without attracting attention in the night had been its own monumental task, and he can only hope he's gotten it right.

Assuming all of them even agree to Jolene's offer. ]

Meet me in the secure wing of Istredd's domain in half an hour.
It's urgent.

[ Did he ask Istredd about this? No. Yet it's where they've had private meetings in the past, such as the one with their allies in the Free Cities, and so it seems the best option. Istredd will understand that if Thancred is invoking this, it's because it's serious. ]

Comments

[funbreaker]

[ They could go back and forth on this for the five hours still afforded them, Thancred suspects, but he also has gathered that Yennefer will only dig her heels in further if they continue to stand against her as a united force in insisting that she leave. A different tack might be necessary, and he's willing to track her down to discuss this in private in hopes it might be more effective.

Even then, he's not certain it will be enough, and none of them can force her. But he can't shake the anxious weight in the pit of his stomach at the thought of her staying here. Perhaps she could endure what is done to her in that situation, but could the rest of them? ]

It's true that those of us who leave may end up with more freedom, whereas those who stay could be locked up, or banished, or worse. I think we've established the stakes.

[ Thancred heaves out a sigh, his gaze traveling around the group, and he can't quite stop himself from letting it settle on Yennefer. ]

To be clear, I've also decided to leave. As Istredd said, it may be of use to have people stationed on both sides of this equation, and this would not be the first time I've found myself in such a situation. [ Here, he looks back to Istredd and then Kyle, nodding firmly. ] If it is to be only Stephen and I, we will reach out discreetly as soon as it is safe, and likely only with limited information — enough to let you know that we survived the journey.

[ And of course, to confirm that those who remained survived the coup that now sits right under their feet, but he believes that goes without saying. ]

There are still a few more hours to mull it all over, but I think that we're now all on the same page.

[ He will find Yennefer after this to see what he can do to change her mind, though he knows that it might be a lost cause. Still he must try. ]

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Istredd's gaze never moves away from Yennefer, not because he's trying to stare her down, but because the two of them are in the middle of a conversation no one else can be a part of. He does snap away when both Stephen and Thancred speak; he doesn't need to hold her gaze to talk to her, he was just distracted. ]

You two should prepare yourselves. I suspect you know what to do. Please be careful.

[ Travel light, don't be suspicious, be as safe as possible. They're both intelligent and skilled men, he suspects they'll be safer than he and Kyle are about to be. Although who knows what road they're going down, and if it won't have dangerous steps too. The point is that they have to take the risk on both ends. They'd been thinking for quite some time this could be a possibility. None of them are new to adapting in the face of danger. ]

Thank you for alerting us, Thancred.

[ Otherwise none of them would have been prepared. He knows that pushing Yennefer again in front of all of them is a bad idea so he steps up to her instead. ]

May I have a word with you?

[ As if there is a choice for her, as if he doesn't intend to find her if she leaves the library and have it out in person. Whatever it takes. The others probably are ready to move with what knowledge they have.]

[ushiri]

[ Kahlil likes everyone here well enough, but he's been on the outskirts of this conversation from the start. It doesn't bother him, it only makes him quick to take a dismissal when it's given. Having already addressed Yennefer, and knowing Istredd is staying behind, he addresses Thancred and Stephen quickly, making some sort of reflexive gesture or sign with both hands at his middle. ]

Be safe.

[ As usual, he doesn't bother with the pretense of leaving the imagined room, he simply vanishes.

He's off to stalk a king. ]

[vixening]

Don't. [ she doesn't snap, but the word comes out as a hiss to Stephen's yen, come on. the can feel the general anxiety creeping into the room, and between the way that Stephen and thancred are both looking at her, and istredd's voice in her head, yennefer's had just enough of all of this. ] You'd be shocked at how little autonomy you have on the run. Some of us don't need to go through it again.

[ it doesn't matter that remaining in the castle is all but confirmed to have higher stakes, and yennefer knows that much, but running? again? even the thought of it turns her stomach, let alone the idea of everything she'd be leaving behind.

still, as thancred and Stephen both confirm that they're going to leave, she feels a tightness around her ribs. her expression only tightens, marginally, but gives nothing else away. but what if this is a trap? what if they're walking directly into the hands of... who? hayle? the cities? another faction of whatever cult had kidnapped everyone however many months ago? it doesn't matter that of everyone she knows, thancred and stephen would be some of the few who would be most capable of protecting themselves through all of that, but even so-

she nods, agreeing with istredd's words. acknowledging that there are still a few hours left before they move, so perhaps there is time to...what? change their minds? yennefer hates this, hates that she doesn't have a clear picture of what this all means, what the implications could be, how much it'll change everything. she hates that she doesn't even know if it's a real threat.

she turns to leave, needing to get out of the horizon, needing to find a better place to think.

which is of course when istredd steps up to her, of course when istredd says may I have a word and yennefer stops, turning her eyes - now reflective more of the tone of their mental conversation than the one they just had in person. ]

You know my thoughts. [ and yes, unfortunately, he is going to have to find her in the castle. or, rather, in her office where she had been meditating, because with those words she pushes by him and disappears, her connection broken. ]

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Istredd already expected this so he waits until she's gone and turns to Thancred and Stephen, the only two still there. ]

I'll convince her. [ He has a secret weapon. ] Please be safe and good luck.

[ And then he disappears as well, although they can stay as long as they want in the library, it's permanently open. ]