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

[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. ]