Field trips and sinking ships

[freedom_is_grey]

It's cold and snowy on the lakeshore, but Ysalwen is walking there anyway. The cold is bracing, she has exercises to do, and it's a good place to think.

The number of Warden recruits is increasing, and while she refuses to offer the Joining to some of them, there's still been a doubling of her numbers in a relatively short time. It's time to start thinking how to turn a ragtag band of friends into something a little more --

Structured.

And that's something with which she has too much of the wrong experience.

Hence thinking.

Or maybe brooding.

A little.

Comments

[freedom_is_grey]

"A templar traveling to a new assignment in the Free Marches -- I can see Lel sending a message that way. And as you're not about to sing terribly melodramatic songs badly like the last messenger -- "

She shakes her head, wincing a little at the memory.

"Anyway. No. I mean. It's your choice, just. That's an option. Most won't question it, and if they do -- well. Even Zev can't always track things back to her. And my next message will tell her I had a guest that needed a cover story, and that will be an end to it."

[howtoactfereldan]

"As you like. My strategy will be to avoid talking about myself unless I absolutely can't help it."

[freedom_is_grey]

"I do make for a wonderful distraction."

It's completely true, even these days.

Maybe especially these days.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen opens his mouth.

Closes it.




"As you say," he says.

There is no good answer to that!

[freedom_is_grey]

Her eyes widen.

"No, I meant -- !"

There is no good place to end that thought, either.

"Never mind. Shall we?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Yes," he says, hastily. "I expect I can get whatever I need in Amaranthine?"

[freedom_is_grey]

"You can," she says, equally as hastily.

"Wade and Herren never really stop working, so there's -- an excess of arms? -- until we can get more caravans in and out."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen was more worried about getting a change of smallclothes, but that's good too.

"Then I suppose I'm at your disposal."

[freedom_is_grey]

Two extra changes for everyone!

Not that anyone will need them.

Um.

"I really do appreciate it. I just -- I really want to do well. At this. Amaranthine deserves it, especially after Howe."

So.

[howtoactfereldan]

His smile is sudden, crooked, and --

-- he'd deny it to his dying day --

-- sweet, in a rueful sort of way.

"That impulse is quite familiar," is all he says.

[freedom_is_grey]

"Yes, well."

Ysalwen's own smile is crooked, and no less rueful.

(Maybe a little less sweet. Maybe.)

"Somehow I doubt Liranan is surprised at either of us."

She's just saying.

"Shall we?"