un: any fin is possible (audio & text)

[lancifolium]

While I doubt any of us expected it to be an especially happy one, I believe I’ve learned a piece of the ending to the story of our ghostly escort and the lady he gathered an army to rescue. Drawing from my notes in part and for those of you who might be making your own, I'll switch to writing this out.

[ Nevermind the prying ears, and how fed up she is with getting the third degree from the ghosts. ]

My friend the soldier has found peace - entirely due to the help of Wei Wuxian, but before going off to rest, he spoke to us about what happened when the army reached Taravast. Given the circumstances, I don’t have his recollection written down word-for-word, but this is what I wrote down as soon as I was able to:

Arha’s army was bound for Taravast to take the lady Hatisse from her Attaryl sisters during a time of conflict with the Bessis. The lady Hatisse told Lord Arha that she would open the gates so that his forces could slip into Taravast. They arrived to find the gates shut, and both sects of witches on the wall, raining down fire, tar, and arrows.

He mentioned seeing the lady Hatisse on the wall, and the last thing he had to say on the matter stuck out to me - he said he saw her and met her eye, “it’s long hurt, burning, but she watched me through it.” This stuck out to me. It almost sounds as though her eye were an object, or that she only had one eye.

I know at least one of you that I've spoken with encountered pictures of an eye when you were pulled into the caverns beyond the walls, and I can't help but wonder if it's related, and what it could mean. If her eye is an object, and it’s still in Taravast, it would be wise to know before we arrive, particularly if it’s something dangerous (my friend did say her eye burned) and still in someone’s possession.

Comments

[somebadnews]

What are you afraid of?

[lancifolium]

I'm not afraid. I don't want to be taken prisoner like Eleven was.

If you have your sisters put their tents by mine in the evenings I'll put up wards for them too.

[somebadnews]

[ He puzzles over that for a while. It's not hard to see he cares about his sisters' safety over anyone, but it seems strange to offer that to him, specifically. ]

You're not asking for anything in return?

[lancifolium]

No, I'm not. I'll put up my wards regardless, if they wish to be within them, they're welcome.

[somebadnews]

[ That unsettled feeling doesn't leave him, and he's sure there's something he's missing. He finds himself wishing he could hear the tone of her voice and read more into this, but since he can't... ]

Thank you. They'll appreciate that.

[lancifolium]

[ She's already putting wards around herself, Eleven and Hendrik when they break for camp, what's two more tents? ]

It's no problem. Better this than risk someone getting pulled out of their tent in the middle of the night and no one knowing.

[somebadnews]

[ It's nice to hear his sisters are getting along with everyone at least. Though it does make for more people he needs to keep an eye on. ]

Is that what happened with Eleven?

[lancifolium]

I don't think they took him in the middle of the night, but if they intend to start then I intend to make it difficult for them.

[somebadnews]

It's a matter of time.

[lancifolium]

I hope our knowledgeable companions work quickly. I'll be ready to keep them back and protect whoever I can.

[somebadnews]

[ He's deep in thought and his reply comes later. ]

Like you did on the farm.

[lancifolium]

[ She doesn't know what, if anything, that's supposed to imply so– ]

Somewhat. I've taken to setting alarms now as well.

[somebadnews]

[ He nearly asks what's on his mind, but he drops it just as quickly. ]

Not a bad idea. Do they only work on ghosts?

[lancifolium]

[ For the best, that he would have to ask would be incredibly weird. ]

Not at all, they can be tripped by anything. For the best, I think.

[ Because certain people's actions have diminished her sense of safety greatly. ]

[somebadnews]

[ Certain people can teleport, so he's curious. Sue him. ]

Unless you had people setting them off by accident.

[lancifolium]

I'm glad to say I don't have people accidentally entering my tent. You can set certain charms and wards to have specific reasons to go off, they're a bit trickier and since discretion is key given the environment, one does what one must.

Why?

[somebadnews]

[ There it is again. ]

I like to be prepared. Just getting a sense of what to look out for.

[lancifolium]

[ Is that a threat? ]

I can set the wards so that you can travel to them in an emergency without setting them off if that's what you're after. I would require a lookout however.

[somebadnews]

[ She's really going out of her way, and he doesn't know what to make of it. ]

No need. I'd be gone before it would matter.