audio; un: hopscotch

[clavesregni]

I know who killed Vataz and the others. It's--

[Her voice is strained. She sounds as though she's in pain and out of breath.]

It's complicated. We need to be cautious not to worsen the situation any further. Someone else was killed. A woman. Her death is what started it all. There's someone else I need to question; I'll be able to share more once I have.

[There's the soft thud of someone's back hitting a wall.]

For now, young men should stay out of the Wards and the Keep, if at all possible. The killer can't distinguish between its true target and other men who appear similar. And don't go down into the glacial lakes. It isn't safe.

[Another pause, followed by a wince.]

If any medical personnel are able to spare supplies, I could do with a bandage.

Comments

[clavesregni]

I'm trying to prevent any further bloodshed.

[somebadnews]

No, you're trying to prevent one specific person from being murdered at the expense of... how many is it now?

[ He knows you're talking about Haiva from the other conversations, but he'll let her pretend nobody heard that. It's suddenly sounding more significant than he would have wagered. ]

What else are you leaving out?

[ If this ends up being the reason Hell started opening, murder won't be good enough for him. ]

[clavesregni]

I'm trying to prevent anyone from being murdered. One death will only lead to more.

[She huffs. Since Wrathion and Licyn and others are so determined to make all of this public knowledge, there's no point hiding it.]

Haiva promised to marry a siren, a woman called Massarir. She gave him some of her people's mirrored glass to heal his illness, and he killed her. The sirens have summoned a demon called Jatharin to get their revenge on Haiva, but instead of killing him, it's killed six innocent men.

[somebadnews]

[ He would ask how that's working out, but he really dislikes it when he has to defend the merits of murder to someone who wants to claim moral superiority. Especially when, if he's hearing this right, they pulled a demon out of Hell and might have started a chain reaction that caused the entire situation they're in.

It's a leap, but the fact that it's even a possibility... ]

Was it the demon leading people to the lakes? [ That hits him belatedly. Wei Wuxian caught him sleepwalking down there once. ]

[clavesregni]

No, I... I don't think so. That must have been the sirens.

[somebadnews]

[ He frowns. That should have occurred to him, but that doesn't discount the demon he saw in his other dream. Twice he was attacked or possessed because of this guy she's shielding. ]

Which goes back to revenge on Haiva. How long has it been since he killed the one he promised to marry?

[clavesregni]

Between two and three months before we arrived here. Why do you ask?

[somebadnews]

Because timing matters. His actions obviously are accelerating the apocalypse, but it'd be nice to know if it started with him. [ He really doesn't want to rely on his powers unless the world ends, but even then it'd be pointless to go back if he doesn't know how far to go. ]

He's too much of a risk either way.

[clavesregni]

I agree he's a risk. He needs to have his weapons confiscated and be kept under guard until we can arrange for a trial.

[somebadnews]

[ He barks a laugh. She surprised him with that ridiculous idea. ]

How much time do you think we have?

[clavesregni]

[She can't fathom why he's laughing. Her idea is obviously logical and correct.]

Please. Do share your suggestion.

[somebadnews]

Look. Even if we did have time, which we don't, he's implicated in starting what is probably going to end with a lot more killing.

[ Word travels fast, and she trusted too many on them. ]

We don't have to do a damn thing. Once people know he's responsible, they'll feed him to the wolves, and you should let them. We can only hope we won't be joining him in a few days.

[clavesregni]

Mob justice will never work in the long run. [She's been having this argument since she made this post, no one will listen to her, and she's tired. But all of that only makes her more stubborn.]

[somebadnews]

Okay, sure. [ Of all the hills to die on. ] Presuming we have a long run, let's revisit. At least you'll have gone on record that you had a better idea.

[clavesregni]

It isn't about the record. If we allow Haiva to be murdered, we're not putting an end to anything. Someone will seek vengeance for his death, or vengeance for one of the murdered men. There needs to be proper accountability. Proper justice. Or the violence will only continue.

[somebadnews]

Justice according to you. This isn't your home. [ As much as he'd like it if violence could end, it won't. ]

People don't change because you want them to.

[clavesregni]

I don't expect Haiva to change. I expect him to be allowed to speak to his own actions and face the proper consequences, to ensure this doesn't continue. Or happen again.

[somebadnews]

[ Young people. He knows he's not going to convince her otherwise, as much as he's repeated that they don't have the time, but even if they did she's got her work cut out for her. ]

I wouldn't get your hopes up.

[clavesregni]

[Oh, her hopes are up.]

I'll take that under advisement.