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[wythersake]

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[luaithre]

[ A silence, which could be strange over a medium in which they can't see each other, or less awkward for it. If nothing else, Isaac would have been able to tell if the silence was for that first thing, or in thinking about the question.

Eventually; ]

There was a place. An island, off Rivain. Some of the other mages here, and me, we lived there outside the influence of the Circles. I'd a house there too.

[ Not quite so fine, but. ]

Where were you?

[wythersake]

[ the door is propped. light from the hall, the occasional traffic of feet above, below; of wind through stone halls. he listens, and then he listens to marcus hedge. ]

Orlais, old friends. I was a healer there.

[ (some of the other mages, as though isaac doesn't know them all. a wife and a house,) ]

I don't know that we'll ever have an island, or houses, or a home. I don't know that we should even trust the prophetic distortions of a spirit impersonating a dead woman —

But it sounds a fine thing, to not be used. I'd like to try it.

[luaithre]

Ambitious of you, [ comes groused in the wake of his last breath of smoke.

There is a thoughtful silence that follows, however. Agreeable.

Not unrelated; ]

I spoke to the Commander about his intentions in allying with southern mages.

[wythersake]

What did he claim?

[luaithre]

His sympathies to our position. The look of things once the war with Corypheus is won.

[wythersake]

No doubt, he's acquainted with the concept of sympathy. Perhaps read it in a book —

[luaithre]

[ Another beat of quiet. Then— ]

I don't think he was lying to me. That isn't where the concern lies.

[wythersake]

Where does yours lie?

[luaithre]

Like you said, about being used. Not only us, but mages all. Sympathy, if that's what drives him truly, isn't an open sanction to do as he pleases.

But they're convincing, sympathies. Our lot are susceptible.

[wythersake]

[ a noise of agreement. he is thinking again: of islands, of a right hand. you have the ships, the friends —

islands sink. silver tarnishes. ]

Does he believe you placated?

[luaithre]

[ Another sound, sort of a probably not. ]

I made a demand, that Matthias be excluded from deeds like Flint asked of you and him. He acquiesced. I suppose that's like placation.

[wythersake]

[ forgive the brief segue — ]

What will you tell Matthias when he discovers that?

[ you know. inevitably. ]

[luaithre]

I had it in mind to tell him myself.

[wythersake]

[ there are a lot of things he could say —

but only one of them that fucked this up. so: ]

Thank you.

[luaithre]

[ —hm. ]

You're welcome.

[wythersake]

[ - aNYWAY ]

Flint has ideas, he lacks reach. Nascere is gone. Rutyer and Yseult are opposed to us. If you intend to move with him, it may do to ferret out those other allies that remain. How far do his supports extend beyond mages?

[luaithre]

They extend to the Van Markhams of Nevarra, if rumours are to be believed.

[ Better than rumours, really, but still. ]

[wythersake]

It's our strength he's promised them, not his own. Reach, again: This present stasis better suits Riftwatch than war, and I cannot think two Heads blind to it.

Then - if supporting Markham is to set against Riftwatch, and we have observed the policy of traitors -

We are valuable, but we are easy to disavow. I'd sooner we'd his skin in this, but that's sunk to the bottom of the fucking sea.