>>FROM:@STORMBORN | >>TO:@ALL

[dorzalta]

I ask that you use caution if encountering Yhych in the courts. Or at least carry with you an anti-toxin.

[ dot dot dot . . . ]

Is anyone a weapon-maker here?



>>FROM:@STORMBORN
>>TO:@BURGERKING, @PONYTAIL, @MODERATUS, @POINTANDKICK, @DIEDHARD, @BOARING, @AEGONNER, @PERSONALSTAFF

Ignore my next message until you are alone or are able to control your reaction.

[ There will be a pause, one which seems to tick away as an eternity for her. And then: ]

I'm told Kebechet is here.

Comments

[dorzalta]

Luckier than most.

Luckier than a younger version of myself.

[northerndragon]

[She can't see him chuckling.]

Luckier than two of me when I was seventeen. But I wasn't as unlucky as I thought I was then. Wish I had known that things would change the way they have now. It didn't seem possible.

What are we going to do about our problem, love? Talk to the Commander about it?

[dorzalta]

Best not to expect these things to fall into our laps.

Which part of the problem? Her presence, Mordred's foolishness, or how we'll have vengeance?

[northerndragon]

I don't think you fell into my lap.

Which part — Any of it, none of it.

[dorzalta]

Regardless, I do enjoy your lap.

I don't know. You think it wise to inform her of this?

[northerndragon]

As I like yours.

I think she might be angry if you don't. But she may also be reading this now.

[dorzalta]

Spying on lovers.

We've already stated we will not risk the mission. Kebechet is not hers to handle.

[northerndragon]

I went to clear out some traitors once, and I got permission for it from the man acting as Lord Commander at the time. He didn't want to give it to me. Probably wound up wishing he hadn't, but I thought it was better to ask.

Anyone who spies on lovers deserves it if they don't like what they see.]

[dorzalta]

[ A long, lingering silence. We don't need permission, Jon, is what she wishes to tell him. He is a king, and she is a queen. But then his words cause her to recall the last time they pursued what they thought best, and against the Commander's wishes. Failure.

Even the most careful of actions could result in them ruining their chances here, and then what? Their children might be erased. Destroyed. Murdred, like Rhaego. ]

Very well, I will contact her.

[northerndragon]

[They don't, but if they've agreed to serve COST, they've agreed to respect the chain of command... and they've been offered the opportunity to simply leave if they don't wish to serve anymore.

There might be a terrible price to leaving, much as there's a terrible price for failure.

And Kebechet? If they can clear her out, it's likely someone else will take her place. Could be someone worse... or it could be someone with less innate talent.]

Might be that she can give us more resources, or some suggestions about how to proceed. She knows all of this better than we do.

[dorzalta]

[ She's listened to you, Jon. It's a miracle. ]

She may. For all our sake, she will.

I'm no closer to discovering how to save her, like I'd promised.

[northerndragon]

All we can do is try.

She seems to have accepted that her life is forfeit at the end of all of this, if not sooner. But I mean to help you keep your word if I can.

[And he knows what it's like to accept that your own life is forfeit at the end of a hard fight... if only you do what you can to win it, if only you can see it done.

But that's something he tries not to speak about much with Daenerys. Their commanders spoke of children, but if there's only one, a father need not live to see the birth of his child for the child to be born nonetheless.]

[dorzalta]

[ Heart-eyes: activate. ]

My love and my heart.

[ Sometimes, not often, but sometimes, she wonders if she's done nearly enough to deserve his support. ]

It will take some learning, I imagine. I wonder if the sergeant would be willing to offer more information.

this is about where his location starts glowing in satellite footage, a veritable Nobility Supernova

[northerndragon]

We can only ask him. We can only ask Scout. If the answer is no, we look elsewhere. We look as hard as we can as much as we can until we can be sure.

They shouldn't be unmaking anyone, least of all her.

[dorzalta]

[ His determination is admirable. ]

We'll approach them individually, then? Would you rather the gentler one of the two, or the more abrasive one?

[ A joke, she doesn't mind Young at all. ]

[northerndragon]

I've spoken more to the Sergeant in the past. With the Scout, I've spent more time keeping her and your daughter apart than I have talking to her directly.

[dorzalta]

She seems prideful, but I see no reason not to be if a Regency member refers to you as a creature of catastrophe. I'll speak with her, then, the next chance I find.

[northerndragon]

All right.

A creature of catastrophe? Was this the man who wants the spear, or someone else?

[dorzalta]

The man who wished for the spear. Rather a dramatic coin of phrase, even for a Regency member.

[northerndragon]

It means he's afraid of her.

Good. Unless she's done worse than any of us to earn it.

[dorzalta]

I can't imagine what would earn her such a title.

[northerndragon]

Trouble for them. You could ask her that, too.

[dorzalta]

I could, but she seemed eager to brush aside any mention of her role in that mission. I don't know how forthcoming she'll choose to be.

You're the man of crows. Did you northern boys have a tale about being who would split into crows the way she does?

[ Northern boys. He can't hear it, but there's a flirty, teasing affection to the label. ]

[northerndragon]

No, but

sometimes the ravens and the crows seem like they know something you don't. And I did know a man who would watch the world through the eyes of an eagle, if he chose. He was a warg. It's not a leap to think some might use crows.

[dorzalta]

Do you think she could be a version of that?