"If the goal is to protect the Singularity, maybe the answer is to seek other means to protect it than Thorne." Istredd shrugs. He knows better than to think that Geralt is going to speak up, the man brought them all here to talk. "Nocwich, the Fey, Solvunn, even the gods, they all have reasons to protect it too. If Thorne isn't the only source that can save it from doom, we won't need to shield them."

That requires a lot of groundwork though. Diplomacy. Ways of having conversations with these other powers to guarantee that they would step in with a concern like that. Istredd's goal is the Singularity, he's already said so, and yes he cares about all the other things, but there is a freedom that could be found if the other powers were trustworthy on the topic.

"It would require independent diplomacy though. And also, in my opinion, an agreement with the gods as a power greater than both of them." Istredd looks at bird Jaskier because they have spoken about this before, and Jaskier's own connection to one of them. He thinks big picture, they can get around Thorne and the Free Cities as the only people with teeth in this game. It's just about how to make it happen.

"But for the record, I think it's worth noting that we are less than a hundred people. We may not have the right to make these huge decisions for this entire sphere."