[ They're almost done. Only a day's ride and they'll be back to Castle Thorne, their mission successfully accomplished. Thancred does not yet know what will come of their efforts, but he has learned a great deal about this world he's been abducted to, and that alone was worth it. What they may uncover through the thaumametors remains to be seen, but they have discussed it at length by now and Stephen seems confident in how to handle such things.
It's midday now, and they still have to ride until sundown before they'll reach the castle. With that in mind, it's tempting to simply push through, but the horses need rest as much as they do. Stephen has been forced to accustom himself to the aches and pains that come with so much riding, and his complaints have lessened over the weeks, but it would not do for them to overdo it either.
Thus, they've found a clearing a few yalms inside the tree line of the forest where they can take a short rest. Thancred dismounts and ties up his horse first, then moves over to where Yennefer's doing the same. ] Need a hand? [ His hand finds her shoulder without him truly thinking about it. It's been three weeks now, and the familiarity between them has grown.
The scenery around them changes in an instant, the temperature rising a few degrees and the forest flashing into an entirely different place. Not just any place, either. This is the Crystarium, the large central courtyard the leads up to a stairwell to the Ocular. It's a beautiful city, bathed in light, with the looming presence of a tower made of crystal that extends far into the sky overhead. As if Thancred could ever forget this place. His stomach drops toward his feet — has he been transported somehow? Has someone seized control of the Crystal Tower to abuse to their own ends? How—
Then he realizes that Yennefer's presence is still at his side, and that there's a group of people standing before them. The Scions as a whole, including himself and Ryne. Thancred's breath catches in his throat, his grip tightening on Yennefer's shoulder before he can think better of it. When he realizes he might be digging in too hard, his hand falls limply to his side. ]
What? This is— [ The words come out, near to breathless, and he shakes his head in disbelief. ] This is one of my memories. [ He tears his gaze away from Ryne to look at Yennefer, to assure himself that she's present in the moment as well. He can't begin to understand how or why this is happening, and a grounding presence would not go amiss. This is something only those with the Echo should be capable of, so why is it happening to him? ]
— yennefer (dreamwalking)
It's midday now, and they still have to ride until sundown before they'll reach the castle. With that in mind, it's tempting to simply push through, but the horses need rest as much as they do. Stephen has been forced to accustom himself to the aches and pains that come with so much riding, and his complaints have lessened over the weeks, but it would not do for them to overdo it either.
Thus, they've found a clearing a few yalms inside the tree line of the forest where they can take a short rest. Thancred dismounts and ties up his horse first, then moves over to where Yennefer's doing the same. ] Need a hand? [ His hand finds her shoulder without him truly thinking about it. It's been three weeks now, and the familiarity between them has grown.
The scenery around them changes in an instant, the temperature rising a few degrees and the forest flashing into an entirely different place. Not just any place, either. This is the Crystarium, the large central courtyard the leads up to a stairwell to the Ocular. It's a beautiful city, bathed in light, with the looming presence of a tower made of crystal that extends far into the sky overhead. As if Thancred could ever forget this place. His stomach drops toward his feet — has he been transported somehow? Has someone seized control of the Crystal Tower to abuse to their own ends? How—
Then he realizes that Yennefer's presence is still at his side, and that there's a group of people standing before them. The Scions as a whole, including himself and Ryne. Thancred's breath catches in his throat, his grip tightening on Yennefer's shoulder before he can think better of it. When he realizes he might be digging in too hard, his hand falls limply to his side. ]
What? This is— [ The words come out, near to breathless, and he shakes his head in disbelief. ] This is one of my memories. [ He tears his gaze away from Ryne to look at Yennefer, to assure himself that she's present in the moment as well. He can't begin to understand how or why this is happening, and a grounding presence would not go amiss. This is something only those with the Echo should be capable of, so why is it happening to him? ]