abraxaslogs | [open] stories sown along the way

i. general

[ There's been an additional bustle around the castle, with mages darting to and fro with books or other supplies in hand, setting up spells that are supposedly meant to reinforce the castle's defenses. On top of that, the guards at the borders have been tetchier than usual, fixing Thancred with long assessing looks when he decides to stretch his legs. It feels as if the cage they've been placed in is becoming smaller and smaller. He, at least, has three passes that will grant him trips outside of the city. Now, it feels as if he needs to be even more careful with his use of them.

There's also the fact that Y'shtola has left, her small space in the Horizon confirmed as gone. Of course Thancred knows that it's for the best that she's back home where she belongs, but it had been nice to have a close friend at hand — especially one who was so resourceful.

It's difficult not to feel isolated with all of that in mind, and so when Thancred isn't busying himself with various odd jobs, he stops in on other Summoned in their various haunts, to say hello or discuss their current situation. It might be joining them at a table in the library, bothering them while they're working, falling into step with them in the gardens, or perhaps bringing them a snack from the kitchen — a piece of fresh bread, some cheese, or a bunch of grapes. If he does make a snack delivery, it will come with a warning of sorts. ] Enjoy that. When I stole into the kitchen to grab a little something, I was almost chased out by the servants. It seems they're doing an inventory of sorts.

[ When he is more in the mood to keep to himself, Thancred might be found in the communal bathing chamber attempting to relax, running through sparring exercises in the training yard with his gunblade or a pair of knives, or sitting in one of the game rooms studying or idly shuffling a pair of cards. ]

ii. foreign guests

[ As it turns out, Thancred ends up making use of one of those passes sooner than he might have expected. With all this talk of the Queen making a trip to Borrel, he had decided to travel there, quietly as he could, to investigate for himself. What he learned there is of interest and concern in equal measure, and it's information that he would like to share with those he trusts among the Summoned — with the utmost care and discretion, unlike some.

His trip is brief, barely the span of a day, and it's after he returns to the Castle that he hears chatter and hushed conversation about recent visitors. A vampire and a werewolf, guests from isolated lands far beyond what any of the Summoned have seen. There's no doubt that it's a political move, and it's quite interesting that the delegates from Luna and Ikorr have chosen now of all times to step out into the light.

While there's no means to speak with the visitors himself, Thancred at least wants to inspect the goods that they brought along with them. He wanders the markets of the castle town, listening patiently to the explanations of the wine, ales, and delicacies, though not opting to sample any unless given some convincing encouragement.

It's the shadow lanterns which catch his interest, and he can be found carefully examining one as he chats with the merchant who had been lucky enough to get her hands on such a curious item. ]

It will shroud everything around it in darkness, you say? Might I test it?

[ If you're in the area, you might want to prepare for everything to get very dark. ]

[Sasarai is wandering through the vendors, humming as he glances over the goods. Everything looks interesting, but it doesn't compare to what he'd had back at the Circle Palace in Harmonia.

After listening to the hawkers he always moves on. He is passing Thancred when he hears the other man ask to try a lantern.]

If you are about to cast darkness over the area you might want to warn people first.

[He means that to be humorous but his flat delivery might suggest otherwise.]

[ It's as the shopkeeper hands over the lantern that the voice cuts in, causing Thancred to pause and glance over. This is a public place and anyone is bound to be listening in, so he isn't particularly surprised by the interruption.

He knows this face, as well. He'd spoken up at the town hall in the Horizon with information about the Singularity, which had spiraled into a long discussion between the Summoned. Thancred had mainly only listened in, gathering as much intel as he could. ]

And what's to say I didn't plan to issue such a warning? [ Granted, it would have been a bit of harmless fun to simply see how the nearby crowd reacted. Thancred doesn't know how large the area of effect will be, but that's why he'd asked to try it out. ] Of course, I'll need to know how to activate it first.

[ "There's a small button on the side that you push in, sir," the merchant explains with a smile.

Thancred nods, then tilts his head back toward Sasarai with a smirk. ] Are you sufficiently warned?

Warned, but curious.

[Sasarai shifts and walks up to stand beside Thancred.]

Go ahead. Now that I'm here I'd like to see how this magic works.

[ Thancred gives a small shrug with one shoulder. There are other people in the area who may be affected by what he's about to do, but he believes there's been sufficient warning for anyone who's been paying attention.

Thus, he slides his finger over the button and presses down. A moment later, the area around them becomes shrouded in darkness. It may not be pitch black, but it's a good deal darker than it was before, as if all the nearby lanterns were snuffed out. ]

... Well, that's one way of setting the mood.

Fascinating...

[Sasarai blinks slowly as his eyes adjust to the change in light.]

You know, something like this would help me sleep better at night. There is always so much light creeping in under the door.

They aren't for sale, are they?

[As sleeping aids, definitely not to arm any potential spies with in the future.]

[ Is that truly what Sasarai wants to use this for? Thancred does not know the man particularly well beyond what he'd observed at that town hall, and so he can't say for certain. It's not as if it wouldn't work well for that purpose. Or he's simply being cheeky.

Not that Thancred is speaking openly of what use he might gain from these lanterns either. That would be foolish. ]

They are, in fact. [ He steps forward to hand over the lantern so that Sasarai can expect it for himself. ] I think I may purchase one as well.

[ yennefer hears through the grapevine of thancred's trip out of the castle, something that doesn't surprise her (knowing his payment for their quest) and knowing enough about thancred to know he would appreciate the chance to get out, to stretch his legs, to explore the places to a further extent.

she finds him some days after, a bit ahead of her in the halls, his back to her as he heads off to some meeting or some place or something. honestly, yennefer does not know what thancred does with his time, but she does find her footsteps quickening until she catches up with him, slipping her hand into his elbow and settling herself to his side, almost as if he is now escorting her...who knows where.

if he looks down to her, he'll find her smiling - only slightly mischievous - her tone light. ] Were you planning on telling me of your trip? Or were you waiting for me to come hunt you down?

[ Thancred doesn't have much of a set schedule, and that may in part be by design. He doesn't want his comings and goings to be easily taken down and then tracked, and while he has his haunts the same as any other Summoned here, he can't be expected to always be in a specific place at a specific time.

In this case he has no important business to attend to and had been on his way to the dining hall in search of something to eat when Yennefer catches up with him. She slides into position at his side as if she were meant to always be there, and he cinches his arm around hers with little delay. He's quite skilled at appearing casual in public even while discussing things of great import.

Not that he's about to launch into all that immediately. ]

Oh, then my absence was noted? [ He smiles playfully, mirroring Yennefer's own impish look. ] I'm touched.

[ It had only been a day, after all, and Yennefer tends to keep herself busy. ]

Perhaps your absence is always noted. [ it curls her smile a little further, finding easy footing at his side. she lets him lead her wherever it is they will go, as her own schedule is fairly free for the day.

and perhaps this has a bit more to do with the way things seem to be relatively still around the castle. while yennefer has spent years keeping her boredom at bay, finding things to occupy her time, she knows enough of thancred's restlessness to watch out for it. ]

But don't let it go to your head. It's only a matter of time until I find a way to keep tabs on both you and Stephen. I can't have either of you leaving me behind, after all.

[ it is said just as playfully, but there is some amount of truth to the underlying message. yennefer can keep herself busy, sure. had her own plans, her own directions. but there is also a part of her that misses the routine the three of them had kept. ]

[ Were it not for the fact that Thancred has spent so much time with Yennefer at this point, he might not have known whether to take that remark as a compliment or a threat. The truth is that it is likely a bit of both. His eyes glint with amusement and he nods. ]

Oh, I would never dream of it. [ It is true that he decided to make the trip to Borrel on his own this time when he could have asked either Yennefer or Stephen to come with him, but in this case he had wanted to attract as little attention as possible. ] I've returned, have I not? And I am happy to give you a full report.

[ Yennefer has been to Borrel, after all, so there won't be too much to explain. As they reach the dining hall, he nods toward the tables piled with food. ]

I was going to grab a bite of something and then we can find a more quiet spot to chat.

[ He's not interested in having this conversation in such a populated area, and he doubts that Yennefer is either. ]

[ it isn't something that yennefer actively thinks about, but truthfully, there is something almost relieving about being known well enough that thancred can just tell. that he knows. his eyes glint and yennefer doesn't need to say anything more about that - about being left behind, about the relatively low-key anxiety that comes with feeling caged.

but that's not what they're talking about, here. right now, they are walking through the halls of the castle, and thancred has returned from one of his exclusive day-trips, and yennefer wants to know. so when he mentions a full report, she nods. because yes, she's been to borrel. but she also knows the connections. knows that all it takes is one piece of information for something to change. ]

I suppose that's acceptable. [ which is, of course, played up much more than how she actually feels. she knows if there had been anything serious, she would have known about it before now. still, she goes along with it, even as they step into the dining hall.

thancred mentions food and yennefer nods again, aware of what he means by quiet spot, and extracting herself from his side before setting a hand on his arm briefly. ] Grab a bit extra, and I will find us some wine. [ and then yennefer is turning to find said bottle of wine, as well as two goblets, before she is waiting for thancred to grab a plate and some food. ]

The gardens, perhaps?

[ Had there been anything truly dire or urgent to communicate, Thancred certainly would have brought it to both Yennefer and Stephen's attention immediately. As things stand, it's nothing they couldn't have guessed for themselves — with a bit of extra gossip on the side.

Thancred nods as Yennefer voices their plan for the afternoon, quite used to splitting up duties in this way. Granted, back home it usually had to do with some task or another that was necessary for the safety of their star, but that's beside the point. ]

I'll see you shortly, then.

[ He makes for the dining table and loads up a plate for them, with a few pieces of meat, roasted vegetables, a wedge of cheese, and some crackers. That should be more than enough to keep them satiated during their chat.

Once he's done, he reconvenes with Yennefer and they continue their stroll outside into the gardens. There's a free bench open to them, situated under an arch grown over with vines. Thancred takes a seat, then sets the plate between them so they can pick at the food as they please. ]

Before we get too into it, I must also ask — how have you been?

[ yennefer assumes as much - that if there had been anything serious, anything dire, that thancred would have told her. it's what's kept her from hunting him down sooner, kept her tone lighter, more friendly and curious than tense and demanding. and yet even with that understanding, there is the creeping worry that something has happened. that thancred, for whatever reasons, has specifically chosen not to tell yennefer what it is he's found. that geralt had said something, perhaps, that had shifted thancred's perspective.

it's a worry that eats away at her, no matter how much she tells herself that isn't something he would do or, even, so what if it is? it shouldn't bother her as much, none of this should bother her as much, and so she stifled it down and busied herself with her work, with the court, with everything else.

and now they split ways in the most familiar of fashions, her search for a bottle and glasses coming up fruitful and easy, and then she makes her way outside. it's not until thancred has rejoined her back outside that she shifts to give him enough room for himself and the plate that she pours their glasses, takes her own and picks up one of the pieces of meat and chewing as he asks her how he's been. ]

Ah- busy with my studies, mostly. [ she swallows, takes a drink of her wine, waves off any passing interesting he might have in the details of it. ] Figuring out how to keep the two mages occupied that Ambrose so graciously assigned me has taken more effort than it should, but they've proven useful. [ yennefer shrugs, uncaring, before her brows lift back to him. ] Though it's been some time since I've checked in with you.

[ Thancred nods to Yennefer in grateful acceptance as he takes the glass of wine from her, then takes a sip. It does remind him for a moment of their very first meeting back at the Summit, when she had greeted him with such reserved wariness. It's not until they'd set out on their quest with Stephen that she'd really allowed herself to open up to him, and by now these shared drinks are commonplace for them. ]

I imagine they're learning a great deal under your tutelage.

[ If there is one that Thancred appreciates about Yennefer, it's that unlike certain other scholarly contacts of his, she understands how much to share about what she's researching rather than rambling on ad nauseum.

He reaches out to spread some of the softer cheese over one of the crackers and then pops it into his mouth. Yennefer is far more interested in what he has to share, and for good reason. ]

I'm certain you've already put together where I've been. [ Yennefer is certainly smart enough for that. ] I was rather taken in by the sights in Borrel. What can I say? Coastal cities agree with me. [ That much is true. He will always find himself a bit nostalgic for the rough-and-tumble streets of Limsa Lominsa. ]

[ she laughs a little, shaking her head. ]

We can only hope. Most of the mages from Thorne have had very different schooling, but they do return each day.

[ yennefer had never expected to find herself in the place of teaching, but as much as she might hate to admit it, she does find that she likes it more than not. especially if it means actually opening up the eyes of these mages who have only had ambrose to look to as a head mage.

and then there are the other summoned, but that's another story entirely. but that's not why they're here, and she watches him ready a piece of bread and cheese, waiting until he decides to actually explain. ] You did fit when we were in Borrel last. But why did you return?

[ While Thancred does not know all the specifics of what those assistant mages are meant to do for Yennefer and what the expectations are, it does sound as if they have some choice as to whether or not to remain under her watchful eye. As their focus is on alchemical mixtures rather than spell-weaving, it explains how she's been able to maintain the secret of her magical inability.

He gives a small shrug when she insists that Borrel had suited him. Were it not for all the circumstances surrounding it, he would not be opposed to spending more time there.

He spears a piece of roasted tomato with his fork, letting it hang in the air for a moment as he considers her question. ]

I'd heard talk around the castle that the queen had made a trip there. I suppose I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. As it turns out, she had gone to visit family.

[ Which all sounds harmless enough on the surface, until one realizes that her uncle is highly ranked in Thorne's military. ]

[ he is exactly right in his assessment - especially with regards to how yennefer has kept her secret for as long as she has. potions, which work the same here as in any sphere. herbology, thought different, with the same basis understanding. and then her apprentices, who - for whatever godsforsaken reason - chose to learn under her.

either way, it has worked out well enough for her. so much that she's been able to build up what will likely become a kind of class schedule, if everything works out. but that is for later, much later, and for now she's focused instead on him. ]

Ah- [ she says with a small smile, nodding. ] Her Uncle, then?

[ because, as they all know, her uncle, the military general of that city. the implications are there even without her needing to state them, though she would not be afraid to. ]

[ It is little surprise that Yennefer is one step ahead of him with this. Perhaps Thancred's trip had been a waste when they could have guessed at the queen's reasoning for visiting Borrel, but he always prefers to confirm things with his own eyes or ears when possible.

He nods, taking a bite of food and slowly chewing it over as he lets that information sink in. Then, once his food has been swallowed: ] There appears to be increased naval activity there as well. Yet another sign of Thorne shoring up their defenses, I imagine.

[ As alone as it may feel they are at the moment, he is careful with his tone, remaining neutral. Someone could always be listening in. ]

[open] stories sown along the way

thorne

Re: thorne

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