19.6 He's an Assassin

General Summary

Day 276

Despite my late night, I wake up early courtesy of Alder who greets me with a steaming hot mug of tea. The tea is enough to make me consider rousing myself but he also asks for advice, which really does the trick. After shadow-stepping a little ways away from the camp he seeks advice about Andstella.   It’s still unclear to both of us how exactly she fits into the family but she’s clearly something special to me. He tells me that he thinks she is seeing attraction between them that isn’t there and he doesn’t know how to approach it without being awkward. He himself has no attraction to her. I offer what seems to be my standard advice - trust that people are good and respectful and then speak your mind openly.   But aside from matters of the heart he has also been thinking about (and eagerly looking forward to) our planned jailbreak as an opportunity to exercise what he considers to be his real skills. He misses the excitement and adrenaline of sneaking somewhere undetected and succeeding at a mission. As much as he loves travelling through the wilderness with us, he’s missing that part of himself. I can relate to this. I miss research. I even miss commanding an army, though of course I’d prefer to never have to do it again. I tell him a little about Tira and Alwen’s life trajectory and even how mine has shifted so drastically after a few months on this side of the Barrier. And of course, that his skillset now includes exceptionally difficult shadow magic that is just as uniquely his as his infiltration work.   He also tells me that the leaf he was given seems to sing to him sometimes, especially at night. It feels like it’s trying to comfort him.   And he asks some tough questions - could I bring down the Barrier? Yes, almost certainly. Could I defeat the Collective if I went back now? Probably...with the appropriate allies present. But the thing we are trying to do has become bigger than that and it’s like trying to thread a hundred needles in order to bring about the best future. If we were to bring down the Barrier the war on that side might flood onto this side to decimate unprepared people. That wouldn’t be a win.   With the rest of the day we break camp and head into the ‘city’ of the Northern Grove, though it’s much changed from my ancient memories. I remember glass and elvish structures, mosaics and permanence along with the bright colours. Here are all the same colours but temporary in fabrics and wood. It doesn’t look like a place built to last, despite this being the fae’s last remaining Grove.   And finally we reach Camellia. And her child - Theaceae! The young wizard is quite shy at first but as we continue to talk about magic (particularly ‘ancient’ elvish magic) they warm up and soon we are gathered around the kitchen table with Miriam taking notes as Camellia and Dawn look on. Theaceae will accompany us as we head toward Dreamfall - they are Spring right now but they’re Vanguard as well.   The night closes with Alder’s successful jailbreak and a reunion with Hella and Kadia before we vanish into the night. Tracking a bunch of fae would be difficult at the best of times but fae travelling through shadowgates...I think it would be nearly impossible.   And soon we will all be together again - we can stop in Drognar before continuing on towards Dreamfall.