"I didn't ask that, but I can while you nap if you like."

"...Might as well try it, then. Worst case I get a nap and the dream doesn't work and then we learn something. It's fine if 'Fandes needs to stay down here." 

(It's, perhaps, preferable if Yfandes stays downstairs. She's been doing the silent-and-cagey thing in response to all of his Mindspeech asides.) 

"Bet Bar can feed horses too."

Yfandes would like that! Even if she is kind of uncomfortable with the existence of a bar that communicates by napkin. Or a room outside time. Or a stranger with bizarre otherworldly magic using it to enable her Chosen to almost kill himself on purpose, 'safely' or otherwise. 

Vanyel shields her out, and disappears upstairs. 

Bar demonstrates her ability to feed horses.

Lissa sits down with her back against the door, legs crossed and feet propped up on the opposite side of threshold. She sips her drink. "Say, Cam, what happened to the dead people you want to resurrect?" 

"It's a long story. Uh, in brief, collateral damage in a very bad war. I destroyed their planet."

“Oh. Um, do wars where you’re from usually result in planets being destroyed? I guess my company sure did burn a lot of farms in the war with Karse. Never realized how many civilians starved thanks to us until my brother won the war for us - speaking of collateral damage, that. And they sent me over to be our Guard liaison with the new queen of Karse.” She makes a sympathetic face at him. “Did you win?”

"It's not usual.

We won."

“...You seem kind of upset about that.”

"...I murdered fifty-five million noncombatants. I've been putting them back, the ones I can put back, nonstop for months till I found this place, dozens every minute, and I'm only half done. Their planet had some irreplaceable magical properties, and all the vertebrate animals that don't lay eggs are gone because I can't make those right, and the property that lets me resurrect most of the casualties doesn't finish growing in till partway through pregnancy so I'm bringing back expecting parents without their babies. A million inhabitants of the world aren't the right species to bring back till I find a fix for that in here. It's not really the most important feature of the situation that I am upset but, yeah, I'm upset."

Lissa chews her lip for a while. 

"I feel like I'm supposed to say something consoling," she says finally. "But I'm no good at that. I don't know – that's terrible? That's too many dead people? No goddamned wonder you're upset. I'd be extremely concerned about being in the same enclosed space as you if you weren't." 

She falls silent, staring out at the courtyard. It's nearly sunset. 

"Was it worth it?" she says finally. 

"Think so."

"Mmm." 

Eventually, Yfandes finishes her meal and meanders over, nudging at Lissa's shoulder with her muzzle. 

"Oh, it's your turn. Thanks." Lissa absently pats her on the neck and stands. "Cam, I'm getting another drink, want anything? Also, would you like a hug? I don't know if you do hugs."

"...I sometimes do hugs?"

"Oh, you're like my brother. Well, it's fine if you don't want a hug from me in particular, I won't be offended." Lissa puts down a handful of coppers on the bar. "Bar, surprise me again with something else?" 

This surprise is cinnamony and white.

Lissa makes a suspicious face. "Is this even alcoholic? I mean, no offense, it's very delicious–"

It isn't. If you'd prefer it spiked I can do that, at least until such time as it seems necessary to cut you off.

"Listen, I just found out about fifty-five million people getting their planet exploded under them. Right after my brother stole my vacation like he always does. I want something that'll get me drunk." Cut off, she mouths at Cam, rolling her eyes. 

Once Bar fixes her drink, maybe she'll go curl up by the fireplace until Yfandes needs a break at the door. 

Cam finds a seat at a booth with a view of the explosions but winds up sitting on the table so he has the range of motion necessary to play violin.

Outside, night falls.

Shortly afterward, Vanyel wanders back down into the bar area, stretching and looking very well-rested. He hunts around for the source of the music, sees Cam, and hovers awkwardly until the end of the song.

“You’re very good,” he says. “What instrument is that? I’ve never seen one like it.”

"It's called a violin."

Vanyel wants to ask if he can try the instrument, and where Cam learned the song, and about a hundred questions about music in other worlds, but it really isn’t the top priority right now.

“Good news,” he says tightly. “Talked to him. Wait, is it still dark? Thought it’d be morning by now.” He hesitates for about half a second. “I’m going to get coffee anyway and then I’ll fill you in. Um, first thing: I told Leareth your ‘mailing address’ and he said he’d think about it. So you could check and see if he’s had the chance yet.”