:Mmm. Maybe: He keeps walking. 

:And it won't hurt, even if all it does is make things less unpleasant for you. Just give it a try, that's all I ask.:

Vanyel is distantly worried that it won't help and it will make him even more aware of how everyone else in Haven can notice that he's doing less work than the other Heralds, which is something he already spends enough time feeling self-conscious and guilty about. 

Shoulder-squeeze. :What'cha thinking?:

"...I wish I had fewer reasons to feel bad about myself. Or more things to feel good about, I guess." 

"Mm." She switches to rubbing his back, thinking for a minute. :I think I want to know more about Heralds before I try to say much about that. But I do think it's good to think about why you want and expect the things you do. It makes everything easier when you have a clearer idea of your real goals.:

"That does seem true in general." Vanyel has an odd look for a moment (and is thinking about white snow and a figure in black, and a book he hunted down in the back archives of the Palace library...) 

And shortly they get to his apartment, and Deskyl wishes him a good night and starts on the calming.

Is Savil around? Busy?

Savil is yawning and going over the treasury-budget in her own room a few doors down. 

She'll leave her alone, then. It doesn't take that long to put Van to sleep, anyway.

She spends most of the next day asleep - she really shouldn't push herself as much as she has been - but looks when she does wake to see how Van is doing and if it's a good time to talk to Savil for a minute.

Van is finished up his duties for the day and is reading in his room. He seems fairly calm. 

Savil is about as un-busy as she ever gets; she's just finishing up an informal meeting with Herald Jaysen, outside in the garden behind the Heralds' wing over glasses of watered wine. 

She waits for a good moment, and sends :Hey. I'm still going to want to meet her but I'm pretty sure I'll want to heal the queen, if you want to set that up.:

:Oh! I'm glad to hear that: Savil is happy about it, but also feels some amount confused. :Er, what made up your mind?:

:I had my droid read about her policies, and talked to Taver about it - the succession part, mostly, he thinks she'll step down before her heir gets too antsy. I'm going to want to see what she thinks about how it'll affect politics with your neighbors, but everything else looks good.:

:Makes sense. She's quite busy, but I can speak with Lancir and arrange a time: Savil is thinking that Deskyl has done a reasonable amount of due diligence, and she's feeling relieved about it, though with something a bit more complicated behind that emotion. 

:Sounds good. And if you think of anything else I should know about with it, please do let me know.: Does that draw out whatever the complication is at all?

:Mmm, I'll do that: It's unclear that it's about Elspeth at all. There's some sort of unease there, associated around the future more generally. It's probably good if Elspeth is still around in ten or twenty years, even if she abdicates the actual throne, but - ten or twenty years from now isn't a time Savil likes to think about. And her feelings about being alive and even battlefield-ready then are...mixed. 

Well, that's valid, if they're expecting a war in a decade. Hopefully it'll be reassuring when she's recovered enough to set her Force effects right and start letting them see what kind of military asset she is. :Thanks.:

She brings DZ with her to dinner, later, checking on the way to see how Van is doing.

Still in his room, still trying to read, but he's tense and obviously trying very hard to steer his thoughts away from...something. 

Well, they can go to him, then. :Hey,: she sends, as she comes into calming effect range. :Coming to dinner, or should we get you something?:

:Oh, is it that time already?: Vanyel reluctantly drags himself back to the moment. :Um, I - don't think I'm up for going to the dining hall tonight. It'd be nice of you to bring something but, er, you're not obligated if it's too much trouble: 

:Nah, it's fine. In the mood for anything in particular?:

:I guess if they have fish tonight I'd enjoy that?: 

:Sure, we can check. Won't be long.: She leaves the connection up as they go to the dining hall.