"Even if it ever was, it isn't holding up well now. I think that's why Dara ran into trouble, Rolan is just mostly outdated mind control, but you have a rest of you to fall back on."

:I - do have a rest of me: Almost wonder in her mindvoice. :I'm built for - things that are conflicting now, aren't I?: 

"Yeah. Yeah, you are."

:But I - need to only be for one thing: She shakes her head, sort of irritably. :–No, that's not even right. I need to decide to do one thing, because I'm only one person with one body. And right now I'm doing zero things, which is very stupid: 

"I don't know about stupid but it's at least ineffective."

:Then I need to - try - to find something else - ouch - that's more effective...: Her tail flicks again. :–Sorry. I think I'm all right. Just - ow - this is not very comfortable: 

"That happened to Amshalan too, it's not a sign anything's necessarily not going to plan."

Yfandes nods. She goes very quiet, but it's a tense, vibrating sort of quiet. 

...Finally she lifts her head. :Is it supposed to feel like I broke something?: 

Belrun looks at Amshalan. "Is it?"

:Yes, I suppose it did feel a bit like that? Mostly I was very relieved though: 

Yfandes nods. :I think I did it. I don't feel like I'm going to rip apart anymore, anyway. Or - or repudiate Van by accident: For the first time, she looks directly at him. :Van?: 

"Mmm?" Paying attention is way too stressful so he's been trying not to. 

:If you want to - come here - I think we're all right now...?: 

Vanyel hesitates, giving Belrun a nervous look. 

"Go ahead."

Vanyel has to sort of awkwardly crawl around Amshalan, but then there are going to be SNUGGLES. Also some crying. :Sorry: he tells Belrun, embarrassed. 

:You have nothing to be sorry for!:

Vanyel chuckles weakly. :Right. Yfandes says I'm being silly: He hugs her neck. :I don't really understand exactly what happened, just now, but - thank you: 

:You're welcome!:

Vanyel snuggles for a few minutes. He's so relieved. Also exhausted, even though he wasn't really the one doing anything. 

"...Gods, we're supposed to talk to Randi after, aren't we," he says eventually. "I'm so tired though." 

"Also I realize now I don't know how I report to him. Do I just have Amshalan tell - whatever his Companion's name is -"

:Sondra, and I can do that now, that is the usual way of contacting other Heralds if they're not strong Mindspeakers: 

"I also don't know how it's polite to Mindspeak people who are, since I didn't even know I was a Mindspeaker till fairly recently and then Leareth taught me and presumably there's more etiquette about it when there are lots of people and not just two lifebonded ones."

:Ooh, right! Normally that'd be covered in lessons. Seems a bit awkward to shove you in lessons now with twelve-year-olds, but you ought to have Mindspeech tutoring, I think: 

"Sure, if someone has the time to spare on it."