His eyes sting. <Tried for her. Can't get through. You can try after in case the local version is different?> He's not hopeful of that. <We're worried it's the - threat I asked you to keep an eye out for. Maybe timed now because Leareth was in Velgarth. I need to call in every favour I can, need you to scout for us...> 

<You need not ask it as a favour; of course we will help. I will try to reach my Wingsister. And then alert our scouts for a long-range mission> Brief pause. <I cannot cast it from my side, if you are in Arda still. Will you come here?> 

<Not yet. I'm the only mage left in Arda. Fëanáro may want to send someone else, if that's all right, I'll have to ask. I can contact you again tomorrow> 

<Of course. Wind to thy wings, brother>

Vanyel drops the connection, spends a moment catching his breath, and then conveys everything to Fëanáro. 

Well, that's good. What would he need you for, exactly?

:He shouldn't need me. If there ends up being a fight, I'm a lot more powerful than anyone in k'Treva, but that doesn't outweigh my irreplaceability here, I don't think. I think he was worried about not being able to contact me if something comes up, he has to wait for me to check in from my side and I can't do it too often because it's tiring. But having me there wouldn't really be better: 

Then stay. At least until we know a lot more. 

Good your friends are safe.

:It's really good!: This is the first piece of good news he's gotten. :I told them already I wasn't coming. They're sending scouts to the edge of Valdemar. I'll check in tomorrow. I said you might want to send someone else, but I'm not sure how necessary that is, k'Treva has lots of scouts and mages, and they're willing to help: 

That's a relief. I will expect an update tomorrow.

And Vanyel will finish the Work Room shielding and then see how much progress he can make on the scrying in what's left of the day, which is more than he expected but he's estimating it'll still take him a fortnight to finish. 

Quendi feed him and don't otherwise interrupt him.

The next morning, Vanyel casts the communication spell again, for about a minute's worth of conversation, and then reaches out to Fëanáro again. :Scouts reached the border. They don't see any signs of violence there, but - the vrondi are down. Part of our mage-protections. I'm not even sure how anyone except me could dismantle it...but a Maia could do it, if they got to the Web-focus room in Haven. And they can't reach any Heralds or Companions with Mindspeech, which - someone should be in range:

He takes a deep breath. :They want permission to enter Valdemar and try to learn more. I think we have to assume that's Treven's call: 

Makes sense. I'm sorry.

:I'm calling a meeting with him - probably don't need you there but I'd usually ask Maitimo, I suppose I can ask Macalaurë instead. Oh - if Maitimo died, in the attack, would we expect him to go to Mandos? Or any of the others. I don't think that's been, er, tested before. Does Mandos tell you which souls he has?: 

He doesn't, not usually. Souls have to travel to him, I would be very surprised if he could get them from another world. We could maybe get an answer from him on that even if he won't confirm he has Maitimo. If he does have Maitimo we'll probably have him back within a month, so I'd expect we'll know by then.

:Oh. Hmm - could we Gate him there so the souls can travel to him? If a Maia can go through a Gate then maybe a Vala can, and - it'd be valuable for informational purposes, right? Even if it takes a month: 

Might be a good idea! I'd expect him to agree, he considers it his job to collect all the souls of the dead.

:Then I'll consider it as soon as, er, we think it's safe to go anywhere and I know a place in Velgarth that's definitely safe. I'm going to call this meeting and - I'll get a decision on whether the Tayledras go into Valdemar, it's almost certainly 'yes, at their own risk' but...Treven is my King now and it's his call: He closes his eyes against the sting of tears. :And then - we might need some time to absorb this before we make other decisions: 

Jisa is going to be devastated, is what he's thinking. It's her parents over there. (Two of them. She's known he was her father since she was twelve, apparently, having guessed it on her own. Obviously. Because she's brilliant.) 

Sure. I don't know of any reasons you don't it'd be time-sensitive. 

And he gets back to work.

:Jisa, get Treven and come to my Work Room: Drop the connection and reach again. :Stef, meeting. See if Macalaurë is available, if not you probably know who else has context, Fëanáro is working: 

Macalaurë is available.

Then they can all sit down in the meeting-room he's half set up next to the Work Room, and Vanyel casts a privacy-barrier and goes over everything they know. He's been giving regular updates, so none of it is a shock except for the fact that the vrondi are gone, and everything that implies.

"The scouts from k'Treva want permission to cross the official Border and go see what's going on," he finishes. "I - think we ought to at least grant permission. While warning them it could be more dangerous than anything they've encountered before, of course, and that they're by no means obligated to." But they'll do it. If not as a favour to Vanyel and to Jisa, lifebonded to the King of Valdemar and a Wingsister, then to avenge Savil. 

–and presumably Shavri. No, he isn't going to think about that any more right now. He can grieve an hour from now, when they've decided and he's passed on the decision to Starwind. 

Treven takes it in silence, keeping his composure surprisingly well. His lip quivers a little. 

"...I need a minute to think," he says finally, reaching out to grip Jisa's hand. 

Stef doesn't say anything, just shifts his chair closer and puts his hand on Vanyel's knee. They normally avoid physical affection in front of the Quendi, even Fëanáro's children, but Vanyel is grateful for it right now.