- what does the part about the gods mean - is the Star-Eyed helping Vkandis, or not -

:It doesn't seem like it? But I need to pin Moondance down directly on that question. He gets premonitions from Her, sometimes, because of the kind of magic he has. And I think I would know if he was lying or being evasive about it: Starwind, he isn't sure, but Moondance is a terrible liar. 

All right.

I think next time you talk with her you should ask how close Leareth's project is.

:I would be pretty nervous about trying it without Leareth around, honestly, but - hopefully he'll find his way back north. I'll ask her next time, which should be after I check with Moondance. I'll do that tomorrow so I can get more news at the same time: And because he can't handle any more conversations today. 

Jisa comes over to his room once he's back there. Sits next to him on the bed. :I'm sorry: 

:I know, pet: Vanyel hasn't called her by that nickname in a long time but it just slips out. He puts his arm around her shoulders. :I'm so, so grateful you were here and not there. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you as well: 

:Do you think Melody...: Jisa doesn't finish. 

Vanyel has no answer for her. Melody probably wasn't in Haven, but he's also pretty sure it isn't just Haven that was lost. He hugs her in silence while Stef sings, quietly, in harmony with the Quendi mourning song still in refrain outside. 

And the next day he reaches out to Moondance again first. <Moondance. I need you to tell me everything you can infer about what the Star-Eyed feels about this. This is really, really important> 

<Oh> And there's a long silence, which is frustrating because the spell is still draining Vanyel, but also it's understandable that Moondance needs time to think. <I am not sure. It - felt right, to do as you requested and scout the border. And also it felt right to send our parties in. We have news for you–>

<Good. Tell me in a moment. Need this first> 

<I know little else> Moondance admits. <I think She wants me to help you, but that is a guess> 

<Can you confirm> Of course, Vanyel can't perfectly trust Moondance's answer. Moondance is pact-bound to serve a goddess. But - it's still information. Worth having. He can figure out what to do with it on his side. 

<I might petition to speak to Her directly, I suppose> 

<Do that immediately after this. Please> Vanyel takes a deep breath. <News?> 

<We lost a scout-party. But they were able to send a report in Mindspeech first. Guard-post destroyed. Army with the same flag camped there. Gryphons> 

So it's not just Haven. Really this isn't surprising at all. 

<I think we need to know conditions in Rethwellan> he sends. <And Hardorn, if you can get there. I - wouldn't go via Karse> 

<Anything you need, Wingbrother> 

And Vanyel drops the link and then thinks for a bit on his own before reaching out to Fëanáro again and briefly covering everything they discussed. :I don't think the Goddess is working with Vkandis on this. Moondance is going to try to speak to Her directly, I guess he can do that? The difficulty is that I can't fully trust his answer, since, well, if She is working with Vkandis then She'd want to give us false information, right? But I wasn't sure what else to do. We'll see what his answer is: 

It seems promising that they're in communications with you, and haven't, say, tried to lure you to Gate there?

:I think so, yes. I'm going to try for Nayoki in a couple of hours and I'll ask about the plan: 

Vanyel rests and then he does so, and then contacts Fëanáro again. :They're not far off in theory. Getting the population for powering it was going to be the hard part. But - she seemed pretty nervous about doing it without Leareth. Plus I get the sense they were sort of hoping to use that century to double check a lot of the details, since making an evil god by accident would be, er, pretty bad. Maybe you can lend them some people with the relevant expertise? Math in particular: 

Huh. We can probably lend them people. A more specific problem description might be helpful for picking out who'd be good.

:I thought you might want that and I told her. I couldn't hold the communications open any longer today, but she can have something succinct by tomorrow. And maybe more news for us: 

Thank you.

Are you pushing yourself to the point of being too tired to Gate out if you need to because that's probably not worth it.

:No, I could Gate out in an emergency. It'd give me backlash but - well, emergency: 

Okay, good. I will wait for information about what to ask the mathematicians for, then.