"I see, thank you. I think that's all I needed to know."

The Groveborn lowers his muzzle in a nod. :You are welcome: 

And she goes to ask if she should stay overnight to let Wingsister rest after her gate, or go back right off.

"Oh, hmm, was that all you came down for? I could manage another Gate in a candlemark but I thought you'd be here longer." 

"I can stay, but that was the only thing on my agenda. It's not a very efficient way to talk, is it."

"Not really, no. There is a spell that mages can use to communicate, if Leareth wants to use that - one of our mages would need to meet one of his, but briefly would be fine. Or letters. I don't think we need you in person unless there are other things we specifically want Truth Spell for, which...I don't know that we've thought of anything worthwhile yet." 

"Okay, I can tell him. The letters also require Gates though, don't they?"

"We have Fetchers who can transport them, actually! Er, now that we're sure Leareth isn't going to booby-trap them, we would've been too nervous to risk it before." 

"All right. Well, I don't mind waiting if you want more of a break."

"Sure, if you can wait a candlemark that'd be much better." 

She goes to the spot in her garden where her tree was to see if it's still there.

It is! It has a rope fence around it and copious signage telling people NOT TO EAT THE FRUIT. 

Very responsible of them. She on the other hand will eat some fruit.

Wingsister goes back to her room to rest, and rereads the letter a few times. 

A candlemark later she goes to find Promise at the tree. 

"Hi."

"Let's go do the Gate at the temple." 

She walks in silence for a bit, looking at her feet. The letter is still in her hand, creased from being unfolded and refolded and read many times. 

"...Do you think Woodlark is actually, um, all right?" she says after a few beats. "He says I shouldn't worry, in his letter, but also that he's not ready to come back, which - is worrying, honestly." 

"He was able to hold a conversation? And write the letter. I don't feel like I fully understand it though."

"Mmm." Wingsister looks like she maybe wants to ask more, but instead bites her lip and keeps walking in silence. 

They reach the temple and she raises a Gate back to the northern Guard-post. "Er, can you tell Woodlark I said hello. And -" her voice catches, "- that I love him and I miss him." 

"Okay."

"Thank you." 

General is waiting on the other side of the Gate. She and Wingsister exchange a look. 

"I have a message for you from the Heralds," Wingsister says suddenly, drawing a different, hastily folded letter from her tunic pocket and handing it across the Gate. 

(It's a copy of the letter, written in a shaky hand with a couple of tears staining it, but Promise doesn't need to know that, or why it's relevant to General.) 

Promise doesn't ask. She just flutters across.

"That was fast," General says, sounding a little surprised, but she doesn't comment further. 

And shortly later there's another Gate for her at the usual spot.