Amshalan is very good and Belrun can cope by herself now and then to let any of that goodness flow in other directions. She writes and sketches hair follicles and at the end of the day she goes to sleep.

Amshalan considers sleeping outside her window, but it's getting quite cold at this time of year, so she just lingers until dark and then heads to the stables. 

She's back first thing in the morning, nosing at the window. 

Belrun opens the window in the morning to hug her around the neck. "Morning."

:Morning: Nuzzle. :I heard they got a reply from Leareth. Including a message for you if you were still here: 

:Well, I'm still here. Where to?:

:Heralds' wing, Savil has it: Amshalan waits for Belrun to dress and slip outside, and then can give her a ride over. 

Not having to walk places is very nice. Walking places is terrible.

Savil is sitting with tea in the office of the King's Own. "Morning. Letter for you." She holds it out. "Van's doing fine, by the way, the Healers let him go this morning after Gemma yelled at him a lot not to do it ever again." 

"Maybe if it ever comes up again Rolan will be more helpful." She opens the letter.

:Honestly Rolan wasn't even apologetic: Amshalan, riding along with Belrun's eyes and ears, jumps in. :Completely did not see it as his fault in any way: 

And the letter:

Dear Belrun,

Thank you for conveying word from Vanyel. I still wish he had asked first before taking such drastic measures but I suppose I ought not really be surprised, and this does give us some information. Knowing that the Valdemaran region's god did not wish my death here, does not exactly make me feel inclined to visit Valdemar in person, but it is better than the alternative. 

I still desperately wish I could come to you right now. I am leaning toward thinking that it is strategically correct, at least in expectation, to come retrieve you, given that it will apparently not leave me with a broken lifebond permanently even if something happens to you - and I do not think I would be more sad in that eventuality than I would be anyway. I miss your help and advice very badly and I am hopeful that with your help I can come up with a better plan than the current one.

I want to take some more time today to consider it thoroughly, though, before sending a final answer. 

Love,

Leareth

She SAID in her initial letter that she would APPRECIATE if he HURRIED.

She tucks the letter into her pocket. "It says he wants to consider it more 'today'. I don't know if he meant to imply that he'd have a decision by tomorrow or if I'm making that up."

"I don't know, sorry, the letter I got didn't say anything specific about that." 

"Seems silly to go home if he might want me to come north any minute."

Nod. "Well, you're welcome to stick around the rest of the day and hopefully he'll clarify by then." 

"Thank you."

:Want to go for a ride? I could use stretching my legs: 

:Sure, let's go for a ride. I haven't seen that much of the place, you can show me around:

Haven in early winter doesn't have that many attractions, and Amshalan is guessing Belrun isn't interested in doing the obstacle course, but she can carry her around the various paths, looking at (mostly-dead) flower gardens and various old buildings. 

Belrun does her best to inhabit the moment and absorb the wintry scenery.

Eventually it's a reasonable lunchtime and Amshalan drops her off at the dining hall, where various of the other Heralds are sitting around eating and talking; several of them nod to Belrun in acknowledgement but no one tries to start a conversation with her. 

That makes the process easier. She eats lunch. Consults Amshalan on portion sizes because she can't go by how much looks appealing.

Amshalan can advise on portion sizes and on taking a variety of foods. 

Near the end of Belrun's lunch, Amshalan excitedly Mindtouches her. :Message for you! Savil has it again: 

:Thanks:

She goes out to find Savil.

Savil is in the same place as before, with a cup of tea which is presumably not the same tea as before, paperwork spread everywhere, and a picked-at plate of food balanced on top of some papers. 

"Just one for you this time," she says without quite looking up from her work, digging around for it and then holding it out to Belrun.