"Right. And...I do not think that the threat of torture actually works very well for motivation, when what you want your staff to be motivated to do is brilliant and creative original research. Because that is a faculty that is difficult for humans to access when they are constantly very afraid. Fear makes people - averse to taking risks, constantly looking for the safest option, and the safest path is generally not what results in groundbreaking discoveries." 

"I think this strategy would work less well if you weren't so powerful, because tempting people to be ambitious would tempt some to - overthrow you or betray you or something - but it does seem to work well for you.

I figured you'd hurt me if you caught me stealing spellsilver but I - didn't think you'd kill me, and that was important. I wasn't afraid of getting hurt."

"- Honestly I think we still disagree on the extent to which torturing people is an effective punishment and deterrent, versus just - demonstrating that you are more skilled than them, and can and will catch them and prevent them from damaging your plans. I never did hurt you, right, even when you were, well, very obviously trying to test me. You were still much more cooperative afterward." 

"I'm not actually a difficult person by nature! I got very high scores for compliance in school! I don't think I am the personality that punishments are primarily required for. But - I will admit your approach works better than I would have expected, at engendering cooperativeness. Here I am, all cooperative."

"I mean, I think if people are difficult by nature then I just do not hire them to work at my organization. I suppose that is an advantage I have, as someone who runs a secret organization for creating a god, rather than a country per se." 

"Yeah. You'll need more punishment when you run a country. But - less than Cheliax does, probably. 

What are you hoping to get out of the talks with the Heralds? Is it mostly just a line of communications so you can send them terms when the time comes?"

"I want a line of communications, yes. I...want to convey to them that I am someone who will, in fact, respect terms that are mutually agreed upon, as opposed to - I am not sure what they think I am, but Vanyel thinks they are terrified that even engaging or communicating with me in any way is somehow dangerous." 

"...huh. I guess I can ...try to figure out why they think that."

"I expect you will find them confusing. But...less confusing after you read Seldasen, I hope. Anyway, I discussed with Vanyel how to exchange messages about this, so - I can let you know if they agree to having you go down and speak with them?" 

"Sure. Will I have to ride again, that was genuinely very unpleasant."

"They have mages who can Gate, I think we can arrange something more efficient." 

"All right." She has some strange impulse to - offer him something, do something, about - being asked this - but she hasn't the slightest idea what, really. "I will get my notes to a stopping point for you again."

"Thank you. ...Is there anything else you wanted to discuss, now?" 

"I don't think so."

"I will keep you updated, then." 

And he heads out. 

She continues doing magic research. Sometimes she is flagged down by Pexa; when this happens she teaches the girl geography, because if she ever gets home she'll need to know it no matter what the political situation is. Pexa seems to consider this not terribly uncharacteristic parenting.

Leareth continues to check in with Pexa once a day and do whatever fun magic game she asks for, for about fifteen minutes, before extracting himself. 

A cautiously hands-off message drop location was arranged via dream conversation with Vanyel, and messages are exchanged. 

Several days later, Leareth finds Carissa and lets her know that the Heralds have agreed to talk to her and someone can meet her at the northern border and Gate her down to Haven. 

"If I die," she says sternly, a tiny bit less joking than last time, "you have to tell your god to get me back."

And she packs her things and leaves her notes.

She has her invisible-to-mage-sight invincibility shield, and Leareth provides her with TWO different artifacts she can use to summon his help, and he wants to take some of her hair right before she goes so he'll be able to for-sure locate her for the next forty-eight candlemarks using that spell. 

He sort of looks like he wants to hug her, when he summons one of his mages to Gate her back to Westmark, but (if her read is right to begin with) he does not indulge this impulse. 

And then she's once again on the stretch of road with Westmark, this time with assurances that someone is waiting for her at the Valdemaran border. 

She rides for the border. She is scared. She tells herself that just means that spellcasting now will help her level.

It doesn't take long to reach it, from there.

Herald-Mage Savil is waiting for, dressed in Whites, standing next to her Companion. She nods stiffly. "Carissa. I, er, apologize for - last time we met." 

"Herald Savil. I'm, uh, glad everyone's all right." And hopefully not planning to execute her for spying? Heralds seem very earnest in a way that makes her predict they wouldn't but - it was an old book, and there's probably several different factions involved with different takes on how to think about Leareth, and - it'd be easy to make sure Leareth didn't have enough warning -

"...Honestly I don't know if it's all right, but - he hasn't attacked us yet. And it's not like any of this is your fault. Ready?" Savil raises her hand toward the doorway of the building next to them. 

She doesn't think Leareth's planning to attack any time soon but he of course wouldn't tell her. "Yes," she says.