Leareth's only response to this is a slightly raised eyebrow. 

:Also you are NOT SLEEPING. Which I feel is objectively very concerning: 

He sighs again. :I am sure that this world with highly advanced technology where we are apparently going has better solutions to that problem than we do: 

Nayoki groans out loud. :Leareth: 

He doesn't answer for a long time. 

:- Fine. I admit that I - could certainly be coping better. I think the same could be said for everyone still alive on this planet. And, apparently, on millions of others. I really do not think the correct strategy here is to delay any longer: 

Nayoki closes her eyes. Lets out her breath, heavily. 

:I know. Just - you can delegate, all right? And then...just try, to take some time for yourself, before we go. For my sake, at least: 

:I really think there is a great deal of preparation that I cannot delegate! ...I suppose if I do have an inconveniently timed emotional breakdown, you are allowed to say 'I told you so':

Nayoki is not going to reward that with an answer. 

At least she can tell herself she tried. 

Two candlemarks later, and five hundred miles away -

"I'm going. That's final."

Dara makes an exasperated sound and puts her head down on the tabletop. 

Savil rolls her eyes at the ceiling. 

"Look. You have thirty mages from Leareth's goddamned army. All of whom are better trained than me, AND decades younger. You do not need me. At all." 

"Fine. Damn it. Savil, I know you might prefer to go off on a suicidal revenge mission, but I want you back in one piece, all right? I outrank you and that's an order."

"That's a really stupid order, you know." 

Snort. "We both know you're just jealous that you can't get vengeance with us." 

"Savil!" 

"Dara, we all want revenge. No point pretending. I'll do my best on your behalf, all right?" 

Dara starts to answer, but for some reason the words get stuck and what comes out instead is a giggle which is half a sob, and then she can't stop laughing at - what - at how STUPID all this is, everything she's been saying in this conversation, she's not even twenty who is she to pretend that she knows what she's doing... 

:You win, I guess: she sends, since she's too busy laughcrying to talk out loud. :Just promise you'll get drunk with me before you leave. Oh, and if you could give me a head's up who else I'm going to be having this fight with?: 

Oh for the sake of all the gods, now SHE has the stupidcryinggiggles too.

:- Don't let Lady Treesa invite herself. She's going to try to insist we need someone to bring us tea and biscuits if we're going to go save the worl– guess I can't say that, can I. All the worlds. The universe? Gods, that sounds even more pretentious: 

Snort. :I think sending her off with you is the best idea I've heard all week. She can go thematically decorate SOMEONE ELSE'S meeting-rooms in different-coloured streamers every day. It'll be good for her: 

:I hate you: 

:What? We've got word from above that apparently Leareth is really sad and stressed, can you think of anything better for that than flinging Lady Treesa at him? She'll be all over it, too, she knows he and Van were friends: 

....Savil starts to form a snappy comeback about how oh are we all rounding it off to 'friends' now, but...actually, nevermind, that hurts way too much to face and suddenly it's not funny anymore. 

She pushes back her chair. Clears her throat, which is misbehaving for some reason. "I'd better, er, start getting ready." 

Melody has been having her own version of this fight with Gemma, the current unwilling dean of Healers' and her lifelong best friend. 

:- All right, look. I'm not– this isn't me stealing some Herald's unhealthy drive to be a self-sacrificing hero. I just - I can't - I need to not be in Haven, all right? It's too much, I just - if I have to talk to one more person who's grieving someone I used to sit with at lunch sometimes then I might explode. I need to be somewhere else. Which isn't here. This is me being selfish, right now, and I'm telling you that I need this: 

Brightstar doesn't even ask. He just starts packing his (very few) possessions. 

:Are you sure you want to come with me?: he asks his sister. :They asked for mages: 

:Apparently the world that lady came from does not even have Mindspeech! I can talk to animals. It might be useful: She punches him lightly in the arm. :And someone needs to darn your robes when you rip them like the big oaf you are: