:...I get the feeling it's a pretty confusing time for the local gods right now: Vanyel says, thoughtfully. :- Also She was definitely communicating with Shelyn. I got an apology relayed that way. - not for anything recent, for killing Tylendel. And a comment that She had been doing some reflection. ...I think it might be genuine? It could be - manipulation - if it were just Brightstar, but - I don't work for Her and that's not going to change. And I think Shelyn might be...pretty good at this.: 

That is definitely new information! Leareth doesn't know what to make of it right now and is aware he's in a terrible position to figure out the ramifications but it's absolutely new information that's probably very important in some way!

There was another, separately confusing piece, though...

:...Brightstar asked me not to hurt Her. I am not sure why he thought I could do that.: 

:What? You definitely could, if you set your mind to it. Especially with Golarion's resources. Brightstar clearly didn't understand that you're the last person who would change your plans over someone pleading with you, but - I do think it's not the best use of Golarion's resources? At least not for Her, I don't think we've had any indication of Vkandis redemption and He might be a problem again once He's not broke.: 

That...is probably true...why didn't it feel true at all at the time? Because he was feeling helpless? Leareth really, really hates the realization that apparently feeling helpless can distort what thoughts he's capable of having! At least in the Brightstar conversation, Leareth doesn't think it was happening so notably before, which...is its own very unpleasant thought, because that means the problem is getting worse. 

:I am feeling worried that the - impairment - is worsening over time and not getting better: he tells Vanyel, rather than stew on it until he manages to fall into another mental spike pit of panic. 

Vanyel hugs Leareth a bit harder. :I would be surprised if it is? It's some kind of physical damage, I don't think being upset could possibly affect it one way or another. ...I'm not surprised if it feels harder to think when you're upset! That's how it is for most people, if it's not normally like that for you then I think that's just one of the special Leareth abilities that normal humans can't dream of. You'll get it back, we're going to fix it.:

:Mm.: That...is slightly reassuring.

:And in the meantime you've got me to talk you through it if you're stuck: Vanyel adds. :Trust me, I'm an expert in how being upset can make you worse at thinking.: 

...That startles Leareth into a soft huff that isn't quite a snort of laughter but - is perhaps a tiny step in that direction. 

:I am glad you are here: he thinks to say. 

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Shelyn Shelyn look! Vanyel is getting a good grade in friendship, a thing which is both reasonable to want and possible to achieve

:- And you're probably tired?: he adds. :As an expert in this topic, I'm pretty sure that if you're upset about a horrible thing that happened, and still stuck in a situation that you don't like, and having trouble thinking to begin with, being tired on top of all that just multiplies it. Why don't we get you something to eat and drink, and then you can try to get some sleep?: 

Sleep does not feel safe or allowed or maybe even possible, but Leareth is distrusting most of his assessments right now. He is tired, albeit mostly mentally and emotionally and not physically, which feels like a bad combination for sleep but maybe eating something will help. He trusts Vanyel. 

---

Once Blai had bounced around through a couple of Gates and cast all of his directly-useful spells, the most useful place for them was parked in a drafty barn in Devin at the end of the old northern road. (In Seldan's time it was the equivalent of the North Trade Road now, though it only ran as far as Briarley Crossing, past the town that used to be called Devin and has inexplicably been supplanted in the intervening six hundred years and renamed "Lower Devin".) Anyway, from there Seldan has the Mindspeech range to cover literally the entire stretch of border shared with Iftel. And he's in range of Rolan in Haven. 

It was fun to be the relay point for all the Mindspeech chatter that needed to make its way to Rolan's ears. For a while. Maybe a candlemark. It has since then gotten very, very old. At least Blai has an Endure Elements and isn't bothered by the draft, and there are enough five-minute pauses to fit in a lot of mental chess. 

A Herald-trainee brings them a late supper - well, brings Blai supper, Seldan is expected to just eat hay from the piles of it everywhere, and to be clear fine with this, his horse digestion is still clamoring for it and he's been nibbling more or less continuously all afternoon. But the delivery is a reminder that it's getting pretty late? Sunset was four or five candlemarks ago. And Blai still has a Minor Prophecy unused, right? 

He does, yes. Who's likeliest to do something importantly interesting in the next week-ish? - Blai has totally forgotten to tell all the other clerics that Minor Prophecy works here. The higher circle clerics can probably do even better prophecy spells, even.

Well, several of those clerics are now on the border after doing the Raises and Gentle Reposes that were mostly needed up north! They're in Seldan's range. The Nethysian one in particular might just know what spells one can get at fourth or fifth or sixth circle rather than having to go dig in old books? 

...Leareth is always a solid bet for "most likely to do something importantly interesting in the next week-ish", Seldan thinks? And tonight might be especially valuable, because Leareth is still not really Leareth-ing at full speed and won't be until tomorrow morning. It seems plausible that either they'll get something really important, about some unforeseen problem or a non-obvious serious mistake that Leareth's org is making in his absence, or they'll get something not all that interesting, which will hopefully calm everyone down about the likely absence of terrible mistakes for Leareth to point out to them tomorrow. 

Are they going to have a chance to go see him in time to use the slot today rather than tomorrow or is the Mindspeech relay expected to go on all night?