:Huh.

Do you know how Yfandes is doing? I know Vanyel but I haven't met her:

:I think she's having a pretty terrible time right now, honestly. She hasn't said anything more detailed to me and it seems kind of personal anyway, but she might be up for talking to you: 

:I'd be interested if she is:

:I can ask! Were there any other questions you had about Companions right now?: 

:Do you guys all know who I am and what I'm doing here? I don't have a sense of how information security is applied to Companions:

:Usually not much! This situation is really unusual, actually. I'm mostly briefed on it because, er, Rolan wanted my advice on something, but a lot of the herd isn't: 

:Your advice on something to do with me?:

:Mmm. Well, there was the Jisa part, right?: Obvious hesitation. :...Also some parts I can't talk about for the usual mysterious Companion reasons: she adds lightly. 

:That's fair. I assume there's lots of backchannel about me and Leareth flying around all the time and probably there's information security stuff. Do you happen to know if Shavri's decided to haul Jisa here or not?:

:I think she has, after supper: 

:It seems really dangerous to have a Mindhealer kid who doesn't know how to keep it to herself running around but maybe she's really good at just looking most of the time and that doesn't bother most people like it does me?:

:I think they didn't realize she was still doing this much looking? She's supposed to know better. Definitely sounds like she needs more supervision and will end up getting it whether or not she wants it: 

:Good.

If you came over here and I opened the window and braided your mane a bit I'd be able to recognize you if I see you again, I haven't learned to tell Companions apart:

:...Oh: Amshalan seems surprised. :Of course, if you want to do that. I like being prettied up, it's a trait most of us have: 

:Do you? I didn't know that: She opens the window and finds a bit of string to tie off a braid.

Amshalan is very cooperative with it and can hold still when needed and move to be more reachable when that's helpful and Belrun hardly even has to ask.

Braid braid braid braid and tie. It's a distinct cascade braid all down her neck, not especially well-practiced but definitely identifying. "There you go."

:Aww. I like it!: Amshalan tosses her head a bit so her mane almost sparkles in the sun. :I'll be around: 

"It's been nice to meet you. I'm sorry for all the times I called your species mean names."

:Have you decided we're not so bad after all?:

:Under the circumstances that's kind of a complicated evaluation to make! You are still ambiguously working for one or more gods who I suspect I cannot straightforwardly endorse! But that's not your fault or anything, which I was aware of but not really thinking about when I was eight. Companions behave like Companions too consistently for you all to have totally uninfluenced steering power, so whatever it is that Companions always do I should avoid blaming individual Companions for:

:Well, um, thank you for that, I guess: 

:Sorry, I know that's not exactly the most thorough change of heart I could be exhibiting now:

:I don't think anyone was expecting a thorough change of heart?: 

Belrun giggles. :I want to finish my letter to Leareth, it's been an eventful day, but thank you for talking to me: