A Million Roads to Nowhere

The Snake Lady's Offer

"We need to know Rozenn's whereabouts."

Signe stops stirring her tea, setting the spoon down on the table with a soft clink. She looks at Aodhan over the table, a soft frown marring her features. She looks perplexed- happy to see Aodhan, but not thrilled about the visitors in his company. A crease mars the smooth skin between her eyebrows.

"Chourmondeley," she answers easily, as if she didn't have to put any thought into it. Patrick thinks that Signe would likely tell Aodhan anything without question. "At the keep."

Aodhan sighs. "In Belaseth. That's almost halfway across Adaetram. We've already spent so much time getting here."

Patrick's heart sinks. Getting there will be more than another few months of no help for Lena. He feels like screaming. Instead, he bites on his tongue and sips on the cup of tea Signe provided. Lena sits stiffly at his side, looking ghostly. He would squeeze her hand to comfort her, but his hands shake slightly out of rage and he knows she'd notice.

Clementine sets her hot wine down, quirking an eyebrow. Her elbow rests on the edge of the table. She flicks her fingers to the side, gesticulating. She looks regal, even sitting in a quaint cottage far from royal hands.

"I will pay for the expenses," she says.

Aodhan stares, frowning. Clementine's rosy lips curl into a miniscule smile. Signe looks at Aodhan, then at Clementine, a clear question in her eyes.

"Oh, you don't have to look at me that way. We're at- what shall we call it- a detente, for the purpose of our interests."

"You tried to kill him," Signe accuses. "Multiple times."

Clementine smiles. "I clearly didn't do a good job of it. Like I said- we're at a detente."

Patrick feels like he doesn't belong. He reckons that the feeling is better than being excluded from the conversation entirely, but he's not completely sure. He doubts he has anything to add and he loathes the fact he doesn't have the knowledge to be able to. He wonders if Lena feels the same way. Through it all, he tries not to shoot Aodhan a rude look.

Did he not think to mention that?

Signe stays silent, leaning back in her chair. She keeps her eyes lowered, hands folded neatly on her lap. When no one says anything for a few painful moments, she speaks up.

"You weren't with Rozenn?"

Aodhan shakes his head. "She lost the skirmish at Nadesh and I got caught in the sidelines. I was in Alistair's custody for a few months after that, until I got out with some help after Verthollow burned. I haven't managed to get in contact with Rozenn."

What he means is, she hasn't reached out to me.

Signe looks upset. "She didn't inform me you were taken. To my knowledge, what happened at Nadesh was a draw."

"It didn't look like a draw to me," Aodhan says wryly.

Patrick starts paying more attention. This is new knowledge. Aodhan hadn't spoken much of what got him in Alistair's grasp in the first place. No one had. A taboo, so to speak.

"I thought the fighting hasn't started," Patrick comments.

"It hasn't," Clementine confirms. "That little squibble last year was nothing more than a fight between two siblings. To be fair, they've lasted longer than I had bet on earlier."

Aodhan shoots her a look. Clementine smiles, but it's one of the blurred smiles that could mean something, but could also mean nothing.

"What you should be worried about is the misinformation," Clementine continues.