A Million Roads to Nowhere

Face the Assembly

Rozenn calls a meeting- a meeting which is fraught with tension and disagreement right from the get-go. At best, the environment is uncomfortable, but after a half an hour of acrimonious discussion that's not over yet, Patrick has about reached his limit. He feels like shit and that's only softened by the fact that everyone else also feels like shit.

He hasn't slept much the past few days, not because he's not tired, but rather because of the lingering fear of closing his eyes that he just can't quell. If he closes his eyes, something could go wrong. If he closes his eyes, he could wake up and be gone and alone. If he closes his eyes, the next time he wakes up, more time will have passed, time that he can't afford to lose.

Time has passed too quickly for his liking and he's aware of each second that passes, yet now, in the meeting room, he wishes it would speed up for a bit.

"Morwenna has already conquered most of Vaenyth," Clementine hisses. "If you were so worried about her, you should have nipped that in the bud instead of going on so long."

Rozenn's eyes narrow into slits, looking like one of her wolves- or a fox. "And if you were so keen to get into my business, my battle, you could have done it yourself if you had foreseen such problems."

"Deflecting, deflecting. So unlike you."

Patrick's never been deeply afraid of Clementine before, even after telling her Lena killed Alexei- but seeing her like this, so agitated, he understands why so many are. There's no hint of humour in her voice, humour that softens the ice in her words and gives her a likable quality, makes her come off as less formidable. When she's not amused, she's scary- and when she's scary, she stops pretending like she doesn't think she's above everyone else. She's not human, a fact that can be easy to disregard when she isn't threatening anyone.

"I will admit that I made a mistake," Rozenn seeths, teeth gritted.

"A mistake?" Clementine laughs. "Oh, more than that. You got half your army killed because you got jumpy." She tsks. "Not very clever. As it is, you will owe me, too, for getting you another army."

"I never asked you to do that."

"I was feeling generous."

King Leif glances between them, unease present on his face. Between the two of them, he's a pawn and he knows it, but he's in no position to back down. Beside him, Tiffany's face is more collected than her king's. Her only giveaway is when she glances across the table at Signe, as if asking her to say something.

Signe shrinks back. She looks better after a few days of rest. Rozenn seemed genuinely concerned about her and ordered her to stay in bed until she was well enough to go with Tiffany back to Leif. They returned with the king and Clementine, along with a disgruntled Seamus, bound in a set of enchanted chains. Seeing Seamus upset William and Patrick's mind often drifts to that as the meeting goes on. He'd rather be with him, to see if he's okay, but he wasn't invited, which he supposes is for the best.

Rozenn looks like she might explode and her fingernails dig into the edge of the table. Jaide is sat on her right, unwavering glare still aimed at her sister. Surely, Clementine has noticed, but she hasn't acknowledged that Jaide is even in the room.

"Isn't it more important to find the pendant you lost?" Isla wonders, sitting poised in her seat next to Clementine's.

Rozenn shoots her a look. She's never liked how Clementine brings all her people to every meeting and it puts her on edge. Patrick doesn't think she likes Isla, and after returning with an altered perspective, thinks that she doesn't like Clementine's preference for women, either.