"The dens will oppose it. They will want to retrieve as many as possible." Essek says, a little hesitantly, as though that actually matters. "But if Bazzoxan is overrun..." They have much bigger problems than recovering the dead. Abyssal entities now occupying Betrayer's Rise means danger for all of the Dynasty, especially while they are still at war.
There is a way to spin this, he thinks. He just has to look for it. Verin's grief and quiet, simmering anger are well justified, and must be shared by many. Perhaps this is what it takes for the Dynasty to finally see change for the first time since the Calamity.
Essek begins washing his brother's hair, fingers scratching soothingly over his scalp. He will do everything he can, for Verin's sake. If he must endure this suffering, at least let it mean something.
"Verin," he says softly, pitching his voice lower even in his own home, where he knows his own wards and protections. Perhaps what he is about to say is not treason on par with stealing two beacons and delivering them to the enemy, but it would certainly get him thrown into the Dungeon of Penance if it were overheard, Thelyss or no. "The Queen is no longer reliable or reasonable. I believe she is experiencing typhros."
That is a condition he has only learned of since becoming Shadowhand, its existence closely guarded by the Umavi. But it explains so much--as does the conspiracy to hide it.
"It is a soul sickness," he explains quietly. "Caused by an inability to reconcile memories when one has lived many lives through consecution. Its primary symptom is decay of the mind, a worsening and irreversible madness."
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There is a way to spin this, he thinks. He just has to look for it. Verin's grief and quiet, simmering anger are well justified, and must be shared by many. Perhaps this is what it takes for the Dynasty to finally see change for the first time since the Calamity.
Essek begins washing his brother's hair, fingers scratching soothingly over his scalp. He will do everything he can, for Verin's sake. If he must endure this suffering, at least let it mean something.
"Verin," he says softly, pitching his voice lower even in his own home, where he knows his own wards and protections. Perhaps what he is about to say is not treason on par with stealing two beacons and delivering them to the enemy, but it would certainly get him thrown into the Dungeon of Penance if it were overheard, Thelyss or no. "The Queen is no longer reliable or reasonable. I believe she is experiencing typhros."
That is a condition he has only learned of since becoming Shadowhand, its existence closely guarded by the Umavi. But it explains so much--as does the conspiracy to hide it.
"It is a soul sickness," he explains quietly. "Caused by an inability to reconcile memories when one has lived many lives through consecution. Its primary symptom is decay of the mind, a worsening and irreversible madness."