Ah. [Alisaie also frowns.] I shouldn't be surprised you noticed Alphinaud too.
The simpler answer is that I myself am fine. I will regret what happened to Nanaly for the rest of my days, even knowing she may live on the other side. But heartless though it is, time will not wait for us to grieve.
I'm worried about Alphinaud, however. He seemed fine when we spoke on Friday, but our failures yesterday seem to have shaken him. He...
[She pauses, considering, then glances Susato's way.]
He'll deny it, but Alphinaud places a great deal of pride in his intelligence. Our inability to find either killer yesterday and sending somebody innocent to their death weighs heavily on him.
Yes. I remember at trial - he was insistent a few times we were on the wrong course when we started to close in on Nanaly. I'm sure it was hard on him that we continued in our folly all the same.
And knowing my brother, he blames himself for not doing enough to clear her name ere time was up.
[She gives a tiny scoff, just a hint of a breath--not mockingly, but in that way of Siblings.]
Honestly, he believes it his sole duty to ensure the deliverance of those around him. When we were in the First, he had a plan to gain entrance to a guarded city--and when an eavesdropper tried to steal his designs, Alphinaud not only let him but explained to him the entire plan so he might be successful. I know not how many days of work he and our friend lost to that setback.
But that is who he is. I couldn't let him sit alone and brood through Nanaly's execution. Not if I could offer any amount of succor.
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The simpler answer is that I myself am fine. I will regret what happened to Nanaly for the rest of my days, even knowing she may live on the other side. But heartless though it is, time will not wait for us to grieve.
I'm worried about Alphinaud, however. He seemed fine when we spoke on Friday, but our failures yesterday seem to have shaken him. He...
[She pauses, considering, then glances Susato's way.]
He'll deny it, but Alphinaud places a great deal of pride in his intelligence. Our inability to find either killer yesterday and sending somebody innocent to their death weighs heavily on him.
no subject
Yes. I remember at trial - he was insistent a few times we were on the wrong course when we started to close in on Nanaly. I'm sure it was hard on him that we continued in our folly all the same.
no subject
And knowing my brother, he blames himself for not doing enough to clear her name ere time was up.
[She gives a tiny scoff, just a hint of a breath--not mockingly, but in that way of Siblings.]
Honestly, he believes it his sole duty to ensure the deliverance of those around him. When we were in the First, he had a plan to gain entrance to a guarded city--and when an eavesdropper tried to steal his designs, Alphinaud not only let him but explained to him the entire plan so he might be successful. I know not how many days of work he and our friend lost to that setback.
But that is who he is. I couldn't let him sit alone and brood through Nanaly's execution. Not if I could offer any amount of succor.
no subject
[So, she gets it.]