[ The justification for her hesitation would be a surprise to Bastien, every which way. But there are plenty of other reasonable justifications for him to slot in, like the fact that having this conversation in earshot of the wrong people in Orlais—or here, if someone brought a large enough captive-dragging sack—would end in him hanged and her. also hanged, probably? Would Marquise Briala insist on honorable beheadings for noble-born elfblooded traitors? ]

That is the problem.

[ He sets the pen down rather than marking an option prematurely. ]

A common enemy is much easier than a common vision of the future. And everything I read about it in Tony and Jude's worlds—about how they got to something a bit better—it was so frustrating. Baby steps and setbacks and infighting, and they did not have half the divisions we do.

And I'll admit it it's hard for me to work the mages into my dreams.