Dahlia nodded. Quinn was getting better at dealing with her anxieties, but it was still obvious enough when she had them. She balled up, her eyes found sudden interest in everything [i]but[/i] the eyes of others. She was shivering despite the stove behind her. Dahlia wanted very much to reach out and hold her hand, or to go over and hug her, but gradually she saw how Quinn got a handle on herself. Her eyes turned upward, her brow went low. Thoughtful, not afraid. A good step to make, an important one. 

She listened, and it would have been a lie to say the same worries hadn’t come to her—more or less. What [i]would[/i] the Board do to Besca, or Follen? Quinn had led the charge last night, but everything would have fallen apart by now without them. If they couldn’t touch her or Quinn, then it stood to reason they’d go after whoever was closest. 

“[color=skyblue]Me too,[/color]” she said. She didn’t lie to her sister. “[color=skyblue]But I’m trying to be optimistic. Besca has a good record. She’s from Westwel, she’s experienced, and under her leadership you won your first duel, [i]and[/i] we survived a Modir ambush. Follen’s the same way. They’re, ah, [i]ingrained[/i], y’know? It’d be hard to get rid of them. Maybe harder than it’d be to just…let things go.[/color]”

It wasn’t a good answer, it was hardly an answer at all. But it was honest, and it was, if nothing else, a start. “[color=skyblue]For now, I don’t really know. We’ll just have to be alert. Make sure at least one of us is always available in case they try something. If push comes to shove I can put my foot down, maybe they’ll listen. I just hope it doesn’t come to any of that.[/color]”

Her phone buzzed, and she checked it dreading a message from Besca. Blessedly it was just an alarm. “[color=skyblue]Shoot, right. I’ve got sims today.[/color]” She hopped up from the counter, taking a few slices of toast with her as she grabbed the bright yellow jacket from the hanger and threw it on. “[color=skyblue]Late lunch, early dinner? I can meet you wherever.[/color]”

At the door she stopped, whirling on her heel and jogging back to the counter. She threw an arm around Quinn, held her for a long moment. “[color=skyblue]Love ya,[/color]” she said, and then hurried out of the dorms. 

That left Quinn alone with her unfinished food, and no real help with her problem. And the TV. Low as the sound was, she could still hear the anchors talking about her. About the duel, and the upset, and how it was just [i]so[/i] strange that Quinnlash Loughvein hadn’t made a single public appearance yet. The only footage anyone had of her were the clips from the duel, and even zoomed in the details were blurry. 

[i]“—and our sources at the Casobani parliament are suggesting that we may see a formal request for the transfer of the captured Helburkan pilot, Roaki Tormont, from the RISC to the CSC’s station. This coming only hours after Helburke’s sovereign approved House Tormont’s appeal to declare her a fugitive. Officials claim she faces charges for the murder of five other members of the Great House. These requests are expected to hit the desk of the RISC’s Board of Directors together later this evening…”[/i]