What you do with your division's resources is at your discretion, of course; I will continue to work on the project myself. It is good of you to hear me out.
( Atticus is not a child. Perhaps it's better that it's her, in the full knowledge of exactly who it is that she suspects - perhaps they would have been underprepared regardless. )
In any case, the Artemaeus boy remains. A diplomatic matter rather than a practical one- he may prove fruitful, in future, though I doubt in truth through any doing of his own. Mssr Gandir is, in this regard, somewhat more optimistic than myself.
( He is, perhaps, too sympathetic-
but she is one to fucking talk, and well she knows it, even if she continues to monitor his work with the thought in mind. )
There can be no question of releasing either of them, regardless of what he is or is not; if the truth of the matter is that he was an ignorant dupe of his master, then he has become useful to the Venatori through his time with us, his new knowledge of our personnel and methods. It would be a death sentence to send him back to his own, expendable as he otherwise is. Mssr Gandir has been tasked with helping him to understand this, and to consider how he might make himself useful to our more potentially sympathetic hands.
He will have know more than he believes he does. It is the way. Things he will have thought nothing of- Mssr Gandir works to build a trust between them, in order to see what potential he has. Concessions made to him will be made on the basis of that work, and his understanding of it. And we would be unwise to overlook where he might function for a lever, later; we do not have the full picture of from whence he came.
You may come to me, if that changes. A somniari would be useful indeed, and far better in our hands than theirs.
No. [ emphatically. ] Of course not. The Archon and the Imperium are nominally aligned with us, I do not think they would call for the return of a citizen who has declared his free allegiance to the Venatori. The Archon would do well to have the property of the treasonous declared forfeit and property of the state.
-- which leaves the Venatori themselves likely to come calling for their missing mages, but that is a matter we must handle as it comes. Has Skyhold responded to the requests for extra Templars? I fear I have not yet checked the Rookery for this morning's batch of ravens.
[ going through her points, still, pleased by how she's ordered them. ] Mssr Gandir has been trained in these matters, yes? There is no chance he will develop genuine affection for the Artemaeus boy?
I have my reservations regarding Mssr Gandir's impartiality - would that we had such resources we could afford to limit roles to only those trained for them - but it is a situation that I am monitoring personally. He understands the role he plays, and what his failure would mean.
( If she can't guarantee objectivity, then Artemaeus's future in itself can act as a leash; Petrana's own view of Artemaeus is a far more dispassionate one, and concessions will not be made out of kindness or tender feeling. They will be earned. )
As I say; his position is that he has not declared any such allegiance, that he was apprenticed to Mssr Vedici without the full knowledge of to what he would be committed, a position that Mssr Vedici has not disputed and which their conduct does not call into question. This is the point which may become a problem in future, and features heavily in his feeling quite hard done by.
I understand his feeling, but it is important he is disabused of the notion that it releases him from any connection to this war and Mssr Gandir understands that. It is unfortunate, but if true, he is far safer in our custody.
Will you be seeking out agents with talents? Instituting some manner of training program?
[ a few of his could stand to learn subtlety. sending them to petra to get learned is tempting, but with iskander's disappearance, he suspects they both have much more to attend to and the same measure of time. ]
It is good he has a grasp of consequences.
I agree. Were that he able to realize it. Has information about his background, his family been gathered?
We are in the process of attempting to gather as much - I've recently received a missive from Lady Vedici that I found interesting, though I think it would be not to our benefit to respond directly as yet.
( Let her be the one to tip her hand, and not them. )
As for such a program...
( Her sigh is small. )
Would that I had the resources. I am taking a personal interest in promising agents, however, and will groom them to the best of my ability. Mlle Bonaventura functions as my right hand in the field, which is a good beginning to anything.
A protest of our spurious imprisonment and request for clarification. I am not myself in the habit of explaining sensitive information in letters sent to persons of interest connected to ongoing difficulty. It will keep; if she has lasted as long as this in Tevinter's political sphere, she knew better than to expect a direct response.
And - of course. I can doubtless find work to shine them up.
no subject
( regretfully resigned. It was, perhaps, too much to hope. )
I doubt it very much. I do see your point.
no subject
[ he exhales. ]
If we come into possession of any other Venatori prisoners, we may as well ask. It would be a horror indeed if true.
no subject
What you do with your division's resources is at your discretion, of course; I will continue to work on the project myself. It is good of you to hear me out.
( Atticus is not a child. Perhaps it's better that it's her, in the full knowledge of exactly who it is that she suspects - perhaps they would have been underprepared regardless. )
In any case, the Artemaeus boy remains. A diplomatic matter rather than a practical one- he may prove fruitful, in future, though I doubt in truth through any doing of his own. Mssr Gandir is, in this regard, somewhat more optimistic than myself.
( He is, perhaps, too sympathetic-
but she is one to fucking talk, and well she knows it, even if she continues to monitor his work with the thought in mind. )
There can be no question of releasing either of them, regardless of what he is or is not; if the truth of the matter is that he was an ignorant dupe of his master, then he has become useful to the Venatori through his time with us, his new knowledge of our personnel and methods. It would be a death sentence to send him back to his own, expendable as he otherwise is. Mssr Gandir has been tasked with helping him to understand this, and to consider how he might make himself useful to our more potentially sympathetic hands.
He will have know more than he believes he does. It is the way. Things he will have thought nothing of- Mssr Gandir works to build a trust between them, in order to see what potential he has. Concessions made to him will be made on the basis of that work, and his understanding of it. And we would be unwise to overlook where he might function for a lever, later; we do not have the full picture of from whence he came.
no subject
No. [ emphatically. ] Of course not. The Archon and the Imperium are nominally aligned with us, I do not think they would call for the return of a citizen who has declared his free allegiance to the Venatori. The Archon would do well to have the property of the treasonous declared forfeit and property of the state.
-- which leaves the Venatori themselves likely to come calling for their missing mages, but that is a matter we must handle as it comes. Has Skyhold responded to the requests for extra Templars? I fear I have not yet checked the Rookery for this morning's batch of ravens.
[ going through her points, still, pleased by how she's ordered them. ] Mssr Gandir has been trained in these matters, yes? There is no chance he will develop genuine affection for the Artemaeus boy?
no subject
( If she can't guarantee objectivity, then Artemaeus's future in itself can act as a leash; Petrana's own view of Artemaeus is a far more dispassionate one, and concessions will not be made out of kindness or tender feeling. They will be earned. )
As I say; his position is that he has not declared any such allegiance, that he was apprenticed to Mssr Vedici without the full knowledge of to what he would be committed, a position that Mssr Vedici has not disputed and which their conduct does not call into question. This is the point which may become a problem in future, and features heavily in his feeling quite hard done by.
I understand his feeling, but it is important he is disabused of the notion that it releases him from any connection to this war and Mssr Gandir understands that. It is unfortunate, but if true, he is far safer in our custody.
no subject
[ a few of his could stand to learn subtlety. sending them to petra to get learned is tempting, but with iskander's disappearance, he suspects they both have much more to attend to and the same measure of time. ]
It is good he has a grasp of consequences.
I agree. Were that he able to realize it. Has information about his background, his family been gathered?
no subject
( Let her be the one to tip her hand, and not them. )
As for such a program...
( Her sigh is small. )
Would that I had the resources. I am taking a personal interest in promising agents, however, and will groom them to the best of my ability. Mlle Bonaventura functions as my right hand in the field, which is a good beginning to anything.
no subject
I have every confidence in your abilities. Might I be able to loan you those of mine who could do with a bit of polishing?
no subject
And - of course. I can doubtless find work to shine them up.