30th Ashan, 718
Bruises did not suit Esme Dashiell and she was not amused at having them. It had been six trials since Padraig had found her in his office, tied, bound and beaten frankly black and blue. She was, thus far, the only member of staff who had been attacked that trial who was back at work and she had been back three trials. Her response to being asked how she was feeling was caustic and dismissive. Inquiring after her health in any way shape or form got very short shrift and an assurance that she was quite fit to be doing her job, thank you. She looked dreadful, but the woman simply refused to give in, no matter what. Despite some quite firm insistence, and a visit from the Dean and the Chancellor of the University, she was at her desk before anyone else and she stayed later. It was, quite evidently, a matter of pride.
"So," she said, without preamble, after he'd called for her to come in to his office. She wasn't due, they hadn't arranged to meet but somehow, she turned up just when he had a free break. "We need to discuss the expedition at the end of the season. We've got it scheduled in for you to go... my apologies, for us to go on the 110th. That should maximise our ability to make the most of the weather, wouldn't you say?" She had a pile of papers in her hand and she put them down on his desk.
"We need to make some decisions. How many ships, what kind of ships? Then, we need to consider the crew and the skills you wish them to have." She looked at him from down her nose. Padraig had grown to know Esme Dashiell over the time he'd been her student and then, her colleague, and she liked him. There could be no doubt since she wasn't outrageously dismissive of him, had never called him a buffoon and didn't get up and leave whenever he sat with her in the dining hall or staff lounge.
That was most certainly not true of everyone.
"I suggest that we need a medic and a good one. Also, I think we should ask Pippa. As a Naerrik, I would be interested to see if her shadow forms work. I can work on the collection of materials and try to dreamwalk." She listed them all off, one at a time. "And I suggest that we take the third portalstone and see if it reacts differently out there." It was strange, but even with shifting coloured eyes, as she had, Professor Dashiell's mood or tone, facial expression or posture was almost impossible to read. "Will your wife be attending? I would be interested to see if your funny arm glowing band-things continued to work if you were together." Evidently, the blessing of Qylios was not enough to impress her.
"Also, I've read everything. Including the supplementary report by the other Professor Augustin. That there is a man in Viden and there are those in Scalvoris who have been there, albeit nefarious and very dubious characters, should be explored, don't you think?"
Once she'd gotten her list out, Esme Dashiell sat down and then she smiled at him. "Good afternoon, Padraig. How are the children?" In fairness, she never failed to ask.
"So," she said, without preamble, after he'd called for her to come in to his office. She wasn't due, they hadn't arranged to meet but somehow, she turned up just when he had a free break. "We need to discuss the expedition at the end of the season. We've got it scheduled in for you to go... my apologies, for us to go on the 110th. That should maximise our ability to make the most of the weather, wouldn't you say?" She had a pile of papers in her hand and she put them down on his desk.
"We need to make some decisions. How many ships, what kind of ships? Then, we need to consider the crew and the skills you wish them to have." She looked at him from down her nose. Padraig had grown to know Esme Dashiell over the time he'd been her student and then, her colleague, and she liked him. There could be no doubt since she wasn't outrageously dismissive of him, had never called him a buffoon and didn't get up and leave whenever he sat with her in the dining hall or staff lounge.
That was most certainly not true of everyone.
"I suggest that we need a medic and a good one. Also, I think we should ask Pippa. As a Naerrik, I would be interested to see if her shadow forms work. I can work on the collection of materials and try to dreamwalk." She listed them all off, one at a time. "And I suggest that we take the third portalstone and see if it reacts differently out there." It was strange, but even with shifting coloured eyes, as she had, Professor Dashiell's mood or tone, facial expression or posture was almost impossible to read. "Will your wife be attending? I would be interested to see if your funny arm glowing band-things continued to work if you were together." Evidently, the blessing of Qylios was not enough to impress her.
"Also, I've read everything. Including the supplementary report by the other Professor Augustin. That there is a man in Viden and there are those in Scalvoris who have been there, albeit nefarious and very dubious characters, should be explored, don't you think?"
Once she'd gotten her list out, Esme Dashiell sat down and then she smiled at him. "Good afternoon, Padraig. How are the children?" In fairness, she never failed to ask.