"No," he agreed with a sigh, still feeling guilty over their previous failure. "It would help if we knew how they go about opening a new one. It's hard to stop them when we don't even know what to look for." Jigano's frown deepened as he considered the conundrum, then sighed. "For what it's worth, I think you're right that using them is a slippery slope. But... I don't think I'm wrong, either. A few people avoiding the portals isn't going to stop the Ascended from opening more. And these new regions - new to us, at least - aren't used to the Ascended or the Voice anymore. If there's no one to try warning them what to watch out for, the Voice will find little opposition in her recruiting and conversion, and Halovians and Torchliners won't see any problems in using these new conveniences to trade and travel. Especially when they might mean the difference between life and death come Deepfrost." For Grounders, especially, but Halovians as well, who would be more easily able to get fresh food and supplies from Torchline now.
Jigano let the correction pass without comment, though his lips quirked up at Amalia's recounting of Jiao's opinions. "She can be hard to please," he agreed with a chuckle. "But your puppet show was a great deal of fun. I'm glad we could help with it." Blighted though most of them had been at the time. He picked their way around a large rock the path curved around, smile lightening a bit as the colorful walls and roofs of the tropical town shone in the late afternoon light.
It was his turn to raise a brow at hearing of her errand with Tarasha, but he nodded thoughtfully at Safrin's request. "Tarasha and I have spoken of similar things, though without Safrin's input," he admitted with a rueful twist of his smile. "I'd suggested a book trade between the Atheneum and the Undercroft. Copies of books, at least, since I figured the Fae wouldn't want to give away their originals. I told Tarasha about out trip to the Underground and the books there, too... they said someone had already spoke to Delah about it and Delah hadn't liked the idea though," he added with an uncomfortable shrug.
Jigano let the correction pass without comment, though his lips quirked up at Amalia's recounting of Jiao's opinions. "She can be hard to please," he agreed with a chuckle. "But your puppet show was a great deal of fun. I'm glad we could help with it." Blighted though most of them had been at the time. He picked their way around a large rock the path curved around, smile lightening a bit as the colorful walls and roofs of the tropical town shone in the late afternoon light.
It was his turn to raise a brow at hearing of her errand with Tarasha, but he nodded thoughtfully at Safrin's request. "Tarasha and I have spoken of similar things, though without Safrin's input," he admitted with a rueful twist of his smile. "I'd suggested a book trade between the Atheneum and the Undercroft. Copies of books, at least, since I figured the Fae wouldn't want to give away their originals. I told Tarasha about out trip to the Underground and the books there, too... they said someone had already spoke to Delah about it and Delah hadn't liked the idea though," he added with an uncomfortable shrug.
