Estinien has his people, of course, the ones that he would fight tooth and nail for, circumstances be damned. Yet, in his choice to join the Scions, he made a choice to stand for more than that. To stand for people not his own, and lands he'd never been to before. He knows it's what Alphinaud and the others would be doing, if they were here.
He tries to imagine Alphinaud having this same conversation - firmly but diplomatically explaining that while he sought no ill will, the bigger picture had to come first. As soft as the boy was at times, he knew he would make the right decisions, in the end. If only Estinien himself were as confident taking point, in trying to cultivate allies and make the call on when war was unavoidable.
It's not what he was built for, but in their absence, he has to try.
Estinien looks back to Geralt somberly, unhappy with this outcome but unsure of how to do better. He knows his answer isn't what Geralt is going to want to hear.
"This is what I'm trying to tell you," he says. "For my people here, and for the ones waiting at home, I cannot simply allow Thorne to carry on in its advances. Too many times have I seen men and women of the same ambition consumed by tyranny. If she would defend them, or enable them, it will not remain as simple as my people and yours."
The same could apply for the Free Cities, in coming days or weeks. If he finds no compelling reason for the Singularity's destruction, he will have no choice but to fight to prevent it.
"I made an oath to fight for more than personal security and the wellbeing of a handful of others. And if my comrades cannot be here to fight for all that is dear to them... then it falls to me to do so in their stead."
no subject
Estinien has his people, of course, the ones that he would fight tooth and nail for, circumstances be damned. Yet, in his choice to join the Scions, he made a choice to stand for more than that. To stand for people not his own, and lands he'd never been to before. He knows it's what Alphinaud and the others would be doing, if they were here.
He tries to imagine Alphinaud having this same conversation - firmly but diplomatically explaining that while he sought no ill will, the bigger picture had to come first. As soft as the boy was at times, he knew he would make the right decisions, in the end. If only Estinien himself were as confident taking point, in trying to cultivate allies and make the call on when war was unavoidable.
It's not what he was built for, but in their absence, he has to try.
Estinien looks back to Geralt somberly, unhappy with this outcome but unsure of how to do better. He knows his answer isn't what Geralt is going to want to hear.
"This is what I'm trying to tell you," he says. "For my people here, and for the ones waiting at home, I cannot simply allow Thorne to carry on in its advances. Too many times have I seen men and women of the same ambition consumed by tyranny. If she would defend them, or enable them, it will not remain as simple as my people and yours."
The same could apply for the Free Cities, in coming days or weeks. If he finds no compelling reason for the Singularity's destruction, he will have no choice but to fight to prevent it.
"I made an oath to fight for more than personal security and the wellbeing of a handful of others. And if my comrades cannot be here to fight for all that is dear to them... then it falls to me to do so in their stead."