This is far from the first time Talin and Astrid have gone to the Planasene together; this is the first time Talin's had a meeting with another agent during one of their trips. Fen'Harel was frustratingly vague as to what kind of information he expects from his embedded agent, so Talin has to assume "weird people claiming to have always been part of Riftwatch have showed up" is as important as anything else. Slipping Astrid wasn't difficult, and barely even constituted slipping, really—she has no reason to suspect him of anything, and he's supposed to be a bit deeper in the forest for the perimeter check anyway. She barely even looked up when he disappeared into the trees.

The meeting point is a half hour's walk past the Riftwatch perimeter, under a crumbling old statue of Mythal. Her ever-vigilant protector wolf watches from a respectful distance, missing one stone ear.

(Talin would be the first to admit it's a cliche, but the truth is elvhen ruins make for great landmarks and no one would think it strange to see elves congregating around them.)

His contact is another former Dalish—at least Talin thinks they are, from the barbed curls he can just barely see tattooed under the scarf they've pulled over their mouth.

(He'd be offended by the lack of trust, but he's similarly covered.)

They exchange no pleasantries nor names. He gives his report, receives his next orders, and they part ways. The whole encounter takes less than five minutes. By the time he returns to Astrid, he's not even twenty minutes later than he should be,

but Astrid has paid more attention to him, and has a better sense of timing than he realized. His steps don't stutter and his eyes give away nothing as he comes further into camp, but he doesn't respond for a moment, considering angles to play, ways to explain.

"Why," he says eventually, the suggestion of a flirtatious smirk crossing his lips. "Miss me?"