the twenty-fourth

[The communicator turns on as it is bumped against something - likely the door, since there's the sound of it shutting a few moments after the feed begins. Thereth's voice sounds muffled, as though the device is in a pocket. (Spoilers, it is.)]

When you have the time, Duibhin, the mageroyal is still upset from last month. It needs a bit more magic, I think, so if you....

[She trails off, into slightly confused and lonely silence. She'd been making a bit of noise with things - setting her pack down, getting her shoes (which are more like leg warmers but whatever) off, etc - and now all that goes quiet.]

Duibhin? ...You should be here by now. Shouldn't you?

[There's a silence; she seems to be waiting for a response. There isn't any. She's alone in the croft. Her voice sounds a little sad, a little fond.]

Please don't tell me you've been kidnapped again, little one. [The feed cuts out momentarily as she fishes the communicator out of her pocket, and then she's no longer talking through cloth and instead addressing the network directly.]

Duibhin? Please come home....

[A creeping frown comes into her tone...]