Annachie wrote:Personally I suspect the conversation will be along the lines of "No matter what happens your family is safe".
Honestly, little more needs to be said.
Thirsk will be primed to do what he thinks is best for Dohlar. Whether that is a coup or a prompt surrender.
Right. Whatever calculations may be in place, Merlin is a caring person, and beyond that, likes and respects Thirsk. He will be informed his family is alive, safe, and will remain so.
After that, anything is on the table. Thirsk's thoughts suggested he thinks he could make nice enough with the Inquisition by backing their story, so they'd let him live while he still produced good work for the jihad. So if he can be made to care about living - and the news about his family will deliver that result - he can survive in place for a while longer.
I do think he's unlikely to accept a non-role in freeing his nation and world from Clyntahn. He's not someone to settle back and avoid action, else he'd've managed to avoid service after Armageddon Reef. I also doubt he'd take arms against Dohlar, or be sufficiently employed somewhere else.
The likeliest scenario I see is resuming his service after getting his soul and arm back in serviceable shape, preparatory to liberating Dohlar - from the inside - from the Church of Clyntahn.
