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What's more, Thjazi's callous treatment of Termina (and of Bolaire, by not giving him any message warning him what was in the box) not only ruined Bolaire's life, not only landed Termina in an abusive relationship with a master manipulator, but has put innumerable people's lives at risk, because now Termina is on the loose running around with a powerful sorceress whispering poison in her ear.

and there was this dawning expression of understanding on thaisha’s face. because up until this point all of bolaire’s issues with thaz, all of his snide comments or outright hostility has been seen by the group as the attitude of someone who is angry and bitter and tbh maybe just sort of petty. but i think in this moment thaisha was re contextualizing all of her previous interactions with bolaire and really seeing him for the first time

As for why Thjazi didn't bring Bolaire up, there's two ways I can see that going:

One: Thjazi did not know Bolaire's origins

In other words, Thjazi knew he was dealing with a sentient magic mask, but he did not know by whom or for what purpose Bolaire was created.

And it's possible.

Bolaire was made disinclined to share anything with Thjazi that he didn't have to for fear it would be turned against him as more blackmail or something. And given his origin in the Shapers' War raises his value as a rare magical artifact, that seems like a smart secret to keep, even if it leaves Bolaire not knowing whether or not Thjazi actually knows.

Furthermore, the Panto seem to be a rather global secret. Hal had never even heard of what the halflings' weapons might actually be, despite being a history buff/nerd. And Bolaire has done his best to make any hints of the Panto even harder to find in Dol-Makjar in the past decade.

Two: Thjazi did not want to lose Bolaire as a resource

Bolaire was in a very useful position for dealing with all kinds of artifacts thanks to his position as a curator of the Archanade. Thjazi may not have been willing to lose that access to make the halfling bridge to the Piper's Down when/if he knew the Panto was multiple masks. Find one of the others and Thjazi doesn't have to lose a useful tool.

Or, if Thjazi was being nicer, he didn't want to cost Hal what Hal considered a friend that is family if he didn't have to. Hero calls Bolaire "uncle" too. If Thjazi doesn't have to damage his family to make a bridge, he won't. And maybe a pinch of wanting to leave the extra security on Hal and the kids that is Bolaire in place as well.

Bolaire was useful enough where Thjazi didn't want to get rid of him unnecessarily. Bolaire was a backup plan in case Thjazi couldn't get his other plans off the ground. His other plans, aka Bolaire's sister Termina.

Bolaire wearing anyone else:

It was *Thaisha* who pushed back on that, saying that she was one of the ones who *hadn't* believed.

It seems like in the moment, Hal attributed all the work that Bolaire had put in with helping get the Round set up and the play running to Thaisha.

And it makes me wonder how much of Hal and Bolaire's relationship was filling the gaps and playing the roles that were created when Hal and Thaisha separated, after they had grown around each other from their very young adulthood into their parenthood and partnership in all things.

I'm thinking of Bolaire saying way back when, that he doesn't know what his and Hal's relationship *is*, only that it's so very important. Like he doesn't know the dance, but he can hear the music and see what his scene partner's doing and follow his lead.

So in this moment between Hal and Thaisha, when Hal's brother is dead and his relationship with Bolaire is shaken and Hal is at the culmination of something he's worked towards for years, he needs someone to share it all with and Thaisha is *here* in this moment and they're connecting over this project that is so important to their culture and history and children, and right now it feels like Thaisha has never been gone at all.