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[Elspeth discovers that the Companions ganged up to have her allowed to go]So there you have it - the Companions obviously think this is a major issue, critical enough to the survival of Valdemar for them to intervene, they've told Elspeth that this is something she's staking the future of Valdemar on, and Elspeth doesn't care.:It had to be done,: Gwena replied firmly.:You had to go. It was important.:
"That's not all," Skif said, looking particularly hangdog. "For one thing, they absolutely forbid you to be told what they were doing. For another, they're the ones that suggested Quenten in the first place. They said he was the only way to an important mage they could trust."
[snip - Elspeth wants to go to the Shin'a'in instead]
:We don't know anything about the Shin'a'in Goddess,:Gwena said, alarm evident in her mind-voice. :She's not something Valdemar has ever dealt with. We're not sure we can trust Her.:
"You can't manipulate Her, you mean," she replied flatly.
:No. She could be like Iftel's God; She could care only for the welfare of Her own people. That's all. We know some of what She is and does - but it's not something we want to stake the future of Valdemar on.: Gwena's mind-voice rose with anxiety. Elspeth cut her off.
Not because some ForeSight has told her that going to the Shin'a'in is a good idea, not even because of some vague hunch that it will turn out to be better - but just because people want to get her to a particular place for vital training, she rebels and effectively puts the entire country at risk?
And she's supposed to be a herald - people who're willing to risk their lives for a slightly better chance at getting information home? And a royal Heir, who's presumably had duty to her country drilled into her for Years?
I can understand her being annoyed at being manipulated - but I find it hard to believe that she'd risk the whole country just to spite them. Complain a lot, yes, pay them back for it, quite possibly - but risk the country? and without even arguing over it first?
Especially when it would have been so easy for Misty to work a more plausible reason in - for example, a bit of foresight, or the death or illness of the originally intended teacher. Maybe the intention was "Elspeth is human too" but the result - in the absence of any other justification - is closer to "the irresponsible brat is back and she thinks getting her own way is worth risking the kingdom for".