However, Lexi has moved beyond shock and shaking knees on the subject. Now that she knows that Brio’s alive and Ashana has accomplished half her mission, her mind is spinning with how to see the rest through. She also knows how much she owes Ashana for what the woman has apparently been through and what she has accomplished on Gen Stalbraid’s behalf, even if, Lexi suspects, Ashana accepted the mission for her own reasons. Lexi had been far too desperate and frantic when she first went to Ashana to consider emotions like jealousy or hesitation, or think about the consequences of reuniting Ashana with Brio, and she’s determined not to waste time on those feelings or speculations now.

Still, for all those reasons, Lexi wishes in that moment that she’d taken the time to know Ashana better, just as Lexi regrets only finally coming to know Taru over the past few months. She regrets ever allowing herself to feel disconnected from what Brio did as a pleader. Lexi had always thought of the foundlings their parents took in as wards of Brio’s father, being groomed and trained to attend to the Gen’s pleaders in the course of their duties. It created a distance for her that didn’t need to exist.

Like most things Lexi thought before Brio’s disappearance, her perspective is vastly changed.

“What can we do?” she asks Spud-Bar. “Ashana must have had some message beyond letting us know Brio is alive. How can we help bring them home?”

“Evie said nothing about aiding them in escape, Te-Gen,” Spud-Bar assures her. “But she did give me a message. It’s about something Brio left behind. It’s supposed to prove what the Legion really is, if that’s of any use to anyone. She seemed to think it was more important than the both of them.”

Before Lexi can respond to that, a crash from up the spiraling stone steps of the tower draws all their gazes.

Lexi looks up at Taru. “The Ministry agents?”

“They would have seen Spud-Bar come to the door,” Taru confirms, drawing both short sword and cooperative-forged hook-end blade.

“What’s happening?” Spud-Bar asks.

Lexi holds up a hand to silence the armorist as Taru steps between them both and the staircase, stance widening and weapons expertly raised.

A tall shadow falls down the steps, cast by the lit sconces along the tower wall. They all tense, especially Taru, until that shadow is replaced by the red, green, and brown blur of a body tumbling fast and uncontrolled down the staircase. Taru leaps back, arms spreading wide to shield Lexi and Spud-Bar, as that body rolls free of the bottom step and lands at their feet.

“Daian!” Lexi calls from behind Taru, fortunately not loud enough to alert the agents posted outside.