Sanria passed a few more hours in Thasmudyan's company, listening to him discuss his captivity. She couldn't fathom why TriPower would have taken him, but he was right... government rarely discussed its secrets with its people. The point she cared about most was that he had gotten away. How she'd keep him hidden, she did not know, but for now, he was safe... save the bracelet-shackles he wore on his wrists that prevented his using magic. "We need to get those off."
"Don't break them."
"What happens if you break them?"
"Breaking them will make the containment field permanent. It's a failsafe they wove into the pattern. Or so they told me."
"So it may or may not be true..."
"Right. Maybe they don't have the capability to do that. Still, I'd rather not risk it without further knowledge."
"The only one I can think of that may even know what these can or can't do is Vorcet, but this couldn't have come at a worse time."
"Life often doesn't go according to plan, but, what makes this a bad time?"
Her hesitation was only momentary in telling Thasmudyan of the impending battle in Westbridge and the Keepers of Balance's offer of aid. She had known him for many years. She simply didn't expect his next words: "...Maybe I can help." Not again...
"Without using magic and in a war that involves the very people you ran from?" Sanria asked incredulously. "Two things... First off, I used to belong to the Legion, remember? And the Order of Judgment before that. Defense of Westbridge was a pretty big part of those duties. Second, Vectorians aren't very imaginative. I could probably list off, from memory, exactly where they'll have all of their troops positioned. They won't mess with what already works."
After a few more words, Sanria rose, promising to pass on not only her son, but her ex-lover, to Radiant Heart. She stopped briefly to admonish Leandra and ensure she would help Thasmudyan if he needed it, then took Nioma back to the castle. She passed off the infant to Enmach's waiting arms - the silvery woman having taken quite an interest in the baby, and returned to her office. She had barely begun her reply when a small boy appeared, his green eyes matching his green vest. He held out his hand, a pristine white letter within it, and smiled. "For you, Lady Sanria."
Sanria's eyes scanned the letter rapidly and she looked back to the small boy. Radiant Heart had finally answered. And they accepted. "Hold on a moment," she said to the boy, who stood looking at her with eyes that were obviously years beyond their age. "Can you take a letter back."
"That's easy stuff," he said.
"Please, give me a moment to finish it."
"As you wish," he said with a smile that both unnerved and amused Sanria. She bent over her parchment and wrote her reply and at last gave it to the boy. The deal with Orn and Thasmudyan was complete.
