"Sit down." Ahston's primary concern is Kian, and she doesn't look at the others until he's seated, resting his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. Only then does she look at the group.

"Disadvantage. There's a whole village out there. If you killed us you'd have to face off with all of them." She doesn't look shaken, but there's an edge to her voice now. "How is this for an answer? They're alive and they're not in any danger of that changing. You can leave knowing you did your job."

She doesn't expect that to be effective, but she has to know what they're wanting and demanding.

Kian looks up from the floor, expression exhausted. "I thought the plan was to---" He stops as Ashton holds up a hand, looking exasperated.

"The plan adapts, as we've always had to."