Kian looks stressed, breathing heavily now, lips pressed together to the point of being white. Vidal can't seem to look away from Merrill with guilt written all over her face.

"You're actually listening to what they're saying." Ashton's voice is mocking as she looks at the two. "You can't still be young enough to believe there can be honor and the right thing in a fight for freedom and our future."

Vidal now breaks her gaze away to look at Javion. She doesn't find help there. His expression is calm and calculated as he pulls the staff off of his back.

"We can't," Vidal says. "They're right.."

"I'd hate to be known as a mage who changed sides when things got complicated," Javion replies. "Do you think they'd really trust you?" He looks back at the gathered visitors. "At least two in here you'd have to fight. Several dozen more outside, some of whom don't even know what's going on. You'll face off against innocents who will only know you've killed some of their friends."

"We don't have to fight." From the look on Vidal's face she already knows this isn't going to work, but she's trying anyway. "They're worried about their people the way we've worried about ours. We can stop this now and no one loses anyone and no one gets more hurt."

"Aren't you an idealist." It's not a compliment the way Ashton says it, looking at Javion.

Kian takes a shaky breath. "Yeah. Yeah, that's why we're here. We're supposed to be idealists and different. We release them both. Right here and now. That's my vote."

"Seconded," says Vidal.

Barriers flare up... around Javion and Ashton, and Ashton hurls a sleep spell randomly as she charges to the side.