"Tell me where your people are before deciding whom to kneel to," Alex said.
The answer came quickly.
"Outside the damaged district. We heard the fighting, but the roads were full of Imperial troops."
The speaker was on Proxima.
Alex looked toward Dorian at the doorway. The commander straightened as soon as he heard there were more of their people within walking distance.
"Can you bring supplies?" Alex asked the voice.
"We have weapons."
"Cloth, water, something to move injured people on. We have enough people holding weapons while someone else bleeds beside them."
A pause followed.
"We can bring those too."
Dorian gave Vesa a route that avoided the ruined service yard and the streets where his soldiers were still containing Thepes's scattered followers. She passed it on.
The caller accepted the directions, calling Alex his king before the exchange faded.
Thepes made another harsh sound from the floor, and Alex glanced at him.
"I heard it," he said.
