Iawa bites her lip. She does have an idea, yes. "I need tea first," she says. She needs time to think.
She brews the tea. If Avrayen's motive for attacking Imsayed is that Imsayed is his brother, that's information she shouldn't hold back. But if Imsayed knows Avrayen attacked him, and still doesn't want that information revealed... or wait, no, there are all sorts of reasons, good and bad, why he might be keeping quiet, other than free choice.
Iawa wishes she'd paid more attention to those magistrate dramas her father liked. Wasn't there a plot in one of those in which revealing the secret deprived the killer of his motivation for attacking again? One of these people is in no shape to make decisions or give answers, and the other one is apparently an ill-intentioned violent liar.
In a well run state this would be where she should turn over what she knows to the authorities, but the state is not well-run, this small group of revolutionaries is possibly also not well-run, and Sasha seems competent, but that's not the same as having her interests aligned with Iawa, or Imsayed, or the greatest good for the greatest number.
On the other hand, Iawa has recently had some lessons in how competent she herself isn't. Someone's life is at risk. Everyone's life, potentially.
She finishes whisking the tea powder forty-nine times, and clears her throat. "First of all, Imsayed had a pre-existing head injury, and I gather he hadn't told Ashari about it. Maybe hadn't told anyone in the resistance. And wasn't seeing a doctor about it either. Concussions can be... cumulative. Even after healing, you're more vulnerable to new ones. He told me he likes his privacy, and I'm violating that by telling you because I think he's put us all at risk by going into a dangerous situation without telling anyone."
She gulps some tea. "Which brings me to your question. Again, that's Imsayed's private business, but if Avrayen attacked him for it... He said Avrayen was his brother. Or rather, he blurted it out then immediately tried to hide it again. I don't know why they both want to keep that a secret, but that's the information I have."
Another gulp of tea, then a deep breath. "And in return for that... What's going to happen to Avrayen?"
Indecision is Iawa's best stat
She brews the tea. If Avrayen's motive for attacking Imsayed is that Imsayed is his brother, that's information she shouldn't hold back. But if Imsayed knows Avrayen attacked him, and still doesn't want that information revealed... or wait, no, there are all sorts of reasons, good and bad, why he might be keeping quiet, other than free choice.
Iawa wishes she'd paid more attention to those magistrate dramas her father liked. Wasn't there a plot in one of those in which revealing the secret deprived the killer of his motivation for attacking again? One of these people is in no shape to make decisions or give answers, and the other one is apparently an ill-intentioned violent liar.
In a well run state this would be where she should turn over what she knows to the authorities, but the state is not well-run, this small group of revolutionaries is possibly also not well-run, and Sasha seems competent, but that's not the same as having her interests aligned with Iawa, or Imsayed, or the greatest good for the greatest number.
On the other hand, Iawa has recently had some lessons in how competent she herself isn't. Someone's life is at risk. Everyone's life, potentially.
She finishes whisking the tea powder forty-nine times, and clears her throat. "First of all, Imsayed had a pre-existing head injury, and I gather he hadn't told Ashari about it. Maybe hadn't told anyone in the resistance. And wasn't seeing a doctor about it either. Concussions can be... cumulative. Even after healing, you're more vulnerable to new ones. He told me he likes his privacy, and I'm violating that by telling you because I think he's put us all at risk by going into a dangerous situation without telling anyone."
She gulps some tea. "Which brings me to your question. Again, that's Imsayed's private business, but if Avrayen attacked him for it... He said Avrayen was his brother. Or rather, he blurted it out then immediately tried to hide it again. I don't know why they both want to keep that a secret, but that's the information I have."
Another gulp of tea, then a deep breath. "And in return for that... What's going to happen to Avrayen?"