Asural, Desmond, 10416 P.C.

Benjamin no longer seemed to be in a rush. Instead of sitting them down and demanding answers like the girl, Colette, seemed keen on doing, he brought them to a room that looked much like the school cafeteria back in Todd's world. It wasn't as big as the TR room, but it had tables and benches all lined up in neat rows. On the far side of the room, there was a counter and space in the wall where a kitchen could be seen. Several people bustled around inside of it, barely sparing Todd and the group a glance as they entered.

"Have a seat," Benjamin instructed them, and then headed over to the kitchen to talk to the staff.

Todd sat down at the table closest to him, sliding over on the bench to make room for Stephanie and Bethany. Oh, it felt so good to sit down. Bethany stayed close to him, clinging to his wrist with a firm grip showing her mistrust and fear of their surroundings. He was much too tired to think about any sort of danger. Annabella had brought them here. That must mean it was safe.

Colette sat down across from them, watching them with a gaze Todd couldn't read. She didn't look to be very trusting. He wasn't going to be hurt over that. She didn't know them yet. No one in this world seemed particularly trusting as it was.

Benjamin returned shortly with a tray of different assorted foods like fruit, scrambled eggs, and some toast. He set it before them. "Eat. You seem to have had quite the journey."

Stephanie hesitated, but Todd was too tired and too hungry to think about precautions. He seized a slice of toast and dug it. It was a staple breakfast food, how harmful could it be? Sure, it was a bit soggy, but he assumed that these were leftovers. Breakfast had come and gone for these people. Bethany seemed uncertain but finally took to nibbling on a browned apple slice.

"If you don't mind my asking," Stephanie began, still carefully avoiding the food. "This place... what is it? Really?"

Benjamin had placed himself across from them, beside Colette, and he folded his hands on the table at her question. "The shortest answer would be that it is a safe haven. When Motch took over, he tore families apart, taking away their children and forcing them into a strict societal system. I don't think I need to recap that story for you."

Todd glanced at Stephanie as she ducked her head, lifting her hand in an attempt to hide the side of her face. He hadn't forgotten about her mark. The dragonmark — he had asked when she relayed her story to him and Annabella. He also knew about the child soldiers from Annabella. No, Benjamin did not need to retell the story.

"Well, as you can expect, quite a few people were not willing to go along with that. A group of us got together and created the place you are now in. It and everything about it is top secret. Very few people know about its existence, and even fewer know how we keep it alive. We prefer to keep it that way."

"So... we're under Asural?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes."

"So the town is in on it."

Benjamin's face gave no information as to whether she was correct or not. "I cannot tell you. The danger is great."

"How could you accomplish this without being discovered? Motch has eyes everywhere."

"Fifteen years of hard work and twice as many close calls."

Todd took a moment to study the people sitting across from them. Benjamin had looked old at first, but in the light, Todd was sure the man hadn't yet reached fifty. It was the thick, greying, bushy beard and unruly hair that made him look rather old. He seemed incredibly strong and fit — he had carried Annabella as if she had weighed no more than a child. His face had stress-lines, but fewer wrinkles than most. Light eyes shadowed by thick, bushy eyebrows. Broad build. Big hands.

Beside him, Colette seemed small. Round face, thick lips, auburn hair pulled back into a hasty ponytail, a gaze full of mistrust. She was thicker than Annabella but built athletically — she looked like she could hold her own in a fistfight. Todd wondered if all of the women in Desmond were dangerous like that.

"Enough small talk," Colette interrupted. "Who are you and what were you doing with Annabella?"

Todd swallowed the last bite of his toast. "It's a long story."

"They always say that."

"Todd, Bethany, Stephanie," Stephanie said shortly, pointing to each person as she said their names. "My unit was sent to Sarum because Annabella had been spotted there. That's where I met Bethany."

"She saved me," Bethany whispered. Her grip had slipped from Todd's arm and now claimed Stephanie's. "They killed mommy, but she saved me."

Todd almost choked on a bite of apple. Here she was, just three years old, acknowledging the death of her mother so calmly. It created a lump in his throat he couldn't easily swallow past. She wasn't like any three-year-old he had ever met before.

Colette looked between Stephanie and Bethany with a look of unbelief while Benjamin spoke. "Tamara is gone?"

"Along with the rest of Sarum," Stephanie replied softly. "I tried to get Bethany out, but they caught us. Sarum was destroyed."

"Ah ah ah, plot hole!" Colette seemed intent on preying on Stephanie. Todd didn't understand. "If you had tried deserting they would've killed you on the spot, soldier."

The look on Stephanie's face was tense. "They didn't. I don't get it myself. She called me an Oddity."

"She?" Benjamin asked.

"The Sergeant."

Benjamin hummed. "I see." He seemed to be studying her with his calculating eyes.

"Do you know what that means, sir?" she asked.

Slowly, he shook his head. "I can't say that I do. It is contrary to normal protocol. Sarum is destroyed, you say?"

"Yes. Explosives." Stephanie let out a breath.

Benjamin exhaled as well, closing his eyes. "Rest their souls, Creator." Opening his eyes, he asked, "And how did you encounter Annabella?"

"They were caught shortly after that."

"They?"

"Todd and Annabella."

Todd snapped to attention at the mention of his name. He could feel the stares of both Benjamin and Colette on him as he slowly lowered the fork he had been using to eat the scrambled eggs. Stephanie reached over and took it from him. He knew it was his turn to talk. "I... uh... well, Annabella and I met in a desert."

Benjamin arched an eyebrow. "The Hinterlands? What was she doing there? What were you doing there?"

"I wasn't there by choice, sir. I guess I fell through a portal."

It sounded stupid, saying it out loud. It got a reaction, though. Colette gasped. Benjamin's second eyebrow went up. "You don't say."

"I do say. One minute I was in my room looking for my wallet and the next I was in a desert being chased by a dragon." He sounded completely delusional and yet these people seemed to actually believe him.

"And Annabella came to your rescue, I presume," Colette said, a hint of mockery in her tone.

"I wouldn't say that, I'd..." Why deny the truth when they could clearly guess it anyway? "Okay, yeah, that's what happened."

"Is that how she suffered this wound we're now dealing with?" Benjamin questioned.

Todd had to think. "No... I don't think so. I mean maybe? I don't really remember much of what happened... it was all kind of a blur. But she never mentioned it."

"Of course she didn't mention it. Annabella's not one for letting others in on her issues if you haven't yet noticed." Colette's tone was starting to grate on him just a bit.

"I did notice, thanks," he replied, mimicking her tone. "She didn't even mention it when we were attacked by Stranglers."

"You survived a Strangler attack?" Colette and Stephanie asked in perfect harmony. Colette shot Stephanie a look.

Todd blinked a few times, startled by their shock. "I... yes. Actually, well, they left."

"Stranglers don't just 'leave'," Colette said.

He knew that his response would get another reaction out of him again, and he braced himself. "I told them to leave. And they did."

Their reaction was different than expected. Colette stared at him in befuddled confusion. Stephanie, though, was nodding — she believed him, maybe because she knew what he was. Should they tell these people?

Benjamin only lifted a hand to stroke his beard. "I see," was all he said, because, in the next moment, one of the women from earlier came bursting into the room.

"Benjamin, we need you," she said breathlessly. "She's got a fever and delirium and—"

"Jordan," Benjamin interrupted, rising, "you may tell me on the way. Colette, settle our guests into the empty rooms on the west end." With that order, the man quickly left the room.

Todd caught Stephanie's eyes, worry for Annabella flaring in his chest. Stephanie gave him a grim look before stealing several apple slices and eating them in record speed. Bethany tugged on Todd's arm, solemn fear in her eyes.

"Will Bella be okay?" she whispered.

He noted that she called her Bella — maybe the nickname was only for the privileged. He could clearly remember Annabella telling him she'd make his death look accidental if he ever called her that. That already felt like forever ago. "Yeah," he replied reassuringly. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

"Todd," Colette said flatly, and he looked up quickly. She was giving him something of a deadpanned look. "Don't give her sugarcoated lies. She understands reality probably better than you do." Turning to Bethany, she said, "They'll do their best to make Annabella all better. You just pray, alright?"

Todd stared at her as she got up and started toward the kitchen, disappearing inside. Beside him, Bethany had grown silent, picking at her food. Stephanie caught his eye again, and she dipped her head in the direction of the kitchen.

"I hate to admit it, but the snooty girl is right. Kids aren't innocent or naive around here."

"That's sad," Todd whispered.

"It's reality," she replied. "You'd better get used to it."