***

Asha sat with her legs up on the couch reading a trashy novel, with her left arm immobilized in a high sling.  The bright morning sunlight shone through high windows onto her face and shoulders, covering her and the room with a peaceful warm light.

“Asha?”

Looking up from her book and around the room, for a moment Asha thought that the voice had been audible.  She reached out to the subtle telepathic touch.  “Yes?”

The voice opened up and she could sense her friend and the Rebel Leader, Hawk.  “I’m sorry am I interrupting something important?”
Asha smiled slightly.  “No, sir, I’m not busy at all.  What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong, I just need to ask a favour of you?”
“Sure, of course, you know I’m pretty open to helping…” She underlined her words with amused sarcasm and she sensed him laugh a little.
“It’s not a large favour, Asha.  I just need you to pick up Araian from the bus station later today.  I can’t go myself without risking her.”

Asha’s mouth opened slightly with her surprise.  “Araian?  Your little sister Araian?  I thought… I mean, last I’d heard she was still missing?”
“I finally found her down in Peera.  Can you meet her at the bus station at 2pm?  She knows you, she’ll feel safe.  You may as well bring Taelin if he’s available by then, just in case there’s trouble.  I’m aware you’re still recovering from Cheetah’s attack.  You’ll need to set up some kind of block to keep Taelin from picking up anything from her and you mustn’t tell her or Taelin that she’s my sister.  It’s not safe for either of them to know any more about me at this time.”
“Of course.”
“You’ll only need to baby sit her until the morning.  It might be a good idea to take her to the new base instead of Nama’s to sleep if it’s ready.  The less people who see her face the safer she’ll be.”

She nodded absently.  “Do you happen to know where Tae will be by then?”
“Hopefully the Cathedral… Nama sent him over to make peace, but we’ll see how that turns out.”
Asha laughed as she put the book down on the floor next to her.  “Well, here’s hoping something will get through that thick scull of his.”
“Yes, I’m hoping as well.  I’ll meet the two of you at the train station at 8am tomorrow morning.  Is that ok?”
She nodded even though he couldn’t see her.  “Of course, we’ll see you then.”

There was a sense of disconnection and Hawk’s mental touch disappeared quickly.  Pulling her legs around to the front she gently shimmied off the couch and up to a standing position.  She’d taken a few days to figure out how to stand up from a sitting position without causing pain in her shoulder, it looked very awkward but she didn’t care as long as it didn’t hurt.  She would have to check with Nama that Taelin’s new base was ready for habitation and get a spare mattress or stretcher for her.  But she had plenty of time to do all of that before she would need to go.