Strangely, the thought they might plan to accost her, while it's one she's considered, is not one she's exceptionally worried about. She has a magical arsenal under her skin, after all.

"For now? As secure as they can be without guards, but I myself was led there by a kedan informant. What more than one person knows will travel, and I wouldn't care to leave them there long-term." Places along the coast are promising. The Chihuelans might prefer proper accommodations, but China's a little more concerned with their survival, for now.

"The difficulty is they won't consent to much until they have assurances of sanctuary, and they want this from significantly more than three of us," China says. "So I need the two of you to look after them until I can acquire those. They'll need another place to hide sooner, rather than later." She gives Shay a speculative look.