Ilek translates, "I'm not that good at Life magic yet," he adds, "That's high first tier, or low second, depending on how bad the break is. I can get a healer, though." 

She listens with growing confusion, covering the fear, and some suspicion. 

"You spoke to the Gardener? But we're bound, how could you?" Though, they do know about her brother. She wouldn't expect the Cialin to know that much about her. She's just a nobody. She's not even a very good fighter. 

"...You'll really just let us go like that?" She asks Ilek. 

"That's how we do things," he agrees with nod, before translating for Deskyl and DZ. 

I have a different sort of magic than you do; it's much less limited than yours. I do have some more questions about the empire; I'll let you talk to him in return, if you'd like. 

She swallows, eyes darting back to the Rod.

"...Ok," she agrees quietly, Ilek echoing her, "I don't know how much help I'll be. I'm not any kind of commander." 

That's fine. What do you know about what the emperor is doing, and do you know anything about why?

"The Emperor? Not... not a lot? He... doesn't leave the capital often, and never visits small villages like mine. But. He spends a lot on helping the poor and sick." She admires him, a bit, for that, while also hating him for decreeing wielders like her have to fight. 

The guard comes back with chairs while Ilek is translating this, setting them in the space between wall and ward. 

"Do you need anything else?" The guard asks. 

    "She expects she'll want the ward taken down soon, sir, at least briefly. You can do it now if that's more convenient."

Do you know anything about why he's waging this war? What his goals are?

She eyes the Rod, but nods agreeably - this prisoner is her responsibility, if she wants to arm her it's none of the guard's business, so long as she doesn't get loose and decide to rampage around the fort. 

She steps out to insert a key into a hole outside the door, turning it to disconnect the ward runes from the building's reservoir. 

"They'll take about a minute to go out," he tells Deskyl after translating for her. 

"No? Just, that it's the Empire's responsibility to take control of the world. To civilize it." 

(Ilek makes a subtle face as he translates this.)

Do you know what he means by that?

"I don't know? It's what they say in school, and what the recruiters say. That the rest of the world is backwards and wild and mad. I don't think they're right anymore, but I used to." 

All right, that's less confusing, at least - I don't think it's true at all, but it's unusual for someone to wage a war and not give any kind of excuse.

Have you decided what you want to do?

"...If you really mean it. I'll go to Sanctuary. They'll really get Corin for me? My brother." 

(Ilek nods in confirmation as he translates.) 

I mean it. She glances at the ward and shifts the Rod in her grasp. Did you have any questions for me?

The ward flickers and powers down. The woman leans forward, uninjured hand twitching towards the Rod again. 

"You said you could let me talk to him?" She asks, eyes locked on his form again. 

She hands him over. I can. Now, or if you want a little more privacy we can wait until tomorrow when my assistant will be able to translate.

She hugs the Rod close to her chest, eyes going a bit distant as she trades some images with the Gardener. 

After a moment, she glances at Ilek, and then back to Xaari Deskyl, "...More privacy would be nice, yes," she agrees. 

All right. She sends DZ to let Commander Coen know that the prisoner has switched sides and will need accommodations; DZ asks Ilek for her name, and then goes. With that taken care of, Deskyl suggests that they get her to a healer next.

Sana Colridge; she agrees, and follows them out of the cell towards the infirmary agreeably, if still a little frightened. 

Coen mentions that Commander Maol has taken one of the remaining visitor's quarters on the second floor, and that they can house the formerly Imperial wielder in one of the other remaining ones or in smaller quarters elsewhere. DZ should be able to find the paperwork for assigning rooms, she can fill it out and then return it. Not strictly necessary if the wielder stays in the VIP quarters - generally they know who's in them offhand - but more orderly. 

DZ gets the paperwork and goes to find the group again, to update Deskyl.

How many people here know her language? she asks Ilek.

"Most everyone knows a bit of Imperial, but it'll be some of the captains, and the commander who are conversational or fluent, mostly. Some of the clerks can read it, but might not be able to speak it clearly. I wouldn't be surprised to find a few others are as well, but I wouldn't expect it."

It's up to you, then, she tells Sana. One of the commanders is a jerk, and if you're in the command center you'll be closer to him, but closer to me, too - I'll notice if he bothers you there. And you can talk to my assistant if you need anything. - I'll be running an emotion muting effect at night, I don't know if you'd rather have that or avoid it, it helps with nightmares.

She's conflicted about the offer, but...

"I'd like to stay in the command center," she decides.

Even if Deskyl is scary, at least Sana has some idea of her temperament, unlike all the unknown strangers all around them. The warning about the commander helps, actually - a threat she can watch for, and a way to deal with it, as well.