Vetareh huffs an annoyed breath through her teeth.

"Sorry," she says, to Canach. "That was my fuck up, I should have caught her as she was casting the hex. I'm a bit rusty."

"I don't see how you would have," he says, smoothly as he reaches them. "I don't suppose you have a convenient spell to stun her?"

"No. Does someone else?"

"No need, we can just knock her out the traditional way. Valette Wi, I hereby pass sentence on you for treason. You will be tried and judged in Divinity's Reach by a jury of your peers. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

She just shakes her head.

(James reaches them but stands back, arms folded, watching.)

"Try anything, and I will stop you," growls Vetareh, and then she carefully removes the knife from the woman's throat and hands Valette Wi over to Canach for traditional knockout.

And she is unceremoniously knocked out with the butt of Canach's sword. "I should take her to Divinity's Reach, then."

Marjory and Rytlock reach them, too. "Lazarus is also gone. A mursaat alive... We should immediately warn the queen, but he appeared to be disinterested in Kryta."

"Surprisingly different from the last time the mursaat were sticking their creepy bird feet where they didn't belong," Rytlock grunts.

"Marjory, weren't you just saying something about people not being able to change?"

"A 'virtuous pursuit' could mean a lot of things to a mursaat. But I'll admit, I'm curious."

"At least we know where the bloodstone's power went, now. It felt the same. Not that knowing that helps with knowing what he's planning to do with it."

James nods. "We need to find him, get an idea of what he's planning to do with all that magic."

"I believe the minister will also wish to find him."

"Then this will be a good way to start the new guild," says James, sounding cheerful. "A crisis, but hopefully not a world-ending crisis."

Snort.

Though, 'new guild'? She likes these people. While she doesn't know them very well, what she's seen so far has been pretty good. The words 'Can I join,' go unsaid. She probably hasn't known any of these people long enough to make it something other than awkward if she asks for membership.

"I shall take my leave, then." He hoists Valette over his shoulder like a sack of rice—he's apparently much stronger than his wiry plant-build would lead one to believe—and off he goes.

And now Marjory looks at Vetareh. "Are you by any chance from Orr?" she asks point blank.

Vetareh huffs a little laugh.

"Yes. From just before it blew itself up. I, uh."

She stops. The next words don't come, for some reason. Why is this so hard to say, it being hard to say is stupid. Fine, whatever, she's a mesmer, finding ways around problems is her thing, she can just figure out a different way. She makes her voice light and sarcastic so as not to engage with the complicated web of emotions involving her state for the last several hundred years.

"I decided that Orr just wasn't scenic enough and took a lovely stroll in the Mists."

"I believe the Bloodstone's instability and a magical anomaly I was fighting at the time might have opened the portal through which she returned to Tyria."

"...well, Commander, good luck explaining the last two and a half centuries of history to her. I think I'll return to Divinity's Reach with Canach."

"Heh. The Mists does like collecting prizes. Call me when you've found a lead on Lazarus," says Rytlock, following her.

"Nice meeting you," says Vetareh sincerely, a little amused that they both immediately decided to flee. Not that she blames them, or anything, just: wow. Not subtle, these people. Yep, she definitely likes them.

James shakes his head and pulls his mask off, turning to face Vetareh. "I believe I have two and a half centuries of history to explain to you, then."

"Can it wait until after a hug?"