Saehressa and Mrevan were at the Old City concert, just as they had been present for 5 other shows on llhaesa’s first tour.

Both were unaware of the murder of Zreltian; llhaesa had not shared this information with them before mentioning it on-stage. Unbeknownst to them, llhaesa had just received the information minutes before moving into the crowd prior to the concert, and had no time to share with anyone.

Both parents harboured silent fears of the risks their daughter was taking, where this all might lead. While Mrevan was circumspect, Saehressa rationalised how llhaesa was driven from deep inside to do this, and they were powerless to prevent her from taking such risks if taking the risks was something llhaesa felt she must do. They might try to reason and influence, but they could not silence.

Calling out Brellian was dangerous, for the T’yaelis both were well aware he was a dangerous man. After the concert, the T’yaelis met up with their daughter, who was planning to spend a few days at their home. Llhaesa was planning to move to Old City, and though she had looked at several flats, had not yet found one to her liking. Saehressa and Mrevan welcomed having her home for a few days.

The following morning, the three gathered to prepare breakfast, each taking certain chores. You could tell they all had done this before. With the meal prepared and served, llhaesa, Mrevan, and Saehressa all took to seats, and soon various dishes were being passed from one to another.

Mrevan was the first to give voice to his worry, asking llhaesa why she had not shared the Brellian information.

“To be honest dad, I found out the information moments before going into the crowd. The information came from trusted sources, and with so many in the crowd attentively listening, felt it was a golden opportunity to make the information public.

I was given assurance that revealing the information would not place any operative at risk; it would not lead to finding someone on the inside. So I ran with it.

Before you go there, I know you are concerned over my well being, what Brellian and his minions might do. It is something I’m prepared to deal with, will accept the consequences. If my career is ruined just as it starts, well… I’ll find another profession. If I don’t do this, if I play it safe, something deep inside of me is suggesting I’m letting the universe down.” And with that, llhaesa looked to Mrevan and Saehressa, suggesting she had finished comment. It was now their turn to speak; llhaesa would listen attentively.

Saehressa spoke first. “Sweetie, we love the fact you are engaged in working for change. We love your passion – you can’t teach this to someone, it is either in them or no. Instead, through much of your adolescence, we have tried to instil in you a sense of responsibility, of discretion, of picking when and where the best time to act might be. I’m pretty sure Mrevan will agree that you have learned well, and you are very responsible.

What is of concern now isn’t just a rights issue. Freedom itself is threatened. Brellian is a vicious man, even through what has been substantiated. Add in what has not, and…” Saehressa’s sentence stopped short, picked up by Mrevan.

“and your life is in danger, Llhaesa. You must take care to protect yourself, you must be very discreet in your actions. You need to lie low for a while, not push he envelope.” Mrevan had placed his plea, and his heart, upon the table.

“Dad… mum… I know how hard this is for you, and to tell the truth, it is pretty scary for me as well. I know the stories, but do not know the feeling of what it is like to lose a child. Yet there are many children who are being lost, lost because they were born with a vagina and not a penis. They are condemned to a life of limited hope, limited possibility. And now we have a leader who will take us back in time, who wishes to end democracy. Sooner or later this will come to some sort of confrontation. I can’t step aside, cannot watch this unfold without using every available resource at my disposal to work to overcome. It is something I must do. If that takes me to memory, I am truly sorry… but to live any other way would reduce me to someone I could not look at in a mirror.”

Saehressa and Mrevan lowered their heads, eyes to the table. Their shoulders slumped, all of this suggesting they knew llhaesa was right, and that by being right, their worst fears were going to be in play.