"Wait, please..." Aleksandra pleaded, but he ignored her and made his way outside.  She waited a moment, reluctant to return to Stoka when she just utterly failed.  A sigh escaped her lips and she forced herself to follow the man who had just told her that he did not care if her country rotted.  Decay was unlikely, LeVane could rule as a tyrant if he could keep the nobles on his side.  She forced herself forward, following him out the door he had left.  Her exit gave her just enough time to see Stoka collide with Maleki.  Stoka was more sturdy than she looked, but it was still quite the tumble.  Aleksandra ran forward, as Stoka took the hand that Maleki offered and got back up to her feet.  By the time she was standing again, Aleksandra was at her side.<br/><br/>"Are you okay?" She asked the elder woman, as her eyes darted between her mentor and Maleki.<br/><br/>Stoka dusted herself off and lifted her chin to smile at both Aleksandra and Maleki.  "All in one piece, thankfully." She arched a brow at the young man and seemed to have some shimmer of recognition.  There was a chance she had seen Maleki's father at court, if she had spent time there when Aleksandra's mother was still alive.<br/><br/>"Stoka, this is Maleki Todori."  Aleksandra explained.  "I believe we're keeping him from something important."  She felt hurt by his reaction, but she knew it was deserved.  If her father had not slighted his family, both of their lives might have been entirely different.  LeVane had likely pointed to the issues with the Todori family as an example of how Rollo had failed to reward loyalty and dedication.<br/><br/>"Well, I am sorry to hear that, but perhaps we are all headed in the same direction.  Judging by the look of your clothing you work as a sellsword, and if you are unwilling to assist poor Aleksandra, then I would assume we must all make our way back to the caravans, yes?  Do an old woman a favor, see that we make it there safely?"  Stoka asked and Aleksandra did her best not to physically cringe.