Last spark from the ashes

Tarana's face is still shadowed by her helm, but the crinkle of her eyes suggests a smile as she inclines her head to him.

"Let's take this somewhere quieter," she says, gesturing for them to follow. They aren't going far, just through a couple of archways to a more private little sparring courtyard. Aside from the banner hanging overhead it's much less decorated, the walls thick bulkheads lined with heavy-duty padding and the floor a little springy underfoot.

Tarana props that big tower shield against a wall, moves over to a sturdy bench and immediately removes her helm. She turns to face Steve as she sets it down and starts unlatching the rest of her armor. She looks like she's approaching middle-age, dark-haired and strong-boned.

"Shaxx tells us that where you come from is a secret," she says to Steve, now that they're on more even terms. "It is enough to understand that you aren't from the City. But I want to know now everything about how you have fought before. What opponents you have faced and how you fared with them. This is not a matter of judging you, you understand. This is about knowing the ground in which we plan to set down our roots."

Jie has drawn Blaze off to lean against the wall and gossip: although the Exo and her Ghost are keeping a close eye on their friend, it might be easier for Steve not to have such an obvious audience hanging over his shoulder.