Ashley nodded modestly despite Vera's praise, "You flatter me, Ms. Lavor. I'm really quite far from hurting Fleur's regime, and setting the stage for her downfall is all I can do. In fact, it was my husband who put together a team of experts before Fleur's lackeys got him—if I were on my own, I most definitely wouldn't even make it out."

Vera smiled faintly. "Well, what have you got out of those sympathizers?"

Ashley said, "I won't lie—they're not high enough in the hierarchy to help. The Gri