What Are You?
Ezra agreed with Kieran's recommendation to shift the conversation.
After all, the guild was in a bit of a crisis that couldn't be ignored, deferred, or avoided. It required immediate attention, and their best bet was Ezra.
Allan also scoped out his realm of connections to find a thread to pull on. However, as Kieran feared, many were beginning to keep a tight lid on their supply of X-hancers and wouldn't part with them even after Kieran gave him permission to far exceed market price if necessary.
It was a desperate move that betrayed their desperation, but Kieran didn't much care about the particulars. In some cases, it was best to set aside one's pride for the sake of the whole.
Of course, stepping too far in that direction would have its own set of dire repercussions.