He had been thoughtless, not intentionally cruel, and his lips parted to retort the first statement when suddenly Mingyu had him completely off balance again. He still managed to stay half braced, but he was now half sitting on the man, sighing heavily.

The question made his heart sink, despite him having been the one to set it up.

"The ones I freed. They each had a tattoo'd arm. Are known to fight Unhalad's troops--" He paused, let out a breath. "I'm worried that I caused it, Mingyu. I wasn't thinking farther than that. I'm sorry."