Not fooled in the slightest by Percy's playing it cool (after all, he'd seen him when Vex died the first time), Kash rolled his eyes, muttered something piquant about the de Rolos of Whitestone under his breath, and plowed through the cafe into the lobby.

He arrived in time to hear died on me and his blood froze. "Who died? How long ago? Where??" The questions spilled from his lips even as his gaze swept over Vex, diagnosing her condition. Battered, in need of substantial healing. "Is anyone besides you hurt?"