For a moment, he's afraid he's said the wrong thing, but Viktor is getting used to a certain jumpiness from those who spent time in captivity. He's patient, waiting for Kaz to find what he wants to say, listening with a sympathetic ear.

"My understanding is that many of the acolytes died in the chaos." Or made deals, or were otherwise imprisoned. That will have to be good enough. Viktor shrugs. "If the governments won't protect us, someone has to."