Fists held at her sides, Elayra’s brows furrowed slightly as she watched Ghent’s expression change and his demeanor loosen. He looked almost… [i]humbled.[/i] As if a bit of understanding had, at last, sunk into his arrogant brain.
	She let out a heavy sigh of relief when Ghent gave his response.
	“The night’s still young,” she muttered under her breath as Ghent’s voice trailed off.
	Drust snorted at her quiet statement, the corner of his mouth twitching.
	Elayra grimaced, pausing to make sure she had not created a trigger. But Drust still looked as calm as the Knight could get, his gaze hard and muscles ever at the ready. She had the suspicion he agreed with her.
	She turned to her knot and she reached for the rope just as Ghent spoke again.
	[b]“What are you waiting for, Blondie?”[/b]
	[i]You to get some common sense,[/i] she thought, only just managing to bite the retort back from forming on her tongue. She needed to think of Drust. To focus on [i]not[/i] aggravating him by fighting with Ghent.
	This was going to be a long night.
	Teeth clenched, she cast Ghent a quick glare as she untied the last couple loops of the knot binding Drust’s wrists.
	“It was [i]half untied,[/i] you ignoramus!” Elayra straightened and turned to Ghent as the rope fell away. 
	Scowling, the Knight maneuvered himself so he sat on the ground.
	Elayra crossed her arms. “I’d say [i]yours[/i] looks like an infant chimp did it, but that’d be an insult to the chimp.”	
	“Elayra,” Drust bit.
	It was going to be a [i]very[/i] long night indeed.
	Elayra’s mouth snapped shut. Her aggravation glowed in her eyes almost as intensely as the flickering flames. She looked to Drust in time to see him locate the knot in question.
	Drust’s scowl deepened. With a simple tug at the bulk of the knot, it came loose.
	Elayra shot Ghent a smug smirk, doing her best to hide it from Drust.
	“My pack?” Drust unwrapped the rope from around his legs. The effort he put into ignoring his charges’ eternal bickering strained on his face. His fingers froze as another thought struck him. “My katana?” A hint of panic entered his harsh voice, his gaze snapping to Elayra.
	“We’ve got it,” Elayra hurriedly reassured. “In your pack.” She nodded to where his pack sat on the opposite side of the fire.
	Drust relaxed slightly. He gave a jerky nod and grunted his approval. He looked to where she indicated, the firelight glinting eerily on the glazed crimson of his irises.
	Completely freed, he stood. He inhaled, the sound a mix of a hiss and snarl as he wavered on his feet. He lurched forward, scrunching his eyes tight and gripping his head.
	“Drust!” Elayra stepped to his side. She reached one hand toward him to try helping him to stay upright. Unsure what caused his distress, the other wrapped the hilt of her sword, just in case. 
	Drust gripped Elayra’s shoulder, steadying himself.
	Elayra gasped; his sudden added weight and tight hold on her already aching shoulder sent a spike of pain down it and to her back.
	Drust opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused. He hastily released Elayra and instead dropped to one knee before the campfire.
	“I [i]hate[/i] sleeping mist,” he growled, running a hand through his dark, messy hair. Bits of dirt and grass knocked free and fell to his shoulders. He looked sideways at Elayra, concern and self-loathing flashing momentarily over his face.
	Elayra resisted the urge to rub her shoulder. Determined to keep her ‘I'm fine’ card in play as always, she stepped around the fire to retrieve his pack for him, doing her best to avoid further bothering her injuries.
	“I don’t need it, girl.” 
	Elayra paused at his usual snapping tone, ready to lift the pack by one of its straps.
	Drust nodded stiffly to the ground. “Sit.” He glanced to Ghent. “I’ve seen corpses that look more alive than you two. Don’t deny it,” He added with a snort when Elayra opened her mouth to protest. “Even Knights know they have limits, girl. Rest. Eat. And I’m sure [i]you[/i] have questions,” he added to Ghent through a sigh. “Only a fool wouldn’t.”
	Elayra made a snide look that said, ‘Well, it [i]is[/i] Ghent.’ Exhaling, she reluctantly did as Drust ordered. She sat beside her smaller pack, basking in the field of warmth the flames created. She had been going for so long, she dreaded the inevitable outcome of rest almost as much as what would happen if she [i]kept[/i] going.