The Kartaian grunted from somewhere else and approached on unsteady feet. “Easier said than done, assassin.” Taris heard him crouch near his head. “I'm not good at the shadow walking thing.”
The Shadow Elf narrowed his unseeing eyes. “You should have thought about that [i]before[/i] you came here, Envy.”
The tall elf gave a shrug. “Can you stand? Right in front of you, take my hand.” With effort the assassin raised his arm and clamped, groaning in pain. “Okay, I'm going to grab your other arm.”
The shadow elf clenched his jaw and screamed when Envy grabbed him and lifted him to his feet. “Open the shadows.” Taris shook, holding onto Envy's extended arm. “Don't argue, do it, or we're stuck here.”

Taris bared his teeth and gave it a shot, tearing his hand away from Envy's arm to open the shadows. The opening flickered Envy pushed through, half dragging Taris. When they stepped into the tunnels, Envy turned and grabbed Taris around his torso to keep the Shadow Elf from falling into the dirt. Taris yelled, his eyes rolling in pain. 
Frowning, Envy called out. Paget and Cainne appeared, their dresses still covered in blood, their faces frightened. “Bed, please. And where is Hadhen?”

“No.” Taris argued. 
Envy lowered his eyes to him with a frown. “You need to lie down.”
The Shadow Elf snarled. “No, I need to see her.” Envy's red eyes went to the girls, who stared back before giving a small nod. “Envy!” Taris pulled on his arm.
The huge elf heaved a sigh, wincing as his ribs expanded. “Alright, you stubborn assassin. Prepare the infirmary chamber, will you girls?” Holding one hand against the wall and the other arm out, he walked. His left hand gripped Tari's left wrist, where the shackles had been. Seemed to be the only place Envy could see that didn't look inflamed and angry. Around Envy's elbow was Taris' right hand, tight gripped and shaky as the darker elf worked to hold himself up. “Do want me to carry you?”
“Shut it.”
Envy grinned and twitched his eyebrow as Hadhen came running down the tunnel. “Taris, this is Hadhen.” The blue eyed blond stared at Taris with a confused look. “Tell him anything you need from your inn, he'll retrieve it.”
“Keep walking.” Taris hissed, keeping his feet moving. “Hadhen, is it? I know that name.”
“We met a few years back. I remember you, but not your name.”
The Shadow Elf nodded and Envy glared. Taris described what he needed from his room, his healing powders and clothes, and Hadhen nodded and vanished.
“How is it that you know Hadhen?” Envy inquired. 
“Envy...” Taris released the elf and dropped to his knees and vomited, his whole body convulsing. The Kartaian leaned against the wall, looking down at him. 
“Good?”
Taris gasped and heaved, lifting a shaking arm for Envy, who lifted him back to his feet. “I came with the other Shadow Elves a while back... when you needed the Guild's help.”
“Hm, as I remember, you needed my help.”
“You're going to argue?”
Envy shrugged and kept quiet until they entered the small ante-chamber where Arauka lay. 

Her body lay on a stone bed, wrapped tightly in a white sheet, and flowers, coins and toys lay around the floor, gifts the other children had brought to say their good-byes. Envy stopped and held his arm forward, telling Taris where she was.