Envy stared, glancing at the two elves before him. With a sigh, he waved at Taris. “Help me with him.” He told the two behind him. “Don't touch her.” 
He limped over to the Shadow Elf and bent, hooking his hands under his shoulders while the other two each grabbed a foot. They lifted the unconscious elf and carried him off, laying him on the first empty bed they could find. He mumbled to Russel about finding another room for Aera, and he hurried off, muttering about large houses being mazes. Envy went back to stare at Aera, wondering what to do with her. Taris had fixed her most major physical hazards. Her wrist didn't look broken, but it was still a bit swollen and red. Both of her wrists were, the manacles had rubbed the skin raw as she struggled. A good portion of her skin was still black and blue with bruising. But she wasn't bleeding. Apprehensive, he bent and put his fingers to her neck feeling her pulse. It was still slow, but not as much as before. 
“Theres a big one up the stairs.” Russel told him, jogging into the room. “Probably the master. Its bigger than the kitchen in the tunnels.” 
Envy nodded. “One more thing for me, please. I doubt there will be much, but look for womens clothing. A dress, a ...gown. Anything.” Russel frowned and nodded before leaving again. Envy continued to stare down at Aera. To be honest, that look she'd given him, that look of pure hatred... it had frightened him. [i]It wasn't Aera,[/i] he tried to tell himself. [i]That was … someone else. Some[/i]thing [i]else[/i].

“Envy?”
The Kartaian turned around to find an antsy looking Hadhen. He raised his eyebrows. “Are we safe?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Are [i]they[/i] safe?”
[i]The tunnels[/i]. Envy sighed. “They'll be hunting us. Everyone else should be fine.” Though it gave him a reminder. Carefully, he picked up Aera, her arms hanging limply over her sides, and took her to find whatever bedroom Russel had found. He lay her down, covering her in the thick blankets, still wondering about her hands. Her ability couldn't be contained anymore. Keeping her hands wrapped in those filthy bandages would do no good. He bent to unwrap them as Russel came in, shrugging. “I got nothing for a woman, but he's got these shirts.” 
Envy shook his head. She wouldn't un-clench her right hand. “A dress would have been better. We need to be able to keep an eye on her.” He was still afraid to touch her. “Actually, bring me the shirt. Might be of use.” The elf cautiously folded her left hand over her clenched right hand and wrapped the shirt around them, knotting it tight enough to hold her, but gently enough not to hurt her. With her hands restrained, Envy crouched over her, working on his inspection. 

After an hour, Envy went to his young men and pulled out a blade, shrugging, holding out a paper with an odd mark on it. Automatically, they both held out their hands, and Envy pricked their thumbs, squeezing the blood on a piece of paper. He pricked Taris' thumb and Aera's heel, as her hands were bound, and smeared the paper. Then he pricked himself and tore the paper into four piece, handing them to the boys. “Four corners.” he ordered, and they ran off to put up the wards. 
The Kartaian sighed. That should keep them protected, next to whatever else protected this place.

Another hour later he sat, sighing tiredly, next to Taris, rubbing his face. Leaning against the headboard, his eyes scanned the room. Assassins made a nice living. There was no doubt about that. Envy's red eyes landed on the black skinned elf. [i]Not worth it.[/i]
Hadhen walked in, holding in his hands a jar, tilted so he could read the label. “I found this.” he informed Envy. “Its the stuff he had me get from his safe-house in Pareigh.” 
Envy took another glance at the unconcious elf beside him. “Do [i]you[/i] want to undress him?”
Hadhen's eyes got wide. “Not particularly.”
Envy grunted with a shrug. “Get Russel.”
After much effort with the odd armor, Envy and the thieves had Taris down to the minimum. Envy sprinkled the powder on what wounds he could see. He told one of the boys to go sleep, the other to go keep watch in the master bedroom. Then he sat back down beside the elf, folding his legs and lighting a cigarette. Time to wait for the assassin to wake.