She studied his face as he spoke, watching for any sign of wavering resolve once he looked up to meet her gaze. He didn’t need to finish the sentence; she understood. And it lent weight to his desire to see her dead. It wasn’t an easy thing, to wish death on someone who had a hold on you, even if every fibre of one’s being wanted to recoil at her cruelty. She nodded, though she didn’t return his weak smile, keeping the grim determination etched on her face. “Let’s hope you see it in his face again, then.” She stepped closer to him, bent down and offered her hand. 

“Come on. Seems my list of people to kill grows longer by the minute.” She allowed a smirk at that, before turning serious again. “I will make you this promise. I will be the one who kills her. It’s my face. I should be the one to hack it off her body. Ikegai, Akuma, and whoever else casts their lot with them. Itallo, the Gemini, Kartaians—they won’t stop me.” 

Speaking the Gemini’s name reminded her of the hunting knife in his possession. [i]So many questions.[/i] But for now, they needed to go back home. [i]Ruli needs his people.[/i]