"Just a drop." Ruli promised without hesitation. He scooped up the pin from Envy's outreached hand and set it in Kire's upturned palm. "I'll even let you do it. Poke you're finger. Its all we need." He swore. 
"[i]Sadist.[/i]" Envy chuckled again. "[i]Making her do it herself.[/i]"
"[i]I thought it would make her feel better.[/i]" Ruli snapped, pulling the bowl from before him to set in the center. "If you want. I mean." Ruli added, realizing that pricking ones own finger was not as easily done. "Over the bowl." 

He took the pin once her fingertip was punctured, holding it beneath her finger as he gently squeezed. The crimson droplet built against her calloused skin. Envy's nostrils flared as he inhaled, the Kartaian bloodline in him unable to avoid the instinct. The ruby-red droplet fell across the pin, sliding across its etched face before dripping into the bowl. 
Ruli pushed the bowl toward Envy, touching his hand to tell him where it was. The Kartaian, after setting aside his cigarette butt, raised the bowl to mutter softly over it. Ruli sat back on his heels, his eyes on Kire's finger for a time, his lips pulled down in a frown. 

Her blood smelled ... [i]normal.[/i] He wasn't sure why it surprised him. She was not Akuma. He knew this. She'd bled before, when they were in the caves, fighting the abomination that still lurked in his dreams. Nightmares. The pretty face that laughed as rot and spoiled blood coated his tongue and wrenched him from sleep. But then, he'd been so full of horror that he hadn't noticed.
And somehow, this, today, using her blood for a spell, bothered him. Made it different. He couldn't understand why. Ruli swallowed thickly, looking to the bowl held before Envy's nostrils.

The mixture inside appeared to melt, withering like a flame caressed it. They blackened, shriveled, and molded into a thick, tar like liquid that began to steam. Envy inhaled it eagerly, eyelids fluttering. Then his brows furrowed. "[i]I see.[/i]" He said, and Ruli, on the cue, reached out to touch Envy's wrist. His eyes unfocused slightly, trained on the edge of the table beside Envy's elbow, as he connected his conscience to Envy's to share in what the elf saw.

They remained quiet for a moment, both looking perplexed, brows pulled in matching frowns, eyes shifting slightly as they 'saw' something in their heads. 
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Ruli grumbled at last, dropping his hand with a heavy thump. 
Envy set the bowl down gently and groaned, as if he'd suffered a headache. Indeed, he rubbed his large fingers across the space between his eyebrows. "I suppose he's lucky."
"We don't [i]know[/i] that." Ruli bit back unhappily, before looking to the two Amrian women as if he'd forgotten they were there. "Lithilote it is." He stated.
"We think."
"Damn close." Ruli sat back on his heels again, looking far less than enthusiastic. [i]The fucking Raielwens.[/i]

"I sent word recently, trying to see if they have been unharassed by the Kartaians, unlike we were in Ziad." Envy admitted quietly. 
"You did what?" Ruli asked. "Envy, she asked us not to contact her."
The Kartaian merely shrugged. "I assumed such an inquiry would be an extenuating circumstance."

Envy still looked cautious. "We've arrived at a small issue." He began to explain. "Lithilote, like Ziad had once been, and like these caves are now, is warded. Protected by a long standing spell that prevents its location from being discovered by accident. Mortals who wander too close cannot see it, instead only seeing barren hills, so they will leave. Anyone who lingers, if I recall her explanation from decades back, are ... [i]removed[/i] by their scouts. While I am sure your friend, er, cousin, is fine," Envy said with a gently raised hand. "it still leaves us with the difficulty of [i]finding[/i] it. Ruli and I, at best, got a rather vague location." 
He went quiet for a moment. "Take skins full of water, food supplies, weapons, and Zeke. Those are my instructions."
Ruli exhaled noisily, looking displeased by much of this, before he rose. "I'm going to start preparing." He grumbled before stalking out of the chamber.

Outside, he ran into Gavin, who was speaking to, coincidentally, both Ysaryn and Zeke. The former was dressed and prepared for a hunt, her body bathed in her combat leathers, her hair still in a neat plait against her her to keep it from being used against her. Her dual blades were strapped to her side, and her arms were folded, making her reek of attitude. Zeke, in opposition, was dressed in casual clothing, having even skipped his shave and brush since waking. 
"Get dressed." Ruli said in passing, the three heads turned toward him. "You're coming with us."
"Who?" Gavin and Zeke demanded at once, while Ysaryn barked, "I am not standing naked, as far as I am aware."
"Zeke." Ruli answered over his shoulder. "We're going to Aera's."
Zeke straightened, looking perplexed. "I'll be damned." He whispered before turning to find his armour.
"Ah, ah." Ysaryn raised her finger at Gavin, who looked seconds from arguing. "Part of soldier training. Know when you are out of you league. We need a soldier here. And who is Aera?" She asked, waving a hand when he raised his hands in obvious ignorance.