Zeke offered Ysaryn a hand to help her walk, and she nearly bit him, strolling forward with all intentions to lead before Ruli muttered something to her and she reined back, glowering. Zeke led the way for them, heading in the direction that Kire had indicated, his eyes scanning endlessly. Behind him, Kire and Ruli walked, and Narda and Ysaryn brought up the rear. The elf turned her head now and then, using her sharper hearing to listen for anything behind them. Not that there was anything in the desert wastes than thorny shrubs and plantlife. 

The sun bore down on them even in the early hours, the heat from the desert choking them. They made their way toward the foothills, where the promise of shade from the trees called to them. With the exception of Ysaryn's quiet ranting, and Kire's occasional direction, the group was quiet. Zeke picked his way carefully around shrubs, boulders, and fissures, his limp slight, but his gait slow. 
A few hours passed before they finally reached the trees, ducking into the shade. Zeke called for a brief pause, all of them drinking from their skins. Ruli bent to look at Ysaryn's leg, which bled slightly over her boots, but she bit his head off, and he retreated. Zeke watched Kire as she scanned the area, following the invisible magic as it hummed some unknown distance away. 

Another few hours, the terrain thankfully shaded but no less dangerous. Uneven paths, jutting roots, more jagged stones, and small seed pods that bore hard spikes that ripped through the soles of their shoes. Ruli, for once, wished he'd grabbed his boots, but made no mention of it near Kire, who would comment relentlessly on it, no doubt. He picked his way carefully, eyes down, falling behind Kire a few steps.

When they passed through the wards, indicated by the crisp chill and the strong aroma of flowers, Kire warned them, each of them growing more tense, but still silent. They kept going, eyes alert; even Ysaryn had fallen quiet to focus on listening. There was no noise in the woods, no foxes, no birds. Even the wind seemed muted. 

"Stop." Ysaryn hissed after nearly an hour of slow progress. Zeke halted at once, just as a whistle ripped through the air and an arrow of white wood burrowed into the ground about a foot before him. 
Zeke raised his hands at once, freezing. "Ruli, help me out here."
"[i]We mean no harm![/i]" Ruli called, his own arms raised as he stood closer to Kire. Ysaryn lingered behind him, caution written across her dark face. "[i]We're searching for a friend. Maybe have been lost here.[/i]"
Quietly, Ysaryn muttered the translation to Kire and Narda, her voice low. 
Silence answered. Zeke turned to glance at Ruli, who shrugged. "Ask if we can step forward."
"[i]May we continue?[/i]" Ruli called. 
Still, silence. 
Inhaling, Zeke took a step forward, then another, and a second arrow punctured the earth, this time, directly between his boots. He turned to leer at Ruli, who frowned. "They didn't answer!" He insisted.

"[i]You are unwelcome.[/i]" A voice finally answered. Ruli translated for Zeke. "[i]Turn around, and leave, or we will will aim higher.[/i]"
"Tell them we're looking for someone. A man named ..."
"Ed."
"Just tell them, don't answer me."
Ruli sighed. "[i]We're looking for a man named Ed. May have arrived some nine months ago. Speaks a foreign language.[/i]" Ruli turned toward Kire. "What does he look like?" He asked in a whisper. 
"[i]We have no one.[/i]" A different voice answered, somewhere further to the right. Ruli translated for Zeke again, who glanced over his shoulder at Kire.
When she looked sure he was still alive, her expression saying she was not giving up, he squared his shoulders. "Tell them I am a friend of their princess. Ask them to tell Aera that Zekiel is here and wishes to speak with her. We will wait here until further instruction."
Ruli swallowed. "You sure that's the best idea?"
"Just do it, or I'll get the elf the to do it."
The 'elf' looked at Zeke as if she was biting back a million livid remarks, but kept her mouth shut. 

Ruli translated. "[i]We ask that you inform Princess Aera that Lord Zekiel of Ziad is here. They are friends, and he wishes to speak with her. We will wait he-[/i]"
"[i]We will pass along no messages.[/i]"
"[i]-wait here until we receive instruction from her.[/i]"
Another arrow flew, whizzing passed Ruli's shoulder. Ysaryn stepped quickly to the side, nearly bumping Narda. Tense, Zeke knelt, the motion strained from his injuries. Ruli followed suit, his hands still raised, and he glanced behind him to see that the others followed. "Tell them again that we'll wait."
"And get us shot at a-"
"Fucking do it."
"[i]We'll wait.[/i]" Ruli repeated. "[i]Your princess, is a friend.[/i]"
Zeke glanced over his shoulder to Ruli, his gaze dark. [i]Not yours.[/i] His eyes said, and Ruli ignored him. 
Silence met them, and Ysaryn, sitting on her heels, tilted her head back and forth. "I cannot hear anything." She whispered. If they were doing as asked, or getting into position to kill, she had no way of telling.