Ed’s lips parted, his brows raised, as Zeke described her. Everything about it screamed Kire, except…[i]Scar?[/i] Kire had an enemy she had been chasing, who had allied himself to the Gemini and learned taboo arts from them. From what Kire would tell him, the reports about him, he had been working on creating dolls out of dead flesh. Likenesses that were empty and soulless, dark, twisted forms that heeded only the commands of their maker. Ed swallowed. If this was a doll, though, the elves would have been able to sense something was wrong. And this man didn’t seem to be under anybody’s thrall. Most importantly, the [i]Ring[/i] was with her. He looked at Aera, who had a grin on her face, and he dared himself to let in hope and look forward to the meeting. “Thank you. I’ll see you there.” He gave Zeke one more look, appraising him, before turning away to prepare. 

Narda helped Kire up to her feet when Aera and Zeke returned. When Zeke grinned and spoke to Kire, the Wyvern gasped. “Ed…” With as much feeble strength as she could, Kire’s hand clenched on Narda’s arm. Her eyes, however, went to the bracelets. She was vaguely aware of Ruli snarling at Aera in reaction to them. Narda raised her hand.
“My friend here has an alternative.”
“My Ring,” Kire said, and Narda opened her hand to reveal it sitting on her palm. “My magic. Need my mind whole for the meeting.” She looked up at Narda, her eyes asking if the giantess was sure about staying behind in the cell. When the giantess smiled and nodded, Kire turned back to Aera. “Ring stays with my friend here.”