Aera's gaze fell to the ring, then to Zeke. Her expression was still blank, but he seemed to read the question in her mind. [i]I thought she never took it off?[/i]
Standing away from the bars, and the bracelets, Ruli tried to help. "Her magic is tied to the ring. Without it, she can't use it."
"Opposite of the bracelet." Zeke commented, and heads nodded in response. 
"You are volunteering to remain here." Aera pointed out to Narda, who seemed to have no qualms with it. "With him." She added without gesturing to Ruli. 
He growled at her, which Aera still ignored. "You could leave it with me." Ruli offered angrily to Kire and Narda. He kept his eyes on the elf, however. "We came all this way. You both should see him."
Aera waited as Narda and Kire exchanged glances, debating in whatever language they were raised in. It would be nice for Ed to hear his own language, she thought privately. Still, she waited patiently, eager to see how well they trusted Rulitus. 

When it was decided, and Narda and Kire followed, Aera led them out of the underground, leaving Ruli behind to seeth and pace inside the cell. Free of it, Zeke noticed Kire moved easier, her eyes more clear, ever guarded by the giantess behind her. Aera was silent as they strolled into the moonlit forest, to the glowing marble court that breathed warmth. Aera's hair became the midnight sky once more as she crossed the gravel paths and up a set of stairs, then up another set that wound inside the mountain itself so that they were on the second tier. 
The Waning Room was a crescent shaped chamber on the western side of the mountain, tucked inside the stone and embelished with the warm marble. There was a round table in the center, its wood face engaved with vines and flowers, and embellished with the many faces of the moon in pearl. 

Aera was not surprised to see him standing beside the table rather than sitting, the anxiety visible in his posture as he turned toward them. Aera paused a distance away, Zeke beside her, allowing the family to approach one another and enjoy a moment in private.