Ruli tucked his hands into his pockets, watching the woman before the gate with acute interest. For a moment, he tore his attention away to offer it to Myka, who returned his sword. "I know." He answered. "Thank you."
Fastening the weapon to his belt again, his pale gaze returned to Kire as she waited, hesitating. [i]She should be nervous.[/i] He thought to himself. It would be far more frightening if she wasn't afraid. He watched her test his magic, mildly amused to see her wiggle in place, her feet glued to the soil beneath, her body erect as if there were a rod planted behind her. Ruli inhaled, studying her, waiting for her to make her move. 

The area filled with light quickly, and eyes squinted to peer at it as best they could, staring into the blinding void of vicious magic. Ruli tightened his hands into fists inside his pockets, clenching his jaw as he watched her struggle. Every instinct told him to rush forward and help, but with the magic rearing in such a way, his rushing in would do nothing but put them both in danger. Breathing slowly, he kept his eyes on her, waiting for any sort of sign that she wanted out.
The others shouted at her, and she demanded that they remain back. Ruli obeyed, meeting her gaze when she looked to him. He could see the hesitation in her eyes, but the determination to see it through overpowered her and she looked back around. [i]Breathe.[/i] He thought desperately. 

It seemed like hours. Ruli counted his breathes, watching Kire as she became this supernatural glow in the middle of the chaos, and little by little the gate shrunk. And then the wards began competing with one another, the earth cracking beneath them. Ruli bent his knees and turned his gaze away from Kire at last, meeting the leer of one of the Gemini mages. The look on his face told Ruli that they realized now he was no vagabond fool, and they were annoyed. 

The Amrians launched into position, moving onto the Gemini to make them tear down their wards, only the Gemini made no attempts to listen. Ysaryn, blade drawn, stood beside the others, her teeth bared as she shouted obscenities in elvish at the Gemini nearest, his wide eyes on her sharp canines. 
Again, Kire took it upon herself to rectify the situation, ordering her men to stand down; Ed had to all but pull Ysaryn back, the elf still snarling at the Gemini. Portals opened around them, the terrified screams lifting into the air as the Gemini were sucked through, save for the one Kire decided to take hostage. 

[i]Holy Gods.[/i] Ruli blinked as he watched her. So many thoughts rushing through his head at once. She was brave, clever, selfless, and dangerous. So much more, but the danger of her held his attention. 

She demanded to know how to break the Gemini wards on threat of death to the poor screeching man in her arms, and the moment the words left his mouth Ruli took off. "Ysaryn, with me." He shouted, tearing through the warded area to. Ysaryn tore through behind him, and he passed along quick information in elvish, what to look for, what to do, relying on her better sight. 
Sure enough, she pointed and launched herself, and Ruli followed. One attribute down, they moved to the rest, tearing the ward down bit by bit until he felt the air lift, freed, and his own dominated the area. 

Just like that, it was over. 

Ruli turned toward the clearing in which Kire stood, remaining still what Ysaryn jogged forward. Ed ran to his cousin, offering her water and, once he could stand to touch her over-heated body, her cloak. Ysaryn let out a low laugh of relief, bending to brace her hands on her knees. "[i]She's crazy.[/i]" She laughed, watching Kire. 

With Ruli remaining back and out of the way, Ysaryn strolled forward to stand beside Myka, smiling down at the limp mage. "He smells like he relieved himself." She pointed out, craning her neck to look for a dark spot on is trousers. "Is this what Gem-en-ai is? All shaky-body?" The elf nudged his limp leg with her boot. "[i]Elves in my tribe have more backbone before they're old enough to hold a blade.[/i]"
"[i]Its a good thing he has little backbone, Ysaryn.[/i]" Ruli pointed out from where he stood. "[i]Look at the damage their wards did. If he hadn't caved, the earth would have.[/i]"
Ysaryn straightened to look around, her gleeful expression sobering. "[i]Fine.[/i]" She conceded, turning back toward Kire and Ed. "Back to tents? Food in her belly will help her face to normal colour. Sit well." She said, patting her own belly.