Elva listened to Ruli’s answer, already guessing even before he’d finished his explanation that he had no idea what happened. Still, it offered some insight. “We were afraid of that,” she said, clicking her tongue as she shook her head. “We’ve been practicing that new power of hers, and slowly she’d been doing well, but—it needs concentration, and we agreed she would only use it if—if the situation was dire. So something [i]dire[/i] had happened.” The soot on her cousin’s face and armor was indication enough. Behind them, the healers were finishing dressing the arm and cleaning the rest of Kire, while others fetched a new shirt for her to wear. 

“I’m—thank you for the offer, though I admit I’m torn. From what you had said, that would mean returning to the spot in the middle of an active battlefield,” she murmured. “Yes, Ed’s there, and so is Narda. But it might not be easy to—”

The healers cried out as Kire gasped, then struggled against them, trying to get up, knocking back some of their tools. Her eyes were wild, uncomprehending, and she grabbed one of the healers. “[i]Let me go, let me get back, w-where am I—[/i]”
“Kire!” Elva raised her voice as she bent over Kire’s head, cradling her face to hold her still.
“Narda, Narda’s not—let me go!” Kire brought her fists down on the bed; Elva heard a crack, and the bed shook and sunk. 
“Sedative,” Elva said, still facing Kire, and the healer nearest to her fetched it. “I hate it, but we might need to bind her,” she said, looking up at Ruli. “Could you help? I don’t want to remove the Ring, but if she keeps this up she might destroy the bed. The moment we hold her still, take off the Ring. No telling how effective the sedative would be while she’s wearing it in this state.” Kire had gone still but still addled, her eyes looking like a caged animal, another struggle bubbling up inside her.