Of course he wasn't going to listen. Ruli could hear the [i]Wenches[/i] reposition themselves to cover him, but he ignored Myka as she hissed at him. Kire needed time to decimate the Gemini army and to break through their illusions. Let Gael believe he was his enemy empress a little longer to buy her that time. 
He did not expect Gael to see through it right away. Even from the distance, with Ruli's blond hair and blue eyes, swathed in Wyvern armour, he should have at least fooled the Gemini royal. Let alone that he had Kire's sword. But Gael knew far too soon, and Ruli felt uneasy with the way Gael looked at him. 

With the gimmick over, Ruli lifted his helmet, dropping it on the ground. Gael's words made him regret this decision more, but whatever the bastard had in mind, Ruli would endure it. He'd spent his life tortured. Kire would break through soon, and she and the rest of her company would sever this man's head. [i]Just for a little bit.[/i] Ruli breathed, turning toward Narda. [i]They'll come, soon.[/i] He offered her Kire's sword, and took a cautious, unarmed step through the gate.

Just as the explosion hit. Ruli raised his arms, tensing, his knees bent slightly as the earth shook violently. He didn't dare turn around, putting his back toward the Gemini, and hoped to any God who looked over this world that his face didn't give away the answer to Gael's assumption. He shouldn't have left Gavin. Ruli felt more regret washing over him. He shouldn't have brought Gavin here. Not to a war filled with the worst of Gavin's kind. Not here. He shouldn't have brought him. He shouldn't have left him. 
His laugh chilled Ruli to the core. It was so similar to Akuma's. So cold. So empty. 

Trying not to shiver, Ruli remained where he was, just as Gael ordered, as the captives were released. He glanced over them both, familiar with the looks on their faces, the discomfort and fear scrubbed into their posture. Forcing himself to look away, Ruli's eyes fell on Gael again. His heart pounded, his body tense.
And his attention in the wrong place. 

Ruli did not expect the hostages to pounce on him. A foolish mistake, considering the dolls, and the way Ysaryn's people had assaulted her in the mines. Why not make Kire's own people attack her? Nothing changed just because he was in her place instead. Unprepared, Ruli toppled, tripping over the helmet as he pushed and writhed beneath the noble pair. He didn't want to hurt them, but as he felt something lash at his cheek, he snarled and thrust his arm out to shove the woman off just as Narda yanked her away. 

He couldn't understand the exchange between Narda and the woman. Ruli groaned and twisted, getting to his knees. His fingers brushed over his cheek, and when he glanced at his hand, he saw blood. But the smell was what caught his attention. Raising his hand again, he sniffed, regret washing over him entirely like a blanket of ice. 
[i]He knew this poison.[/i]
Ruli swallowed, raising his eyes to look at Gael in question. [i]Why was it here? How did they get it?[/i] His brow furrowed as the headache set in first, the familiar weight in the nape of his neck, like his head was too heavy to lift. He inhaled, and it felt like ground glass filled his esophagus and lungs. Hunching over, Ruli bent over his knees, rubbing his forehead. Why was is here? Why did Gael have this? This couldn't have been a coincidence. He didn't want this. He wanted to go home. To the tunnels. To Envy. [i]I want to go home.[/i]

The armour made it more uncomfortable. Harder to breathe. Ruli shifted, pulling at the clasps and yanking the plate off his chest, his arms, hissing in discomfort as the poison took effect.

~

"What?" Ysaryn snapped at Kire when she asked about being taken to the hill. Gavin beat her to the point she would make, and Ysaryn only stuck out her arm in agreement with the young man. "You gave word!" She added, frowning at Kire. 
But even the elf knew Kire had a point. Gavin wasn't supposed to leave Ruli's side. Ysaryn glared at Gavin, then, as if blaming him for causing this collapse in their plans. "Fine." "She caved. "But if you die I steal your crown."

It took her a few minutes to get them where Kire wanted to go, the elf Walking a few times, each closer to where Kire wanted, to gett a better look, before she returned and brought the two along. Gavin looked to her, speaking as if he expected her help with the runes. "I carry only." She answered. "I ruin runes." Ysaryn shook her head, insisting that allowing her to help was a poor idea. 
When someone called toward them, Ysaryn turned her head, frowning as she heard the update. 

"[i]That bloody fucking fool.[/i]" Ysaryn swore, nostrils flaring as she turned toward the palace. At the order to be ready to fight, she withdrew her blades again, more than ready to do so. "Work fast, Gem-en-ai." Ysaryn spat toward Gavin.