Narda smirked when the scared little man told them that this Lyta wouldn’t leave the house. It also told her that there was definitely something suspicious about Lyta’s family. Any girl who wouldn’t follow their parents and would strike them must have some great reason, and the way this ball of grease and fear was acting, Narda had a good feeling he was a big chunk of that reason. “Come now, enough dallying, I am aging a decade as we speak,” the giantess growled, nodding to Ysaryn and half-dragging the sleepy Daryll with her through the door, leaving the fidgety mayor behind.

“May I talk to her?” Daryll asked. Oddly enough, the moment they were inside, the effects of the drowsiness had lessened. Was that what the mayor meant when he said they had some proof Lyta was behind this? “Where is her room?”

--

Kire felt the cold of the shadows as Ruli grabbed her and dragged them both out of it. Immediately she recognized their starting point. She was angry—angry that she had let this happen, that she couldn’t fight until she knew for certain what, or who, she was fighting—but her anger faltered when she saw the despair in Ruli. As hard as it was, she had to swallow her anger and think clearly. How would they get Envy back? She looked down at her sword, feeling impotent. 

Behind them, she could sense the others that she had portalled out of the forest approach, all of them wary. She crouched beside Ruli, hand on his shoulder. “I sent Gavin back to the town to warn Myka and get help. We’ll get him back. Is there a way to trace him with magic?” 
The villagers who approached had a different look on their face, like they were waking from a dream. A few saw her and recognized her face. “Your Grace?” They looked at the burned sleeve, her singed hair, the soot on her skin. They bowed, then knelt. “Forgive us. But we were simply trying to protect Her.”
“Her?”
One of them gestured. “The forest. Life giver. The one who sings. We didn’t know it was you, we were listening to her song.”
“Do you know where our companion is?”
They looked at one another. Then one stepped forward. “We don’t, but She might. And she wishes that none of this violence would happen. Will you go listen to her? There will be no fire, if you lay down your arms.” He raised his hands, palms-up, towards her. “Please.” 

Kire pursed her lips. Then, with a huff, she sheathed her sword and gave it to Ruli, her eyes still on the villagers. “I will talk to her. I can’t leave without my friend. Take me to her.”
“All your arms, Your Grace.”
“What? But I—” She stopped, then leered at them. “No.”
The people looked at each other, then talked in hushed tones. “We will remain behind. Your friend can keep watch over us. If we move or go after you, your friend and your army can do what they will with us.”
Kire pursed her lips. “Myka and reinforcements should be here soon. If I don’t come back in half an hour…” She stopped there, knowing Ruli would make sure all hell broke loose upon them if they reneged on their promise and this goddess inflicted more harm upon them. She still hesitated as she readied to twist the Ring off her finger, but after one more deep breath she removed it, placing it in Ruli’s hands. “I’ll bring him back.”
She turned to the others. “Take me to her,” she repeated.