A/N 

Hey all! Sorry, so, so, so sorry that my updates appeared to have completely died for the past few months, but I'm here now and I have a new chapter for you all! After that cliffhanger, geez. Even Clane would have burned me alive for the long wait. 

But alas, we're all back, and the rebels have published the next part of the story. So enjoy! 

 . . .

 "He's going to be fine, Raila." It was Kyra who said it as I watched Kanin and Nikolei lower my best friend's limp body onto the metal table. We had managed to find a small supply room. I watched Clane search the floor as he found a discarded candle already burnt to the stump and lit it with a finger, giving the enclosed room a sense of morbidness.

"You don't know that. He's--he could--"

"I do know that. Your partner may be humorous at most times, but he's tough. Just like you."

"Kyra...if he dies, I can't--" I leaned heavily back against the wall.

"Don't think like that. Don't."

I sensed my mother and Robin watching silently from the other side of the room, peering down at Kalinier as Kanin inspected the wound and snapped at Xylin to find some medical supplies. Xylin sprinted away down the nearest hall, Clane on his heels as he shouted at Xylin to wait for the light-bearer to catch up.

Kyra continued to watch me with that predator's stare of hers as I stalked over to Kanin, subconsciously squeezing Kalinier's hand as I joined his side.

My best friend groaned in his pain-filled delirium: "You're going to be fine, Kal. Just hang on and fight."

"...Raila..." Green eyes flitted open for a second then closed. Too much blood was flowing out, soaking through the azure-blue cloak that Kanin was pressing against his stomach. The cloak that Mother had managed to grab from a fallen soldier before we had burned the bodies

"Fight, Kal. If you die on me now, you'll never get to see me wear that matching diamond necklace and bracelet you stole for me for my twentieth birthday." I smiled, tears sliding down my face as I recalled that heist that seemed so long ago. The one where I had run into Xylin for the first time at the docks. Three moons,they were still in the wreckage of the house, since Clane's flames weren't hot enough to melt them.

Another groan: "...good...motivation. You look stunning...in anything." Pain laced every syllable. His eyes drifted closed again.

"Kal?" I shook his shoulder lightly, "Kal?"

Kanin stopped me when I reached forward to shake both shoulders. "He's resting, Raila. Let him." I highly doubted he was resting. I wanted to go after Menius now. I needed to do something now with my anger.

Clane and Xylin returned then, sprinting into the room in sync. It was Clane who tossed Kanin the bag as I took up Kanin's position and pressed the cloak to Kalinier's stomach, Kanin rummaging through the materials.

"You don't have to watch this part," whispered Kanin, "I can stitch up the wound and put some bandages and gauze on. But without a proper healer, there's little I can do. He'll have to heal the hard way."

"Thank you. Thank you." I clasped his forearm briefly before wandering over, surprising even myself, to Clane.

"Raila," he said lightly by way of greeting.

"Clane." It came out a bit sharply. The anger was rising up now, hot and molten and ready to be wielded.

His fiery eyes softened infinitely. "You don't have to act tough right now. I understand."

"...Have you ever lost someone?"

"Not really. I never knew my mother, so that doesn't count. But, I've seen the way people are when they lose someone close. I never want to experience that." Had I been in a better mood, I would have teased him about caring for his father after all, but everything else was shut-out save for Kalinier unconscious and suffering while Menius and his soldiers were alive and breathing.

"I don't either," I whispered softly.

Silence.

"I like Kronixian. He's one of the few people I consider friends," I stared at him partly shocked.

"You're not so bad yourself, Clane."

"No, I'm not, once you get to know me--"

"You're actually a cute, fluffy teddy bear on the inside?"

SMACK.

"Bastard." A distant grin was his response. It would appear that we both needed to let out our anger. "Clane," I whispered angrily, "I need to ask you something serious."

His gaze turned back to their usual, fiery defiance. "Anything." Good.

"Do you feel--that they knew where we were?"

"Yes. And I want to go after those bastards myself, but I can't leave the others here."

To hell with that, they could defend themselves. Kalinier's blood was still on my hands...Kal, please live. Please.

"They can defend themselves," I was already walking away towards the exit, fingers skimming the hilts of my short swords.

I needed fresh air; I needed to clean my hands of my best friend's blood; I needed to hunt down Menius and Renithyn and Quintus Sandrien and kill them all for making my friends and family suffer. How dare they even lay a finger on them in the first place!

"Raila wait!" It was Kyra who shouted it as I put my hand on the door handle. The others whipped their gazes to me. "Wait, think this through."

"I'm just going to do reconnaissance for soldiers in the area," I snarled, "Since Kalinier isn't going to be fighting anytime soon, I mind as well do something." My wings started forming behind me, I jerked them back into myself. Not now, use metal to kill them.

Kanin must have known what I truly desired, "Clane, go with her."

"I don't need--"

"It's dangerous here at night. Clane is coming with you on reconnaissance whether you like it or not."

"Fine. Don't get in my way."

"Likewise," Clane said roughly. One look at him, and I knew we both had the same idea.

As the door closed behind us and I peered across town, I let my returned powers flow through the streets, weaving through alleys and latching onto Renithyn's soldiers.

Clane gave me a terrifying grin as I told him where the first patrol was located. Renithyn, uncle, whatever you are to me--I'm coming for you. And I'll send my message by killing your soldiers and your prized commander first.