The group finished lunch and sat back down.
Ezran: Bait, you know you're not supposed to do that. No playing in the water.
Callum: Bait loves the water, but he should be afraid of it. You wanna know why he's named Bait?
Rayla: Not really.
Callum: We'll, I'm going to tell you anyways. It's kind of a sick joke, I guess. Glow toads? They're apparently...delicious.
Rayla: Gross.
Callum: Deep-sea fishermen use them to catch giant fish, stuff like that. That's why he's named "Bait." Get it? That's my stepdad's sense of humor. But yeah, that's why we have to be extra careful about him not getting in the water.
Ezran: Guys, he doesn't know how delicious he is, so shh. And that's how the noodle got its name.
"A glow toad as a pet seems interesting." Ethari said.
"No Ethari, taking care of a Shadowpaw and Moonstrider is difficult enough." Runaan said.
Bait then got off of Ezran's lap and snuggled against Ethari's leg.
"Don't get any ideas." Runaan said.
The scene shifts to Amaya visiting Sarai's shrine
Viren: May I light a candle?
Callum: You doing alright?
Rayla: I'm doing great. I just love boats so much. That's why I'm down here. To be close to the boat.
Callum: Tell you what. I'm going to ask you five questions.
Rayla: Please don't.
Callum: Come on! It'll be a fun distraction, help take your mind off things.
Rayla: Five questions, that's all you get.
Callum: Okay, question one. We always heard all these crazy things about Xadia. Like, it was this place with just...magic everywhere. Is that really what it's like?
Rayla: Yes. Next question.
Callum: It must be so weird that everywhere you look there's magic.
Rayla: It's not weird. In Xadia, magic is pretty much in everything. It's no different from saying, "Everywhere you look, there's nature." It's just part of the vibrance or spirit of things, you know?
Callum: I can't wait to see that. It sounds incredible.
Rayla: Yeah. Yeah, it is.
"Is this the key to getting you into water?" Runaan asked.
"Maybe. I'll also go in if one of you starts drowning, but don't get any ideas." Rayla said.
Callum: See, it's working, right? Don't you feel a little better?
Rayla: Maybe so. Ask your next question.
Callum: Okay, question two. What are your parents like?
Rayla: They're dead.
"Wait. What? We're dead?" Lain asked.
"It's complicated and I don't want to talk about it." Rayla said sadly.
Callum: Oh. Rayla, I didn't mean to...
Rayla: It's fine.
Callum: So, this might now be the best time to bring this up, but are you sure you're not scared of the water?
Rayla: I'm done with questions.
Callum: I know, it's just... the water's about to... Look!
Rayla: Pull the boat over!
Callum: I don't think there's time.
Rayla: Pull it over! I admit it, I hate the water. I'm afraid of it. It makes me sick. All the bad feelings.
Callum: It's too late, hang on! Hold tight!
"I hated water even more after that." Rayla said.
"Hey, you made it through." Sarai said.
Viren: Your sister made him better. Harrow told me he was never as strong or brave as Queen Sarai believed him to be but he tried every day to be stronger and braver so he could live up to what she saw in him.
Amaya: She was compassionate and patient. Unless, of course, you took the last jelly tart.
Viren: I only made that mistake once.
Amaya: A sweet tooth and an iron fist.
Viren: General Amaya, I am sorry for what happened in the throne room. You helped me see the truth.
Amaya: And why was that so hard?
Viren: I was blinded by my abiding love of our kingdom and humanity itself.
Amaya: Guard, fetch a stable boy, quickly. I've encountered a giant pile of bull...droppings.
"Well, that's one way to put it, Amaya." Sarai said.
"It must be fun interpreting General Amaya." Soren said
"It has its perks." Gren said.
Viren: The princes come first. Finding them is absolutely the top priority of the kingdom of Katolis.
Amaya: Good. You see it my way. I'll be departing at sundown with a rescue party.
Viren: Of course. But allow me to ask... what happens to the Breach? You said yourself how precarious the situation is. Without you there commanding the fortress, do you believe, in your heart, that the border will hold?
Amaya: Make your point.
Viren: If the Breach falls, the enemy will surge into Katolis, and I can hardly imagine the death and destruction that will follow.
Amaya: Then what are you suggesting?
"He wants you to leave so he can do it his way." Soren said.
"How bad is Viren's way?" Gren asked.
"Bad." Rayla and Soren said.
Viren: You return to the border, hold it fast. It's where you're needed most. A party of our best will be dispatched immediately to find the princes. And in case you still doubt my intentions, I will task my own children, Soren and Claudia, with leading the rescue expedition.
Amaya: I do doubt your intentions. I will return to the Breach, but your children won't lead the rescue. The mission will be assigned to... Commander Gren.
Gren: That's...that's me. I am Commander Gren.
Callum: You faced your fear. Do you feel better about water now?
Rayla: I have never felt worse about water.
Callum: Hmm. Well, anyway, we're making great time.
Ezran: Hey, guys? Does anyone else see Bait? Bait! Come back here! Do your froggy paddle. You know you're not supposed to get in the water.
Rayla: What a disaster.
Callum: I know, right? My socks are all soggy. A disaster! A soggy disaster!
Rayla: Uh, Callum...
Callum: Hey, Ocean Rune. I've never seen it light up before. Wait why would the Ocean Rune be...Oh, I get it!
"We nearly got eaten by a giant fish?" Callum asked.
"Yep, it wasn't fun." Rayla said.
Rayla: Ah, sweet, solid land, we meet again. Guys, behind you! Bait is in trouble!
Ezran: What?
Rayla: Bait needs help!
Ezran: Bait sneezed kelp?
Callum: No. She says "Bait's knees smell."
Ezran: Well, that's just mean.
Rayla: No! It's down to me, isn't it? Of course it is. Goodbye, sweet, solid land. I barely knew you. Come on, Rayla, do it for the frog. The grumpy frog that hates you. Here goes.
Lain pulled Rayla closer as they watched her try to save Bait from the giant fish.
Callum: I have an idea. Rayla, jump!
Rayla: But you don't know how to--
Callum: Just jump!
Amaya: I've sent word to Corvus that King Harrow has passed.
Standing Battalion Guard: Is Lord Viren aware that Corvus has been tracking the princes?
Amaya: No. Do not trust Viren. It may be a month from now, it may be a year, but he will stab you in the back.
Gren: I'll be careful.
Amaya: I expect to be notified when the princes are found. And safe.
Viren: Of course. I'll send word to the Breach immediately.
Soren: Oh, Gren, bad news. There's been a change of plans.
"You were just warned and he's already backstabbing you. I told you to be careful." Amaya signed.
"He tried his best." Soren said.
Gren: What are you talking about? What is he talking about?
Viren: Oh, I've decided you're off the mission. Soren will lead the rescue expedition.
Gren: What? General Amaya was very specific that I was to lead this.
Viren: Oh, perhaps there was a misunderstanding? Soren, set up a meeting for Commander Gren and I to discusshis concerns. Somewhere quiet. Say, around 9:00?
Gren: Yes, very good. 9:00 suits my schedule.
Viren: Very good.
Ezran: Rayla, you saved Bait! Without you, he would have been...fish food.
Callum: That was brave, Rayla.
Rayla: No, I already told you, I'm afraid of water.
Callum: I know. That's why doing what you did was so heroic.
Rayla: Oh, thanks.
Ezran: Why wouldn't you just tell us about your fear before? It's okay to be afraid of things.
Rayla: I guess I was afraid of being afraid.
Callum: Well, that's kind of circular. But, hey, worth noting: you're not afraid of being afraid of being afraid.
"That is very circular." Ethari said.
"Yeah, it didn't make much sense. I think he was just trying to cheer me up though." Rayla said.
Rayla: That's deep. But stupid. The thing is, Moonshadow elves aren't supposed to show fear. Ever.
Ezran: That's sad.
"Why would you want to try to hide that you're afraid of something? If you do that, you'll never try anything new." Sarai asked.
"Moonshadow elves typically have one craft or trade. Many of which are warrior trades. So, we are taught to not show our enemies any fear. It's how our society works." Tiadrin explained.
Rayla: It's our way. My parents aren't really dead, but I wish they were. They're cowards.
Callum: What do you mean?
Rayla: My parents were part of an elite force, the Dragon Guard, eight elven warriors chosen to protect the egg of the Dragon Prince. Storm dragons only lay an egg every thousand years. So that egg is so rare and precious. But when the humans came and killed the Dragon King, the Dragon Guard, my parents, failed in their duty. They ran away. I'm so ashamed.
"What? We would never run away! Why would people think that?" Tiadrin said angrily.
"Some of the Dragon Guard was spotted near the border and people just assumed that all the Dragon Guard had fled." Rayla said softly.
Rayla snuggled closer to her parents and listened to her mother's heartbeat. It would be difficult not telling them the truth.
"Did they do any kind of investigation or anything?" Runaan said.
"No." Rayla said.
"They didn't even try to see what happened?" Runaan said.
"Yep. No investigation. They didn't even try to figure out what happened." Rayla said.
Callum: Rayla, I'm so sorry for what humans did.
Rayla: So, you see, that's why I have to make things right. When I first came here, I was on a quest for revenge. But the moment I saw that egg, everything changed. Now, this is a journey of redemption.
Callum: We're in this together.
Rayla: Oh, no. Our boat seems to be drifting away. It slipped just out of my reach. What will we do now?
Callum: Goodbye, boat.
Rayla: Thank you.
Callum: So, what's the deal with your wrist ribbon thing? Does it mean something?
Rayla: Oh, uh...Nah. It's just decorative.
Callum: Decorative?
Rayla: Yeah. Moonshadow elf thing, I guess.
Callum: Mmm. Okay
" Your binding is still getting tighter. You'll lose your hand Rayla."
"I told you that I'll be fine."
Viren: Five past 9:00. I apologize for my tardiness.
Gren: It was only five minutes.
Viren: So, what are your concerns?
Gren: Well... You took me off the mission.
Viren: Hmm, noted. Go on.
Gren: And you threw me in this dungeon.
"Gren. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you." Amaya signed.
"He was fine in the end." Rayla said.
Viren: Ah, I see. Anything else?
Gren: Uh, no. But... No. I guess those are the main two.
Viren: Thank you. Your feedback is a gift.
Claudia: Father, it's about our other prisoner... He's still refusing to eat.
Viren: Then let him be hungry.
"Runaan?" Ethari said
Ethari pulls Runaan close to his chest.
"Rayla? If you won't tell me anything else tell me this. Will Runaan be alright?" Ethari asked.
Rayla shook her head. " He's not dead. Just trapped somewhere I can't rescue him." She said.