"Aunt Amaya! Aunt Amaya!" Callum yelled, breathlessly running into the center of camp.
Most of the core group was there, and they all looked over at the commotion.
What is it, Callum? the general signed, frowning in concern.
Callum had to pause to catch his breath before answering, "Soren… and Runaan! They're… fighting!"
"What?" Rayla demanded, jumping to her feet.
His aunt immediately grabbed her shield and waved for the prince to lead the way.
Ibis swallowed, having been afraid this would happen.
Next to his foster daughter, Ethari sighed, getting to his feet as well - with far less surprise.
Callum ended up leading them all back to the small copse of trees.
Soren and Runaan were still going - the assassin acrobatically flipping and jumping, approaching from every angle. Despite his fatigue and lesser experience, Soren was holding his own, carefully countering and parrying.
Ibis immediately considered spells he could use to end things without harming the combatants, but was startled when Amaya planted her shield in the ground.
"You panicked for this?" Janai asked, leaning against a nearby tree.
"Hu-huh?" Callum asked.
Even Gren frowned as he interpreted, "They're fine - it's just a spar."
"A spar?" Rayla scoffed, "That looks like more than a spar!"
"Well, that may be true," Janai said, "But they aren't trying to kill each other."
"They're… not?" Callum asked.
Ibis blinked, looking between the fighting and the experienced warriors. While he was an experienced mage, it gave him little insight into physical combat.
Amaya shook her head, and signed, "How did the fight start, Callum?"
"Um," her nephew rubbed the back of his head, " Soren was saying something about how… when he saw Runaan, it was like he was seeing all his failures, and how he didn't like not doing anything? I didn't really get it, but then Runaan appeared out of nowhere and said he did?"
Amaya nodded, "See? I was worried one or both of them would lose their temper and try to kill each other, but this is fine."
"You're right," Ethari sighed in relief, "I may not be a warrior, but I see it now."
"Well I don't," Rayla huffed.
"Warriors do not work out their differences by speaking," Janai said, holding up a hand, "We learn all we need to know from exchanging blows - it was how I knew Amaya was a woman of honor."
Amaya smiled at her, and added, "Runaan is letting Soren work out his frustration, because he realized it wasn't really directed at him. Once they've fought it out, Soren will realize it, too."
Ah, Ibis thought, relaxing, I understand.
The mage sighed, watching the battle sadly. Fighting Runaan wasn't going to make Soren feel better - because Soren was really angry with himself. But the young man wasn't going to be able to move past his knee jerk response to seeing Runaan without fighting.
Soren probably knew that himself, Ibis watched carefully, Or he wouldn't be holding back.
Not that he could tell - but if the two most experienced warriors agreed neither man was trying to kill the other, it meant they were both holding back. At least a little.
It wasn't long before the fight ended - with Soren on the ground, sword knocked away and Runaan pointing both short swords at him.
The Moonshadow assassin caught his breath for a moment - steady breaths in through the nose and out of the mouth - just watching his downed opponent.
Soren panted more heavily, glaring up at the elf. Except, after a moment, the vitriol in his eyes died, and he let his arms collapse beneath him as his back hit the ground.
"You can challenge me again when you don't look half dead," Runaan said, flipping his blades to put them away as he turned, "You might even land a hit."
"Thanks," the Crownguard snorted, throwing an arm over his eyes.
Runaan noticed their audience with mild surprise, and approached his husband, "Were you worried?"
"A bit," Ethari admitted, "Until I heard the full story."
"Well, at least it was a good match," Janai sighed, stretching as she headed back.
Amaya nodded, picking up her shield as she and Gren both headed back as well.
"Guess I overreacted," Callum sighed.
"Well, it's not like anyone but those two would be able to tell," Rayla said, patting him on the shoulder.
Runaan sent a suspicious look their way, but was pulled away by his husband before he could say anything.
As the teens left to catch up with the others, Ibis sighed after all of them before walking over to Soren and sitting down, "Are you injured?"
"No," the young man replied.
Ibis sighed again, and scooted closer to pull away the arm covering the Crownguard's eyes.
Soren offered him a smile - wan, but real - even though he was crying, "You keep finding me like this."
"I don't mind," the mage said, and lifted the human's shoulders just enough to have him rest his head against the elf's thigh instead of the ground.
Soren snorted, but let his hand fall on his stomach, "It didn't matter who won, did it?"
"If you mean to ask if your winning would change the past," Ibis said, carding a hand through the human's hair, "Then no. If it would matter in some other way is up to you."
"I need to get stronger," the young man replied, frowning, "I can't… I have to protect Ezran. I can't let bad things happen anymore."
For a while, Ibis didn't reply. The silence was comfortable, soft - it wrapped around them like a familiar blanket.
"Why do you let me see you like this?" the mage asked, still idly stroking the other man's hair.
"I don't know," Soren shrugged, "I guess… after the first time, it didn't make sense to hide it."
"Well, I'm glad," Ibis said.
The Crownguard snorted, "You're glad to see me cry?"
"I'm glad you aren't crying alone," the mage replied, smiling warmly.
Soren blinked a few times, then sat up, rubbing the back of his neck, "Oh… thanks."
"Anytime," Ibis said, standing and offering the young man a hand up, "Ready to return?"
"Yeah," the human replied, accepting the help up.
When they got back, it was just in time to get some of the last of the food. It seemed the Katolians and Moonshadow elves were attempting to bridge their own gap - the whole group eating together.
Soren barely looked over before deciding to sit on his own.
Ibis sighed, but supposed it was too much to hope that one battle would make his new friend comfortable enough to share a meal. With a wave to the others, he joined Soren instead.
It didn't escape anyone's notice - but it was Runaan who leaned over to his foster daughter to ask, "How long has that been goin' on?"
"What? Rayla looked over, "Ibis and Soren bein' pals? Since after the battle at the Spire."
The assassin hummed, but kept further thoughts to himself.
Seeing his disapproval, Rayla added lowly, "It's weird, right? I don' understand it - feels like they're up ta somethin'."
They're so alike, Ethari thought, close enough to overhear. He leaned in himself to say, "They aren' up ta anythin'."
At least, nothin' neferious like the two of you want ta believe, the artisan added to himself.
"Then what in tha world are ancient elven sleepin' techniques?" Rayla asked through her teeth.
Runaan opened his mouth, then closed it, sighing. He rubbed his forehead, "Ah."
"What?" his foster daughter asked, "Does tha' mean you know?"
Ethari covered his mouth, stopping himself from laughing.
"No," Runaan said shortly - enough to cut off any kind of argument.
Rayla huffed, but was forced to let it be.
As everyone settled in for the night, Ibis decided to sit at the fire a bit longer - he wasn't sure if Soren would appreciate him being so open about offering help. Even if the young man hadn't seemed to notice the mage hadn't even set up his own tent. None of the others seemed to bring it up, either - given the Crownguard's reluctance to let his friends see his pain, Ibis thought it was for the best.
"Can we talk?" Runaan asked, appearing out of nowhere to sit next to the mage.
"Of course," the Skywing elf replied, "Is something troubling you?"
"Wha' are you doing with that human?" the assassin asked.
"Pardon?" Ibis asked, blinking in genuine confusion.
"He's the son of a dark mage," Runaan huffed, "The dark mage that killed Avizandum and stole his son's egg - that corrupted tha Sunforge and attacked the Storm Spire. Among his other atrocities."
The mage sighed, "I understand why you bear a grudge against Viren, but-"
"Even if he is a good person," the assassin interrupted - though he didn't sound entirely convinced himself, "Ya can't trust someone raised by a dark mage. Who knows how his father twisted him up."
I know, the Skywing mage thought, feeling something cold start to settle in his chest, At least, I'm beginning to.
"You should keep yer distance," the assassin went on, "I'm letting you know fer your own sake-"
"Runaan," Ibis said, standing calmly and looking forward, "Who I choose to associate with is none of your business. Whatever paranoid ideas you have, I am under no obligation to share. Good night."
"Ibis-" Runaan said, getting to his own feet.
The mage held up a hand, silencing whatever argument the other elf was going to try next, "Janai said that warriors speak through combat. That she knew Amaya was honorable from fighting with her. Tell me - what did your fight with Soren tell you about him?"
"It…" the assassin sighed, looking at the ground. The human was talented - he'd known that from the first time they'd fought, on the night of King Harrow's assassination. But it'd felt like he was fighting a completely different person.
The Crownguard he fought on that night had been bold, confident, self-assured - young, but serious about taking out his opponent. The Soren from earlier that day was… desperate, second-guessing every action, angry… in the heat of the fight, Runaan had lost his own frustration.
He'd known he was going to win from the first strike - and he'd only felt pity at taking out such an unprepared opponent.
"Good night, Runaan," Ibis said, satisfied with his silence.
"... good night," the Moonshadow elf replied, accepting his loss.