"Here. I think you need it more than I do." Rayner said gruffly, almost thrusting the drink into her hand.

His words sounded harsh and critical but the meaning behind them was anything but. 

Wasting no time she chugged the cool drink as quickly as she could, the sour taste of the red fruit helping cure her dehydration immediately. It was her favourite drink on a hot day and Rayner's knew the familiar taste of home would help her feel a lot better. 

"Are these...our redderberries?" Amira asked incredulously, remembering the sweet aftertaste created by her own hands. 

Normally redderbies were known for being a sour red fruit with an end note of bitterness but thanks to many trials and errors with Sybil's Sunspell they had managed to create a plant food that mixed best with the berries and create the sweet craving most elves had never tried before. She had sold it one year to fellow Outcropper growers but it didn't count towards their monthly quota. Only produce did.

Rayner however, simply raised an eyebrow like she had just asked him the stupidest question in the world.

Saying nothing, he chose a spot on a plush armchair only a few metres away from the bright cyan couch she was resting on. He must've put her there when she collapsed but honestly there were no complaints. It was cool and comfy and she had no intention of moving anytime soon.

"After we got our crop ruined Sybil put down some Quick Seeds. Somehow we thought they changed into Monthly Grow but I know the taste and-"

"I picked them. I knew Dewdrop would return soon enough. Greedy eejit." Rayner said absentmindedly, sitting down beside her.

Amira choked on her drink mid gulp coughing violently. Rayner gave her a tweak of a smile before returning to his frosty nature and continued mixing the drink. He had gotten permission to use the furthest waiting room from the sunlight and it was there they sat until the sun lessened in strength.

"How do you...when did you…" she began, unable to process.

Whether it was the sunstroke or the pain from the welts covering her body she didn't know how to respond but Rayner rolled his eyes regardless. His unfamiliar greyish white cloak rested haphazardly against his discarded gold and black Nightspell robes, neither of which seemed to match with his chosen colour choice of brown casual winter clothes. 

Rayner paid no mind to them, far more concerned with the angry blisters on her shoulders and neck smothered with Shadeleaf paste to soothe the sunburn. Finally, he answered exasperated by the thought of such a notion.

"Oh Hell's teeth Amira, I've known about that thieving bugger ever since you both bulldozed through my garden when you were twenty. Bloody rabbit ate all my dandi-lillies."

"Jackalope. He's a jackalope." She corrected, making sure he knew Dewdrop was no common rabbit.

"He's a jackanape if you ask me. Bloody nuisance." 

Amira huffed, downing her drink and slamming it on the table.

"He is not! He's adorable!"

Rayner's bemused expression was more than enough to make Amira laugh and soon they were both laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. Arguing over Dewdrop. Who'd have thought? The two Nightspell's chuckled, passing their empty glasses over towards the pitcher and pouring another drink before settling back into their chairs.

"So..you gonna tell me why you were attempting to bench lift a Sunspell elf up the Sunspire during sunrise? Rayner asked, attempting to inquire about the burns she had gotten.

Amira paled, her grey skin turning silver for a moment, unsure of where to start. Taking a few sips of her drink she allowed her thoughts to settle, half considering to embellish the tale like Sybil did just to avoid his disappointment. No, Rayner would know she was lying. No matter how much it hurt to confess she needed to tell him.

"Niasi...she tried to kill Sybil and I with a Gathering rune late last night."

Rayner's reaction was delayed, continuing to prolong the silence until he set his glass down. Head lowered, he wrung a hand through his hair and slammed a fist on the table. Amira could see the stress lines on his face turning into a look of pure anger but she didn't comfort him. She knew from her own experiences that he needed to process that on his own.

"I can't believe she..."

Amira could see the regret and shame in his eyes. He had done a lot for her since the accident and when her father passed away from a sudden Feversun outbreak he distanced himself from the family entirely. Her mother blamed him in some way since he issued the very runes Amira used in her final exam. She was there as a Peacekeeper when it all went wrong. 

Amira's arm stung, still red raw from the Gathering rune. She hated thinking about it but what happened afterwards was worse. Her stepdad moved in and her mother sent her to live with Niasi for recovery purposes in Waterdown since they had better facilities. Amira never got to experience what that was like before her aunt got her way.

"I've known for a while she isn't the same woman I married anymore. The Niasi I loved had intelligence and ambition but not like this. She loves Neridia and she loves you but...she's gone too far." 

Rayner looked as if he had aged another two moons once he sat up from the table.

"You know she cares for Neridia more. She stole the rune from me and Ignited it even though she knew the consequences. I have no idea why other than destroying the Outcrop district." Amira explained, trying to get some kind of information out of him.

Who knows why she does anything anymore…" 

Amira winced at his depressed tone, remembering how Niasi liked to torment people closest to her. It seemed she had neglected her uncle for too long and he had fallen into the same trap she did in Floodbound. It was time to try the one thing that used to unite them more than anything: The Combat Mage Corps.

"That isn't true and you know it. She kept me locked up in Waterdown for weeks just because the High Lawmaker wouldn't dare to tarnish her perfect image. She has her reasons, you just can't see them right now."

"I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose…"

"Why else did she send me away and out of sight of everyone? I was miserable after I got 'honourably' discharged from the Combat Mages and you did nothing!"

"I tried to help you...but Niasi insisted you needed to be alone."

Amira knew her aunt's gaslight tactics quicker than Rayner did. Standing up she wanted him to look at her and fight back at her at least a little to know he was still there. The burns, the fatigue and the lack of balance didn't matter if her uncle, the only one who knew and still cared continued to do so for the sake of her home. She needed him and he needed her.

"That was the last thing I needed and you know it. You just couldn't face the fact your prize pupil, your own family was a cripple! Sybil was right about you from the start, you are a coward."

Rayner's eye twitched like a switch going off in his head. The calm green of his runes blared a bright orange as the High Nightcaster's sunken eyes blinked in realisation and turned into a vicious scowl in a matter of seconds. No matter how manipulative the High Lawmaker was nothing could compare to the angry rant of her uncle being called a coward.

"No, I am not! Who do you think sent Claud and Malik your way? I did. Who do you think stayed outside Bridge's Keep to protect you from Garrett? I did."

Amira stared at him, eyebrows raised as he admitted to doing all the things that had never added up in her head. She couldn't help but smile, grateful that the High Nightcaster actually did his job and didn't try to purposely sabotage them like Sybil presumed. 

"Who escorted Sybil to the Gavelhouse instead of a group of Peacekeepers ready to ambush her? I did. Who extended the quota for the Outcrop district so you at least got a month instead of only two damn weeks! I'm not a coward, Amira. I just know when to pick my battles."

Rayner's anger fizzled out all at once, his hands over his mouth in shock but not before his niece hugged him tight. Amira could feel his rigid anger slacken into shock and eventually relief while she continued to hug him even with her injuries.

"I never had any doubt. I know you can't fight her, you love her too much. Let me fight the battles you can't, OK?"

He nodded, acutely aware of the Crestmoon healers knocking at the door and broke away quickly, ruffling her hair just to irritate her. The door creaked open and Rayner gave his signature scowl before slackening and breaking into a devilish grin before reassuring Amira.

"As you can see, I can't tell you everything here. But I know where she'll be next."