Once bathed and dressed, Leyla emerged to find Raphael waiting for her just outside the room. The thin green shirt flowed smoothly over the muscles of his broad chest, while the trousers sat snugly around his hips. It was as if his body was built for the Aqua clothing and the servants that fluttered their eyelashes at him, seemed to agree.

As for Leyla... she couldn't have felt more awkward in the clothing if she tried. She had worn a uniform for most of her life and had barely gotten used to fighting in Land of Light dresses, but the pale green shirt she wore now hung to just under her breasts leaving her feeling completely exposed. How was anyone meant to raise their hands in this get up, much less swing a sword? Of course no one was meant to do any of that, she had to remind herself. Aqua-People did not fight, they had guards and Pond Protectors to do that for them.

Noticing her arrival, Raphael opened his mouth to speak, then shut it just as quickly. His eyes travelled over the low collar of her shirt, her bare midriff and halted where the material of her wispy skirt parted high on her thighs.

"No." His eyes glittering dangerously, he took four quick steps forward, took off his shirt and pulled it over Leyla's head.

"Wh-what are you doing?" She frowned, having forcibly pulled her arms through the fabric. Raphael ignored her, gathered the bottom of the green material in his hands and tied it into a knot at her hips. Stepping back, he surveyed his handy work, then nodded.

"Better."

"Have you lost your mind?" Leyla hissed, looking around to see the servants whispering furiously behind cupped hands. Even the Protectors were staring with open curiosity!

"I would only let my fiancé walk around in that excuse for clothing if I had actually lost my mind." Raphael now wore a smug look as he crossed his arms over his bare chest. Though he was not as large as a warrior, he had the lean muscles of a fighter. Leyla remembered the strange technique he had used back in the Warrior dungeon and wondered at the Prorex's actual combat ability.

"La-La?" Raphael's amused voice drew her out of her thoughts with a start. She blinked and realised to her utter mortification that she had been staring at his chest. Her fingers curling into fists she turned to the closest servants and asked for another shirt. The girls rushed off, giggling all the while.

"I didn't realise you could blush," Raphael grinned.

Leyla straightened her back and raised a single brow. "And I didn't realise your memory was so flawed. I'm your fake fiancé, Prorex. You don't need to be concerned with what I wear." In truth, she felt more comfortable now that not quite so much of her body was exposed, but there was no way in Gaia she would admit it, not when Raphael was enjoying her embarrassment.

Raphael took a step towards her, ran his fingers along the long silver chain around her neck and pulled the ruby ring out from under her shirts. "As long as you're wearing this, everything you do concerns me. Surely, you know that by now?"

A servant rushed forward with a new shirt at that moment, drawing Raphael's attention. Leyla released the breath she hadn't noticed she was holding and told herself to pull it together. By Tevvuk's beard, what was wrong with her? Was it having almost drowned that had her nerves so on edge? But that was no excuse! She was a Warrior. An officer! Being distracted was courting death.

"La-La!?" A loud voice rang out, as a smiling man in golden Aqua clothing rushed towards them, a troupe of servants on his tail. Deri? Jara's brother looked exactly as he had when she saw him last; wild black hair, wide grin and his family's hereditary steel grey eyes. "It really is you!" He opened his arms wide as he reached her side, then pulled back and thumped his chest in military greeting. "No touching. You see, I remember!"

Leyla returned the gesture, a warm feeling in her breast. Deri spoke Asch with that special musical quality that only the desert people used; testament to the many years he spent trading for furs with the Muk tribes. He had a distinct voice, one that she had heard often, and one that she had never expected to hear again. "It is a pleasure to see you, Mahsap. Is this your Navrek Yaras?"

Deri raised his hands to indicated their surroundings, his gold wristbands catching the light, "Yes, do you like it? Of course you do, what's not to like?" Then his jovial expression turned serious. "But, where did you disappear to, La-La? It's been three years..."

Clearing her throat, Leyla stepped back and held her hand out towards Raphael. The Prorex had long since put on the new shirt and was observing them silently. "This is my...friend, Raphael. He is from my tribe and does not speak Asch."

"Ah, the mysterious tribe we are not meant to ask about and can never find..." The men eyed each-other curiously, then Deri grabbed his elbows with opposite hands and tipped his head in a formal bow, "A friend of La-la's is a friend of mine. Welcome to my home."

"This is Jara's brother, Deri." Leyla told Raphael. "He is welcoming you to his home."

The Prorex brought his hands to opposite wrists and raised them to eye-level with head bent. It was the formal acceptance of welcome. Yet another thing Mikhail must have described in his notebooks. "Thank you for having us, Mahsap."

Deri smiled, indicating he understood the intention of his words, then returned his attention to Leyla. "The Protectors informed me that you are trying to go to the Jade Palace. Normally, I would have insisted you stay here for a while, but knowing you and knowing how Jara has been -"

"Mahsap! Mahsap!" A little girl called out, her long hair flying behind her as she ran head down towards Deri. She was wearing the simple green tunic dress that Aqua children wore, but the gold arm bracelet with the head of the Rezeg bird on it showed that she was a member of the Da Su family. Leyla saw Raphael taking in the girls outfit, from the thin gold necklace around her neck to the woven sandals on her feet and knew he was storing everything in that detail oriented mind of his.

"Mahsap, Taha..." The girl doubled over, her red curls dangling over her legs as she tried to catch her breath. "Taha fell from the tree and hurt his arm! The adults said it's dis-lo-cated."

Deri's shoulders tensed, but he kept his voice light as he took the girls hand. "Call Seyuba," he told the servants, then to the girl he smiled. "Lets go see your brother."