When Zae Zin Nim sensed three presences approaching the cave, she was on her feet in an instant. She had passed beyond the point of simple recovery and begun training with the Pure Yin Shroud, so she was confident that her cultivation was solid. Even if she was facing three demons, she wouldn't surrender.

She reached the mouth of the cavern first so as to have more options and identified Kai and Omilaena - that should have been a relief, but where was the third? Something was different about their body language, could they be manipulated? But when they saw her, they both smiled as if nothing was wrong and the expressions looked authentic. She remained just a little tense wondering if they could be pursued, even as most of her wanted to run up and embrace them.

"We're finally getting out of here," Kai told her. "At least I hope so. There's still a chance it's another trap."

"Which is why we're back here," Omilaena said. "We should be able to take things on together. That said, don't attack."

"Attack who?" Zae Zin Nim asked, even as she understood and saw the third person.

The demon Gorutiel walked behind them, keeping his distance until he was announced. His eyes still burned like all true demons, but he seemed only mildly amused by the cave, not interested in attacking. She was more concerned about whether he was going to lead Lilaetiel to their location to steal her cultivation.

"Nah," Gorutiel said as if he could read her thoughts, "it's in my best interest to get you out of here. Lilaetiel is a rival and Troulon is a pain in the ass, so I don't want them catching their prey. Besides, running around out here has been kind of a drag and I still haven't broken through."

"Gorutiel says that he knows about a group of captive elves." As he spoke, Kai moved to half-way between them, prepared for an attack even though she thought he actually trusted the demon. Good, he was learning. "In theory, if they're freed, we can teleport out with them."

"If it's a trap, it's an elaborate one," Omilaena added. "I fought the others and they should be well off track, so we have a free day to escape."

"We assumed you'd be okay with that... but I wanted to discuss more. Gorutiel, why are you still working for Matiavel? Can we convince you t-"

"Nah." Gorutiel folded his arms and shook his head vigorously. "None of us are exactly satisfied with Matiavel right now, given how he's burning all these resources in a war for his own prey. But we're not going to stab him in the back. You don't do that to someone who can kill you with one technique."

"Expected as much, but I had to try."

"Ha! Like I said, kid, you've got balls. But I suggest you get out of here and don't come back. This isn't a place for someone like you."

Since Zae Zin Nim had no objections, they all ran toward the supposed location of the elves. It was insufferable having to run, but she supposed that a flying vehicle might have drawn more attention to them. Gorutiel set an absolutely brutal pace that only Kai would ordinarily have been able to match - she was fortunate that she had the Pure Yin Shroud now, and Omilaena was lucky she had her recent Physique boosts.

Provided that the demon wasn't going to double-cross them, Zae Zin Nim had no trouble working with Gorutiel. At least the demons were honest about taking what they wanted. When they weren't her direct enemies or trying to consume her cultivation, they weren't so different from other cultivators. Kai seemed to have charmed this one by strange masculine arts.

When they reached a larger than average demonic fort, Zae Zin Nim was braced for an attack, but there was no ambush waiting. Omilaena took out the guards with poison needles while Zae Zin Nim hopped to the roof and tore off an anti-glamour obelisk with her bare hands. The existence of that obelisk lent strong credence to the idea this was really a prison for elves. It seemed like Kai was searching inside, so she should know soon.

Abruptly she realized that Gorutiel was watching her extremely closely with a grin. It made her uncomfortable, and yet... she didn't see any lust there, not like she expected. Zae Zin Nim finished tearing off the last stone obelisk and threw it in his direction.

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He headbutted it apart and grinned broader. "Usually cultivators are wispy little things, but you're damn strong! And you've been running around under Lilaetiel's nose... you've got balls, girl!"

"I... I do not."

"Metaphorical balls!"

Before he could talk about "balls" anymore, which was deeply disgusting, Kai emerged from the prison. He supported two elves, one older and one injured, and there were several more coming behind them. Some had clearly been drained by demons recently, but they were mostly intact. They gasped and trembled when they emerged into the sunlight.

"Well, that's your ride out," Gorutiel said, "unless they killed the teleporter. That would be real inconvenient."

"I..." One of the elves coughed painfully and then continued. "I can manage."

"Great! Like I said, you get out of here. Things are just going to get worse."

As they crowded around the teleporter, Zae Zin Nim examined the elves' soul cultivation, just in case there was some final double-cross. Could someone have subverted or controlled the elves somehow? But her concerns were for nothing: in a rush of chakra wind, they were across the continent and finally out of the Commonwealth.

Even though the Elven Wilds were largely desolate, Zae Zin Nim was glad to see them again. Their great gamble had been successful: she had reached the Kama Altar, and even though things hadn't gone how she expected, this was for the best. Now they were free to leave Rosemount, if they wanted.

Other elves rushed at them, cautious but mostly concerned with the prisoners. Considering that they arrived as rescuers, they were immediately well-received. Zae Zin Nim knew that she should get involved with the politics, but Kai and Omilaena seemed to have things under control.

Kai got the lizardkin queen's egg, which she had entirely forgotten about, out of the spatial ring and gave it to the elves. This caused even more consternation and they were rushed to the nearest city to connect with higher-ranked elves. She didn't see Ceryyn or anyone else she knew, and it seemed the elves weren't prepared for their arrival anyway.

Zae Zin Nim was more interested in what she saw between the other two. Something subtle had shifted in their body language... Omilaena wasn't hesitant around Kai anymore, and a few times he touched her waist familiarly. They had definitely been intimate.

Years ago, Zae Zin Nim had struggled with black rage and jealousy when Nirka had been with Kai... and she was surprised to find none of that within her now. She was simply happy for them, and glad that Omilaena was more relaxed now. The only part that was uncomfortable was imagining the three of them together, which made her mind overwork and heat up. This was the first night they were all together since her injury... did that mean...?

But they had been running and fighting demons for days, so they were all exhausted. All three of them retired to the same bedroom, but only to fall unconscious together. As Zae Zin Nim fell asleep, she reflected that either they were due for some happy days, or the leisurely days of being concerned about relationships were over.

.

..

.

Kai woke to a knock on the door and leapt to his feet. For a second he thought he was only partially clothed, but the Beggar King's Rags shifted into his normal clothes by the time he reached the outer door. Omilaena and Zae Zin Nim were safe, plus his sleepy mind belatedly remembered they were in an elven city now, not being chased by demons around the countryside.

When he opened the door he saw Ceryyn on the other side, smiling. "I'm sorry, is it too early?"

"No, but let's be quiet." Kai slid out and closed the door gently behind him. "What is it?"

"Nothing urgent, I just thought you would want updates. We returned the egg to the lizardkin and they were very grateful. We think they might help... but I don't know if it can turn the tide." Ceryyn fidgeted and looked toward the door. "I know we've already asked so much of you, but do you think we can ask a little more?"

"You can ask, but we'll have to discuss it."

"That's what I was worried about," Ceryyn said. "You see... the war has gotten worse. I was hoping to take the three of you to the front to see the fighting. I don't expect you to join in on our side, but we could desperately use your help if you're willing to take on one last mission. There's... well, I suppose I'll just have to tell you the details later."

Kai nodded his understanding. He gave Ceryyn an encouraging smile as she left to prepare, but the truth was that this could be a challenge. From his perspective, the elves had been honest with them, and even taken on the consequences of the war while they pushed into the Commonwealth and gained personal benefits. But he knew his wives wouldn't see it that way: the elves had demanded a lot and only repaid some of it.

If this was really war between the great powers of Rosemount, then the risks were higher than ever before. By the logic of pure personal interest, they had what they needed and it would be wisest to retreat and train to take advantage of their new abilities. He felt like he had a responsibility to the elves, but they would probably say to let them burn.

When Kai stepped back into the bedroom and and looked at his sleeping wives, his heart swelled, but he realized that this might be the first true test of their bond.