Rye's eyes narrowed at the blood that trickled from Eden's lip. He also understood some kinked up bit of Stark's thought pattern. Raising his chin toward Eden but talking to Stark, the dark skinned boy said conversationally.<br/><br/>"Eden has something you need. Without him, you won't be win anything, even if the rest of us are dead. What is it? Did Eden hero worship you once upon a time? oh, wait, wait. Hey, Em, I bet Eden saw Stark do something that really shows what a coward and a sniveling weakling that he really is and Stark is terrified that Eden will expose him. Poor little Stark. Hey, Eden, did Stark shit his pants or piss his bed?"<br/><br/>The gun in Rye's hand grew warm from his grasp, something alive with purpose. He tossed his head at Emery, hoping she would get the message to move around Stark while he was talking to him. Hopefully, she could pull Eden to safety AND put a distance between them and Stark. A tiny voice in Rye's head mocked him for a romantic idealist but he ignored it.<br/><br/>"Come on, Stark, everyone back in training had rumors floating all over about you. They made fun of you. Wagered against you. All the girls would roll their eyes when your name was mentioned. I remember seeing Coren measure off a small length with her hands and now I realize she was describing you." Rye forced a chuckle, sounding relaxed and nonchalant. With a mocking shake of his head, Rye continued.<br/><br/>"Everything they said about you, must have been true."