Ugh, now I feel bad about
Rikae.

But at the time her intentions didn't at all look good.
Meanwhile, our Ranger continues to do an excellent job at protecting (that, or the lovers are being ever so predictable). We're doing an awful job at catching the baddies, but at least the Ranger is buying us some time (at least if those protected aren't actually lovers).
So why kill
Mac? Is it because of what he said about
Rikae? Or were the lovers trying to set up
Nogrod?