On the walk home, the twins Joan and Aimee were a measure more raucous than their older sister. They pointed out things on the street to ask their mother about, they giggled at the little childish jokes they told, and they carried on more or less in their own world. Sabine and Karl couldn't help but grin at their antics at times.

The time it took to get to Ariel and Rukeewei's abode was just a fraction beyond convenient. To get a perfect compromise between both their workplaces was likely impossible with how few options it would allow. All the same, they ended up at a quiet part of the city, away from the noise and traffic of the main roads and its commerce.

The house itself was tall and thin like a townhouse but still appeared Argonian in design. It was a two-story building couched so close up to the houses around it that they almost appeared to be four corners of a much larger bungalow taking up the land. Some wooden beams jutting out between the houses themselves suggested that they were all built at once with the intention of multiple tenancy.

Ariel opened the front door, letting out light from the inside and a truly delicious smell.

"I think we're just in time," Ariel said. "We're home, Rukee dear!"

The interior was more spacious than the exterior made the house look. The ground floor was mostly open, with a few supports and separators cordoning off the areas for the kitchen, dining, the staircase, and a sitting area.

[hr]
"Something that size would still be a choke point to break through, but..." Gro-Tagnud trailed off when he noticed the others paying attention to the footsteps.

Hal-Neesa's entrance caused Teroiah's bodyguard to half-draw their weapons in unison. Teroiah's unimpressed look flashed with similar recognition to Ri'vashi's. She lifted her hand without breaking eye contact with Hal-Neesa. "Stand down," she ordered. The Altmer guards exchanged looks and slowly stepped back into their previous stances.

"This someone you know?" Gro-Tagnud asked Ri'vashi and Teroiah.

"You..." Teroiah angled her head away slightly. "I was under the impression that your prince's involvement ended with empowering the axe."