"I . . . I'm glad to see you back," Rughoi muttered. He stood between the two great mountain ranges, somewhere in the space between where they ended.

"Well, you could be a little more enthusiastic," Ardasa said, giggling. Rughoi shrugged, hiding his face. Ardasa didn't need for him to give her affection immediately. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her snout to his neck. Slowly, she felt his arms return the embrace. This was right. This is where she should be. She doesn't know about the honesty of the entire kobold court, but she could tell immediately the honesty in him.

"Let's get back to the city," Rughoi said. "I pacified the upstarts, but not for long. They'll come crawling back with more demands before the season is up."

"They're good people, I promise," Ardasa said. "I'm surprised you managed to pacify them at all."

"What, you think I can't do it?" Rughoi asked. She could hear the mock hurt in his voice, and it made her smile.

"You know I didn't say that," Ardasa said. "It was good of you to take care of my matters while I was away . . . you didn't hurt any of them, did you?"

"No, but we will need a new meeting table," Rughoi mumbled, causing her to laugh.

"We'll worry about it in time. For now, the court." The two went to find worgs, saddling them and reining them with easy mastery.

"Perhaps I didn't mention, but there is plenty of time now that the guilds want for nothing," Rughoi started. "I have an idea of what we could use the time fo-"

"I'm tired, just let me sleep tonight," Ardasa giggled. "However . . . " she leapt onto the back of the worg and set her feet swinging at its sides. "Don't forget your offer. I'll be wanting to claim it soon enough." She then kicked her worg in its sides, sending leaping towards the city walls, leaving Rughoi in the sand.