Ruli only glanced to Kire when she asked about what Ysaryn had said, his eyebrows raising slightly. "Complimented me." he said vaguely, not really willing to pass along that she'd complimented his fighting, more specifically.
As she moved on to mention the signatures, he listened, intrigued, as she listed their different signatures. Gavin, coriander, sure. Envy, tobacco and flowers. And when she got to Ysaryn, a few pieces began to click into place about her personality and began to make sense. Letting them flirt, Ruli went back to conversing with Rab, who was suddenly very interested in the women.

Ysaryn, suddenly grinning from ear to ear, chuckled. She met Kire's gaze as she spoke softly, lilting, her eyes wandering Kire's face.
"Tell em you don't need a translation." Ruli pleaded softly, glancing sidelong at her.

Kire blinked, going even redder when Ysaryn spoke to her, nevermind what she actually said, though she did return Ysaryn’s grin. “You silly girl,” she said, smirking, before hearing Ruli’s plea. “Why?” she said, turning to him, still grinning.
“Envy said you were smooth, you’ll manage. Oh wait—he was joking.” She shrugged before turning back to Ysaryn and giggled, then winced. “Oww. Okay, not too much,” she said, chuckling at herself as she clutched her sides. “You’re quite the fighter. Whoever you choose for your mate’s gotta keep up with you. Heh.” Kire’s mind went to that morning where she caught the elf bathing, and if it was possible for her to be any redder she would have looked like a tomato right then.
“What did I get myself into, holy gods,” Gavin muttered, though he did continue to stare as he drank.

“And you! You better be on your best behavior while you’re in here,” Kire said, rounding on Gavin, pointing at his forehead. “I might not be back for a while, and I better not see you, I dunno, up to no good. Pickpocketing, I dunno what you’ll do with your spare time.”
“Just because I used to be a thief doesn’t mean I’ll do that for fun!” His voice sounded shriller than he had intended, and Kire dissolved into fits of laughter, collapsing backward, even as she simultaneously also clutched her sides.

Ruli raised his eyebrows again, watchign cautiously, as Kire complimented both himself and Ysaryn in the same breath. Ysaryn leaned away again, grin still carved into her face. While she didn't know what Kire was thinking about, she looked deeply pleased about the blush that bloomed across Kire's skin so soon after her words. No matter that the language wasn't shared, the body had its own, did it not?

But then Ysaryn blinked and shrugged her shoulder, flicking her hand in a graceful motion that sent her braid over her arm. She spoke in a huff of a question.
"Yeah," Ruli agreed. "What's wrong with being a thief?" He wondered. "Nothing wrong with taking what others don't need, especially if you do."
Ysaryn immediately got a look on her face that said that was not always the reason she thieved. Her eyebrows rose, her eyes shifted to the distance. Ruli caught the expression and arched an eyebrow before he looked back to Kire. "Envy said he would take care of him. So he'll be taken care of. He's one of us orphans now."

“Ah.” Kire sat up with a grunt, narrowing her eyes at the both of them as she leaned towards them, frowning. “I see how it is. I’m surrounded by miscreants!” She held her face in a serious expression for only a second before she snorted and burst out in giggles. “Oh, fine, fine, fine. I guess I can’t judge. I’m friends with pirates after all. I got a whole shipful of pirate friends back home, an all-woman crew. Some used to be slaves. Some I knew from years and years ago. Just after I got my crown. Mm. I was—sixty? Fifty? I can’t remember ‘zactly—”
“You’re what?” Gavin sputtered.
“—and they’d raid slavers’ ships or help me fight the Gemini. What? You heard me. I’m—hundred? A hundred. You didn’t know Amrians lived long and aged slower? They didn’t tell you?”
“Do I look like this is old information to me?” Gavin asked.

Kire lay back down, head rested on her interlocked fingers. “Huh. Weird. You’re weird. I don’t even know how you ended up here.” She sighed in a huff, then looked up at the night sky. Though her vision was a little compromised by now, Kire smiled, still enjoying the view silently. She raised a hand, tracing out made-up constellations. “The stars are different here,” she murmured, smiling softly, fascinated.

More raised eyebrows. Pirates? This woman did lead an interesting life, Ruli thought. He wasn't sure how she found the time with being an empress and all, but then he recalled that she'd been dethroned. By Gavin's family. Ruli took a glance to him as he exclaimed about Kire's age.

"Not all of us can portal in from some ... where..." Ruli realized that nearly everyone here could portal from one place to another, with the exception of Rab. At least so far. And with his heritage there was a good chance he could. He shook his head. "Well, not all of us can go world to world."

Ysaryn tilted her head toward Gavin and muttered a question. When Ruli didn't bother to translate, she sighed. "You old, also? Like Kirai?"

But Ruli's eyes were on Kire, the way her hand moved across the sky like she could smear the stars in it. He wondered what it was like to be able to jump worlds, to leave your place in the world and see things you could rarely share. Things you could tell stories about but few would believe. If she dreaded each jump, or instead the return home. If she got restless when home for too long, eager to leave once more and give her heart an adventure.
Dangerous adventures.

As Kire explained how there was a chance, yes, that Gavin could age much slower and live longer, Ruli recalled that she'd died, only brought back with Gavin's administrations. The news had made him feel cold. That she died here, away from her family. She'd made such a casual joke about it, but he could read the sadness in her face.
At least she was going home tomorrow. To display that she'd survived, and they'd all be little more than another story.

He came back into the conversation as Ysaryn as she asked about the average life span, deciding that hers and Kire's time breathing the air would be about the same. "Except, yes, Kirai much old to me." Ysaryn said brokenly with a crooked grin to the empress. She raised her thin fingers, bending them as she counted in her head. "Three tens. Much old." Her fingers wiggled at Kire's face playfully.

Kire was feeling sleepy from the wine, and she had a lazy grin on her face, vaguely listening to Ysaryn question Gavin about his age. She snickered when Gavin said he was twenty, and she snorted, teasing the lad about how she didn’t quite believe him. He could be older, too, if he’s not sure. There was a chance he could have some of the Amrian lifespan, but there was also a chance that he’d live like a human who wasn’t Amrian at all. She explained as best she could how Amrian lifespans worked, and that Gavin, if he wasn’t fully Amrian, would be one of the exceptions. “Hey! Much old? Me?” She gave Ysaryn a mock frown as she reached for the elf’s wiggling fingers, grinning. “I am in the prime of my youth where I’m from, excuse me. And you know very well I can keep up with you, young lady,” she added with a wink and a laugh.

She looked from her to the exasperated Gavin before her gaze rested on Ruli, falling silent, her face solemn. Not too long ago they were at each other’s throats in Ziad, and now here they were. He still seemed to her to carry something so heavy inside of him, which she accepted he probably wouldn’t tell her about. If she was going home and wouldn’t be staying too long even for visits, it may not matter, anyway. The thought somehow saddened her, in much the same explicable way she felt when she and Ruli were talking back in the future settlement. She wondered if she would ever see him unburdened by whatever it was that hounded him. She hoped she would, someday.

Carefully, albeit swaying a bit, she sat up, refilled her glass, and raised it. “Can’t have drinks without a proper toast, yes?” she said, and against better judgment standing up to do it, her right arm extended. Gavin looked from her face to her feet, hoping she wouldn’t topple over and fall on him. “Hem-hem. Hey, Gavin, raise your damn glass. Alright, so. To the future prosperity of your people,” she said to Ruli, “and to yours,” she said to Ysaryn. “And you two, may you enjoy your new home and your new freedom,” she turned to Rab and Gavin then. “And as for our enemies and the darkness they cast upon our past, well, they can all be well and truly fucked.” She grinned gleefully then, then drank deeply from her glass, draining it in one go. “Oh. Okay. Gotta sit down now.”

And by sitting down, she meant sinking down clumsily onto her knees before toppling over sideways with a yelp. Lying down on her side, she cradled her spinning head, giggling, then moaning from dizziness and the dull ache on her torso.
“Uh.” Gavin looked awkwardly from her to the others. “Cheers. I guess?”

Ysaryn let out a musical laugh that made Ruli and Rab both turn their heads, neither entirely familiar with the sound of laughter as of late, one far more unfamiliar than the other.
She took the last drink of her wine, offering to fill Ruli and Rab's cups as well. Both declined, and she refilled her own.
When Kire called for the toast, Ruli poured a little of mead from the cask into his and Rab's cups, quietly explaining what a toast was whe Rab pointed questioningly.

She toasted to the future of his people, and Ruli obliged in raising his glass, Rab raising his beside him unknowingly. Then Ysaryn did, when the toast was turned on her. "And to yours, Empress." Ruli answered. "May you reclaim your throne and pursuit a life you want." He toasted, drinking. Rab copied him, looking quite lost, still. Ysaryn grinned as Kire cradled her head, scooting towards her to run her thin fingers through Kire's hair. She muttered soothingly, almost motherly. Something she'd learned from the few times she'd seen her mother act in such a way.

"I'm going to bed." Ruli said, setting his glass down and rising to his feet. "Rab? You're staying?"
Rab's eyes scanned the two women and Gavin, looking curious, but tired. The latter won over, and he shook his head and rose as well. "Goodnight, ladies. Gavin." Ruli said, following Rab into the caves to find an empty bedroll.
Ysaryn's eyes watched them both with cat-like stillness, her fingers still tracing over Kire's scalp.

“Ha! I win!” Kire declared, raising her glass while still on the ground and promptly dropping it with drunken clumsiness.
“I’m still here, you know,” Gavin said. “And why is it a competition?”
“You’re not even drinking a lot! I’ve been counting!” Kire whined.
“Yeah? Alright Empress, how many did I have?”
“Too few!”

Gavin shook his head, a motion that made him dizzy. “Ugh. Alright. You win. I’m going to bed.” He gave a nod to Ysaryn before standing on wobbly legs to go back to the caverns. He heard the echo of Kire shouting “victory is mine!” right before he stepped back into the kitchen.
Kire dissolved into giggles once more as she carefully twisted so that she was laying with her back on the ground, looking up into Ysaryn’s face. “Heyy, Chief,” she said, grinning wide. “I like that. It kinda tickles.” She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of the elf’s fingers on her scalp, feeling herself drift to sleep. “You smell like rain over the sea at dawn,” she slurred, before falling silent again for a few moments.

“Hey, can I tell you something? I…don’t know if I want my throne back,” Kire murmured, eyes glazed as she opened her eyes to look up at Ysaryn. “What kind of Chieftess is that, right?” She chuckled a bit, softly shaking her head, looking fondly into her pink eyes, trying, and failing, to fight sleep.

Ysaryn watched Gavin leave with the same feline gaze, shifting it to Kire only when she purred under her fingers. Her eyebrows rose when Kire expressed her scent, and Ysaryn smiled in honest approval. "That is a scent I am honoured to carry." The elf purred in her tongue, the delight on her tongue enough to translate without words.

As Kire asked about telling her something, Ysaryn nodded, her fingers still exploring the blonde's soft hair. Her confession, drunken or not, was steeped in a quiet shame. Ysaryn didn't blink or falter, her fingers still moving. Ysaryn pursed her lips, trying to find the words to speak in their shared language, knowing Kire needed to hear words.
"Do not know a Chief to only want rodyn. Power. Responsibilitui." She said gently in her drunken tongue. "Chief who do, who only see throne, not good. Good chief want else." Gently, she pinched Kire's hair between her thumb and index finger and tugged lightly. "What do Kirai want? No Chief? Then ... Limb adan? Fish man? Mother?" Her wicked smile overcame her lips, though it was coated in care. "You stay? Live here?"

Kire listened, brow furrowed in concentration as she did her best to focus on Ysaryn’s words. She laughed softly, shaking her head again as Ysaryn tugged on it. “Dunno what I want. Stupid, right? I guess that’s the problem,” she said, meeting her wolf smile with her own smirk. “Maybe you can visit my home sometime. This is not a bad place to stay, though.” She went thoughtful for a while, thinking it over. “I want to come back here. See more of you, and everyone else. Even Ruli, though he might not be too happy to see this face again too soon, right? Let’s start with that,” she said after a while, reaching up to gently touch Ysaryn’s hair, her own fingers brushing against the elf’s temple before flopping back down onto the grass, her eyes already closed. “Too fuckin’ sleepy to move,” she said, giggling again. “My pillow is too nice.” She turned her head, kissed Ysaryn’s lap, and let sleep take over.

She woke up in the morning a few hours after sunrise, which was a surprise to her, though not a pleasant one. “Uuuuuugh.” Kire cradled her head for a few moments, her eyes squeezed shut. “You’re too early! Go away,” she sneered at the sun in her own tongue, followed by a string of swears as she crawled on all fours towards the stream. She almost dove straight into the water, but luckily had enough balance not to completely fall right in. Sloppily, she splashed water all over her face and hair. It was only when she had woken herself up enough for the world to stop spinning that she noticed Ysaryn had stayed outside beside her. “Hey. Good morning,” she murmured softly, smiling at the elf. She wiggled her torso a bit as she sat. It wasn’t completely healed just yet, but Kire felt it was coming along decently. Though she had planned to wait until evening, she missed home, and she’d rather leave now than build up her reluctance the longer she tarried. “I suppose I have to get ready to leave now and say my goodbyes. Envy first.” Bits of last night came to her, and she remembered how the elf had stayed by her all night, her and her wolfish smiles, and her fingers in her hair. Kire blushed a bit, smiling. “Thank you for last night.”

When Kire went back through the kitchen, she found that Gavin had already beat her to the coffee. He was staring at an empty spot on the wall, his eyes red, his hair even more unruly than it had been yesterday. “You didn’t sleep here, did you?” Kire asked.
“Huh?” Gavin said, not quite awake yet. He sipped his coffee, then looked at them. “Hello.”
Kire snickered, then walked past him to get herself a cup, patting his head as she went past. He didn’t even bother to stop her. “No I didn’t sleep here,” he finally said, though he was facing Ysaryn. Kire shook her head as she carried her cup with her to the main chamber to see if the Kartaian was awake.

Ysaryn woke silently when Kire began swearing, the tired smirk that tugged at her lips expressing that she understood Kire's swearing without being able to really understand them. She watched Kire rise, the elf remaining where she was, body sore, head aching, and no desire to rise just yet. She listened, half-dozing, as Kire washed, only opening her eyes again when Kire spoke. So soon? She couldn't object, no doubt Kire wanted to see her family. "No thanks." Ysaryn yawned, slowly pushing herself upright, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and the dirt from her hair. She pulled at her strands, her delicate fingers removing a small beetle, which she settled on the dirt and nudged until it scurried away. "Come more. We all happy for you face."

She followed Kire inside, gaze surfing over Gavin as he stared, red-eyed and wild-haired. Her playful grin vanished. "Gavine." She greeted. "I make tea. Will clear you head. Yes?" She offered, a token of attempted peace between them as she took the kettle full of water and placed it over the hearth.
When the water steamed pleasantly, Ysaryn pulled her pouch of herbs, frowning at it when she found it significantly lighter, but pinched a serving into two cups before adding the prepared water. The stink of it filled the kitchen at once. Taking both cups, the elf crouched before Gavin.
"You save two Chieftess." The elf stated, matter-of-fact. "You do well." She stated again before offering him the cup.

Envy's chamber was quiet; though occupied. While the Kartaian slumbered peacefully, Ruli lay nestled against the wall, a spare shirt bunched behind his head as a pillow. His eyes were open, and as red and bleary as Gavin's. His eyes snapped to Kire as soon as she strolled in, and he simply held a finger against his lips to keep her from speaking too loudly.

Gavin rubbed his eyes, then blinked at the elf. “Oh. Tea. Yes. Okay.” Immediately the smell of it filled the kitchen, and his eyes widened, watering slightly. He looked down at the cup, watching the steam rise from it as the strong smell filled his nostrils. When the elf spoke to him, his lips parted; he had anticipated some confrontation, now that they were alone, but this was a surprise. “Thank you.” He forced himself to look into her eyes. “And—I’m. I’m sorry.” He bent his gaze to the ground again, knowing those words weren’t enough to make up for everything. He picked up the cup, did his best to keep his face straight, and took his first sip. “Oh—huh.” He raised his eyebrows before drinking more, though slowly. “That’s not bad—not that I thought it was bad—errr…” Gavin stammered, hoping the elf wouldn’t take offense and stab him over morning tea.

Kire stepped quietly into Envy’s room, then almost jumped when she noticed Ruli already awake inside. She immediately noted his gesture though and nodded, practically tiptoeing in to sit beside him. “Fun night out?” she whispered, smirking at him. “I was hoping to catch him awake. I’ll be leaving soon, wanted to say goodbye properly.” She looked at him, then smiled. “Hey. Thanks for not shooting me in the head with that bow my first night. And for everything else, of course.” She paused, then extended her hand to him to shake his.

Ysaryn watched him drink, smiling as if she'd smack him if he didn't, regardless of the soft expression in her eyes. "You not free before." She pointed out before taking a sip from her own cup. "Now, yes. And you to help." As she'd seen Kire do, she reached up to ruffle his hair, though it was almost more of a pet, as the elf was unfamiliar with the gesture of a tousle.
Straightening, Ysaryn raised her cup. "Take small sleep after. Wake up good." She instructed before she wandered away through the caves.

Ruli twitched an eyebrow as she made to sit beside him. "Decent. Company was strange." He answered he question. "He won't sleep much longer." Ruli jerked his chin toward Envy. He'd twitched once or twice already, sleep slowly leaving the Kartaian's massive body.
As Kire thanked him, Ruli glanced her way once more, listening to her whispers, then to her extended hand. He hadn't realized it at the time, but yesterday, she'd taken his offered hand instead of gripping his sleeve. He'd been too tired, too sore to realize its significance, and had, later, wondered if she'd simply forgotten that she didn't trust him enough to touch him.
But this. Ruli's eyes wandered over her hand. This was trust.

He took her hand, shaking it gently.

"You're welcome." He said. "Thank you for ... " Trusting me? Not dying? Helping me put an end to her? "-letting me tag along."
Envy growled softly, not far from the sound Kire had made when she'd first woken. "You both smell like bad wine and sweet mead." The elf complained.
Ruli's lips twitched again. "Good morning to you, too." He greeted. There was a lot of rustling as Envy twisted in place enough to face them, his red eyes slits as he peered at them.

Kire almost laughed aloud at his answer to her. ‘Tag along’ was an understatement. She squeezed his hand gently as she shook it before letting go. She waited for the Kartaian to rise, noting with amusement that he had as much of a fondness for being roused too early as she did. “Aw. I’d like to disagree. The wine wasn’t bad at all,” she commented, grinning as she stood up, bracing against the wall. “I’m sorry to wake you, but I won’t be bothering for much longer. I’m heading home in a little bit, and I’d just like to say my farewells now before I change my mind and drink the whole week away here.” She would have shaken the elf’s hand, or even offered an embrace, but he looked like the biggest grumpy cat curled up in bed the way he was. “Thank you for the hospitality. Hopefully your two new additions don’t give you too big of a headache. I’ll come visit when I can.”

After Envy acknowledged her goodbye, Kire turned, about to leave, then glanced at Ruli again. She offered a small smile and raised her hand in one more farewell before walking out of Envy’s chamber. Afterwards, she hunted down Ysaryn, told her she had just been to Envy’s and saw Ruli there. “Take care, Chieftess. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I come back and see you.” Like with Ruli, she offered her hand to shake. Finally, she found Gavin still in the kitchen, though much more awake than earlier. “You.” She looked seriously at him.
“You’re going,” he commented. He gave her a small smile. “See you next time, then.”
Kire nodded. “Be good. Alright?”
“I’ll try.”
“That’s the most we could ever do,” she said.

She walked out to the forests one more time, taking her time. She wondered for a moment how Zeke was, what Aeron was doing. Finally, after wandering alone and savoring the peaceful mountain air, Kire opened a portal for home.

It was midday in Amria, too, when she stepped out, winded, into the manor Elva had kept as lady of the Northern provinces. Instead of her own room—or, more properly, the room Elva kept for Kire’s use whenever she returned there—Kire emerged in a library just outside Janes’s room. Her cousin, who had been spending the day reading reports and, as was typical of her, frowning in thought, immediately stood at first sight of the blue portal.
“Good gods! Kire! What happened? Here I was preparing a eulogy for you,” she snapped, then stopped, seeing Kire’s face. Tears were falling from her already red eyes, and she stumbled towards Jan, pulling her into a trembling embrace, burying her face against her shoulder. “Kire?” she asked, her voice much less harsh this time.
Kire only held tighter, her body shaking with sobs. “He’s gone. Finally. He’s gone, Jan. I—I—” I almost died, she thought, unable to say it out loud. I almost lost you all.
Jan returned the embrace. “Tell me later, Kay. Just rest for now.” That could wait. All of it: the questions she had about what had happened in the other world, her worries—and the reports she had been reviewing. For now, they were just two cousins reunited. If the last six months taught Jan anything, it was to savor any moment that Kire came back home alive.

Despite her hesitations, Envy held little. Once he heard Kire admit she was ehre to say good-bye, he pushed himself upright and reached out for her. A tight hug, a few warm words whispered to her, and and he released her. "Travel safely, and don't forget us." Envy said, his tired voice a few octaves lower than normal. "You will always be welcome."

The course of the next few weeks was not easy.

Hardly two weeks into earnest building in their new site, heavy rains came, pulling at the unsteady surface of the mountain until it slid downward, made too heavy by the weight of the water. The landslide devoured their lumbered logs and the entirety of their planned new home, but claimed no lives.
It did force them to hole up in the safety and comfort of the caves until the storms passed, and then another few days after as the rain-carried ailment forced many to lie in bed for a day or two, able to stomach little but broth and tea.

Abandoning the first hope for their home, Ruli returned to Cordon with Ysaryn, Zeke, and, to no ones pleasure, Princess Risa, who insisted on tagging along in order to reach out as her own emissary of Ziad. She met with the council, braced by the three, and after several long discussions, during which the very stubborn princess refused to accept 'no' in any form, they reached a tentative agreement. Agree to offer some finincial aid in the rebuilding of Ziad, and she would see to it that the 'elven filth' was removed.
That had been Ysaryn's idea, although she made no show of it while in the audience room with the councilmen, hands folded before her as she stood, stone-faced, between Ruli and Zeke. When asked, she expressed that they had struck up a deal with the Ziadi as a people, to agree to leave Cordon and become the many hands that would rebuild Ziad. They would be cared for and, when Ziad was self sufficient again, would be given enough supplies to make their way out again and find a new home.
Spend a few thousand coin to aid a neighbour in need, whose own citizens had saved their very city, and be rid of an issue with no backlash or blood on their hands.

They agreed.

The coin was passed along to Zeke, who was the only one they decided among themselves that could be trusted with it. Ysaryn was set to follow Princess Risa around, do her immense dislike, as a handservant, rather than a slave. Ysaryn was pretty enough to be worthy of her company, Risa declared, but she allowed no one to pay her any mind, negative or no. Anyone who tried to sneer at the elf got a verbal lashing, the Princess's demanding attention and service with a flash of her signet ring to the point that word spread and the elf could all but roam without harassment; so long as she was exactly three feet behind and one step to the left of the Princess.

Ruli, left to his own devices in Cordon, roamed the ports and taverns, shaking hands, meeting patrons and travelers, using conversation to inquire into suitable places in which to move. When he heard a tale he enjoyed, he'd use his magic as slyly as he could manage in order to find the location. Every morning he traveled to two or three locations, all over the continent, marking each of them on maps that he purchased from the city.
Zeke helped him; it was the only sort of communication they shared that was not dripping with tension. Zeke would point out potential trade routes, neighbours that they'd get along with or quarrel with, resources within certain distances that would aid them. A few times, Zeke agreed to go with Ruli to see the locations himself and get a better sense with which to judge. Ruli endured it all in patient silence.

Two months in, they began to take Envy along, their list narrowed down enough that they included the Kartaian to help them further. Ruli connected their minds with magic enough to allow Envy to see what he did, Zeke's voice listing all the pros and cons of each location. When Envy, at last, stood on packed sand, face turned up toward the moonlit sky, and grinned from ear to ear, they knew they'd found it.

Kire had her own share of complications and progress.
After coming back, Kire spent a week under orders not to exert herself. Elva fussed over her constantly, checking her injuries to make sure the Ring was healing the broken bones right, chastising Kire for removing the cast earlier than she was supposed to. Kire, to her credit, didn’t object to the house arrest, though she did, without success, try to pry Janes for details about important business. And Jan, to her credit, refused to answer, not even breathing so much as a word about work while Kire was recuperating. She knew, all three knew, that this wasn’t just so much about attending to Kire’s body, but her mind. So Kire rested. Within that week, Kire also made a ‘truce’ with her little cousins Etta and Precy, who were all ready to be mad at her for leaving them again until they actually saw her, after which all of them cried and hugged. Kire told them some of what she had seen in the other world: the refugees, particularly Aeron, and the food. The rest of the details she left out of her stories.

When the week was over, Kire insisted on throwing herself back into the fray. Janes still hadn’t told her about some of the reports, only those that were immediately pertinent to her. Kire rejoined Narda, Myka, and the crew of the Green Wench to harass the naval patrols of the turncoat provinces, though the two women didn’t listen to a single order from Kire until she told them in full detail what had happened to her, gleefully reminding her that she had lost her crown and that she wasn’t captain of the ship even with it. This occupied much of Kire’s time in exile: in concert with her remaining allies, they would win back territories bit by bit. It hadn’t been just the Gemini alone responsible for the schism in the continent. Before the attack, they had been striking deals not just with Ikegai but with the other enemies of the Wyvern house. Narda and Myka, having known the Paladin for a few decades by now, had noticed some change in their friend. While she had always thrown her whole body and mind at every task, this time Kire did so with an air that told them her heart was in it, too. Her failure with Ikegai and with losing the Capital had crushed her, made her doubt herself, even if she locked the pain and humiliation away to function. “So you’ve decided? You will sit on the throne?” Narda asked. Kire only smiled back at this question.

It was only after two months that Jan, finally receiving more confirmation, sat Kire down to tell her what she was keeping from her. “You’ve been trying to get information about how and where Ikegai had opened a world gate, have you?” Jan asked.
“I have. And I might have found it,” Kire said quietly. Jan unfurled a map, where several spots around the continent have been marked. She pointed to one area, and Kire raised her eyebrows. “You have, too?” she murmured, studying the map and its notes. The spot Janes pointed out was near enough her own hunches, but when she recognized the surrounding territory, Kire looked up at her. “Is this—?”
Janes nodded.

Three weeks after this, a blue portal opened within the wards in front of the mountain caverns where the refugees of Ziad stayed. Only, instead of one figure stepping out into the daylight of the other world, two stumbled out, rolling into the dirt, along with a big sack. “Are you MAD?” Kire yelled, climbing to her feet, breathing heavily. “You could have gotten us both killed, you giant idiot!” She wasn’t wearing heavy armor this time, though she did wear a leather cuirass and arm guards. She was dressed to anticipate the cooler air in the mountain region. Kire cursed in Taakalon repeatedly as she made sure the sack with its valuables wasn’t damaged too heavily. She had let her hair grow the past three months, though it was still short, growing just a little past her ear.

The woman who came with her, or rather jumped at her just as she had opened the portal, let out a booming laugh, despite the nausea she now felt. When she stood up, her muscled form was almost seven feet tall. “I made a promise to your cousins to keep an eye on you, Little Wyvernling,” she said, thumping Kire on her back. “I’m just fulfilling the promise! You know all about solemn oaths, right?”
“I’m going to kill you, Nard,” Kire seethed, hoisting the sack over her shoulder.
“Now, what? We’re in another world. Not much different so far—the sky isn’t green, or some weird color.”
Kire sighed. “Now, we wait. It’s impolite to barge into someone’s home, you know.”

Gavin looked up from his work in the kitchen. He had kept his head down the past three months mostly, doing whatever he could, sometimes helping Zeke and Ysaryn with the other less tolerant refugees, though after a while the promise of finding a new, more suitable home at least drove most of the refugees to work towards a common goal. They were so busy with these preparations that there weren’t a lot of time for magic lessons, which he didn’t particularly mind. His thoughts, however, still drifted back to Amria now and then. While he dared to think he was happy here, he also accepted that the curiosity for the land his mother had come from will be with him always.

He paced out of the kitchen hurriedly to look for the others. “Hey—did any of you feel that?” he said, pointing his thumb in the direction of the cavern entrance.

They had. Envy turned when he felt the shudder pass through his wards, the tickle at the nape of his neck. His blind eyes shifted toward the cavern entrance, ears straining.
"Ysa-"
"On it." She said at once, drawing her blades and rushing out. Her steps were quick, and the moment she felt the sun hit her skin she inhaled, bracing to Walk to the other side of the minute gorge, only pausing when she saw the two figures patiently waiting. Her fuchsia eyes fell to the shorter of the two, and her blades lowered, her plan to Walk forgotten in an instant.

"Well," Ysaryn smiled brightly. "Aren't you a sight for hard eyes." Sheathing her blades, she trounced down the slope with a bounce in her step, her long braid swinging. She wrapped her arms around Kire for a quick embrace. "Welcome back, Chieftess." Her language had much improved over the months, but beyond that, the elf had changed little. She stepped back, placing her hands on her hips, clothed in her usual dark leathers. Her eyes wandered over the tall one curiously. "Your own Kartaian, perhaps?" She smirked at Kire. "It is nice to meet you. Welcome. And come, come." Ysaryn waved her hand, beckoning them in.

Envy loitered in the main chamber, looking anxious until he heard Ysaryn's casual steps. The Kartaian was dressed in trousers of a dark brown, but his shirt was a brilliantly obnoxious lime green with dark green whorls of vine embroidered all over them. Perhaps the fabric had been intended for a blanket or a curtain, but the elf found it perfectly suitable to his sense of fashion.
"I know that scent." Envy said, inhaling a few times. "Is it really?"
"It is." Ysaryn sang, moving to stand beside him, tilting her chin upward.
Envy only extended his arms, beckoning Kire. "Welcome back, then, Kire." Envy smiled happily, wrapping his arms around her gently. "I had hoped you'd return, but I honestly hadn't expected it so soon." Another deep inhaled as Envy released Kire, his face pointing toward the second woman. Sea salt and ... what was that? Nettle leaf? "You've brought along a guest." He stated. "Welcome to ... well we don't really have a name for it. So, welcome to our home. Albeit temporarily. I'm Envy." He placed his hand over his chest and bent slightly forward.

The first person to greet her brought a wide grin to Kire’s face. She smelled the familiar aura of a humid sea breeze before her face appeared, and she laughed when Ysaryn approached to hug her. “And you, Chieftess,” she greeted back. “You look great. As usual.” Narda raised a brow at the two of them, a smirk on her lips. “I’ll introduce ‘my Kartaian’ properly when we’re inside.” Kire followed the elf, the giantess not far behind. “Envy would love you.”
“Envy?”
Kire rolled her eyes. “I told you the story a million times. Pay attention!”
Once inside, Kire didn’t hesitate this time, coming in for an embrace. “Nice shirt,” she commented, grinning as she squeezed the giant elf before stepping back. “I’ll explain my business later. But for now, introductions. Do you remember the giantess friend I mentioned to you before?”
“Ah, you’ve been talking about me!” Narda exclaimed, patting Kire on the head. The giantess had similar garb as Kire, a traveler’s cloak, leather armor, but instead of a sword she had a battle axe with her. Her skin was lightly tanned, and her bright brown eyes stared out of a chiseled face, framed with black, wavy hair. “Narda of—” she paused, translating in her head, “—Wild Meadows.”
“That’s Countess Narda of Wild Meadows,” Kire said, earning her a growl and a loud thump on the back again. “Ow!” Kire was grinning, though, knowing the title didn’t sit well with the pirate.
“So! Kire has been telling me she met somebody who’s taller than me, for once. But she neglected to tell me what an impressive fellow you are! I had no idea this is what elves looked like!” Narda said, grinning at Envy, and at Ysaryn, too.
“I told you, you just haven’t been paying attention, you thick-headed numbskull, stop embarrassing me!” Kire muttered, dissolving into Taakalon at the last insult.

“Oh, you’re back,” Gavin called, finally stepping out to meet them before he stopped, gaping, at the sight of Narda. The giantess took in his appearance and his green eyes.
“Hello, Gavin,” Kire greeted, “how are y—”
“The Gemini,” Narda growled.
“So you remember that part,” Kire said, then jumped forward in alarm when Narda crossed the cavern to meet the young lad, grabbing him by his shirt and lifting him. “Narda, put him down!”
“When the Wyvernling told me she had met a Gemini and didn’t bring him back for questioning, I had thought she must have hit her head pretty hard somewhere. You got off easy.” Gavin’s eyes were wide, trembling as he stared up at Narda’s face. “This woman lost a lot because of your kin. I lost a lot because of your kin."
“NARDA. I’m not going to say it twice,” Kire said, her hand gripping her friend’s arm, digging in just enough to let Narda know she would be forced to if she didn’t unhand Gavin. The lad thumped to the floor, shaking. Kire pinched the bridge of her nose, then turned to the others apologetically as Narda stepped away with a huff. “I am very sorry about that. I was supposed to visit alone, but somebody had the bright idea of clinging to me just as I crossed over. But she’s here, so I might as well show her around. But Nard, no more of that, understood?”
“Yes,” Narda said, raising her hands. “I was just getting a feel of him, that’s all.”
“Well, you’ve gotten it, so no more.”

Gods above, Kire thought, shaking her head. She then cleared her throat, then looked around. “Where’s Ruli? Don’t tell me he’s run away again. Shall I put food out so he doesn’t go hungry?” she said with a smirk, as if talking about a stray cat.

"A countess among our numbers." Envy smiled, showing his pointed teeth. "We'll have to bring out the good tea." He mused, and Ysaryn chuckled.
"I am still not sharing mine." She warned, turning her head as Gavin appeared, and Narda sprung for him.

Envy gave a shout, Ysaryn reached for her blades, but didn't draw them. Each waited for Kire to rein in her friend, unwilling to make a move until Narda did. One way or another.
When Narda finally did release Gavin, Ysaryn stepped toward him to offer her hand to him.
Envy frowned at Narda, ignoring Kire for the moment.

"I understand," he began, his voice low. "That you may have a duty to this woman, and have likely sworn to protect her in some form or more. You may answer to her in Amria, but this is my domain. And if you so much as lay a hand on any of those under my protection again, you will be as unwelcome as the plague. Am I understood?" He asked, never raising his voice, but his clouded eyes bore into what he hope was Narda's gaze. Really, he leered at her throat, too unaccustomed to people matching his height.
Ysaryn gently sidled away from Gavin, as if offering Narda the temptation of him, just to see Envy follow through with his threat.

"Now." Envy said, sighing and straightening, as if having to be demanding was a weight even on his broad shoulders. "Ruli is in New Ziad. The new, New Ziad, I mean. We've had a bit of relocating since you were last here." He ran his fingers through his dark hair. "He and the others will be back for dinner. I implore you to wait. You can inform me on your business here." He gave Narda a wary turn of his head. "No more hunts for maniacs, right?"

As Gavin took Ysaryn’s hand to stand, wary of the tall woman, Kire glared at her friend, who had soured what she had pictured to be a happy reunion. Narda grunted. “Understood,” she replied, after which Kire gave her an earnest punch on the arm. “I said I understood!”
“If she makes trouble again I am plunking her out of here straightaway and right into the middle of the sea,” Kire swore, before looking up at her friend with a frown. “I swear, Nard, I will. And The Wench can fish you out of the water like tuna.”
When Envy told her where Ruli and the others were, however, Kire’s face lit up. “You found a place! I should like to see it sometime, if that’s possible. And yes, of course, we’ll wait. There’s not much of a hurry.”
Narda chuckled. “Willing to wait? You don’t hear that from the Wyvern Empress very often.”

Envy’s question, though, made both women turn to each other briefly, before Kire answered, rubbing her nape. “Well—not exactly. At least I hope not. We’re looking for remnants of a world gate, to find out how Amrians wound up here in the first place.” She gestured at Gavin. “There’s a chance—”
“A slim chance,” Narda put in, though her expression was hopeful, too.
“A slim chance that one of my family had ended up here, too, right around the time Ikegai…you know.” Kire looked up at Narda, who returned her gaze kindly. She and Ed had a special friendship, and she could understand the giantess’s desire to not only keep her promise to Jan and Elva, but to see this mission through for closure. During the chaotic uprising, Kire had to be in another battlefield when Edward and Earnest marched into another skirmish. They been unable to recover their bodies, given the retreat. “My cousin might have been caught in the world gate that had opened up and allowed Ikegai to escape to this world. It’s a slim chance, I know,” Kire repeated. “But it would give us some answers to lingering questions, at least.”
A world gate… Gavin had wondered about that. That had been one of Ikegai’s plans, and why Gavin’s enslavement had been crucial. “Would that be how my mother got here?”
“Possibly. But! Before anything else, I have a few things!”

Kire finally returned her attention to the sack she had brought with her. She produced two boxes, one square, one long and thin. She opened the thin one first and brought it to Envy. “You like to smoke, so I got you a pipe.” There were intricate carvings along the small bowl and the stem. She took out the other box and opened it so Envy could smell what was inside. “Tobacco. The finest. Or at least I’m told, I don’t smoke, myself. But if you want something with a bit more kick, there’s smoking herbs in the hidden compartment,” she said, grinning at that. She looked over her shoulder at the giantess and said aloud, “Maybe next time, since somebody’s so eager to join me on these journeys, Narda would help me carry more.”
Narda grunted, though she did smirk back. Kire turned to Ysaryn and handed her a thick pouch. “I don’t know if you’ll like it as much as your own, but this is tea. There’s more herbs and such in here, my cousin labelled them according to use. Some are for cooking, others are for healing,” she added, looking at Gavin, who looked very much like he wanted to rummage around the sack, himself. “Hmm, what else. Oh, candy. I brought plenty more.” There was one more item in the sack, but Kire would have to wait for the rest to return to give it.