“I see.” Ed observed the elf woman beside him. “I’m glad Kire was able to help. That’s always been how she is. She can’t leave things alone when she knows she can do something within her power. And even when it goes beyond that.” A warrior culture then, he thought, noticing how ill at ease she was with the bracelets. “Like Kire with her throne, yes. She complains about it often, but in the end she wants nothing but the best for everyone.” He noted Ysaryn’s description of the enmity between the two tribes, and he could see it. They were as different as night and day. He raised a brow at the mention of Rulitus. “Kire had brought him up a few times—several, actually. Let’s hope we don’t need to be kept here for too long then, for his sake, and for everyone else’s. I know I’m not the only one looking forward to home.” 

At her last question, Ed grinned. “Many think I only know a few words, enough to get around. If I don’t interact with them at all, I wager they wouldn’t even think this. They call me ‘Beleger’, so that one I think they expect me to infer the meaning. It’s almost like a backhanded compliment with them; they don’t expect anyone who wasn’t Raielwen to measure up to their standards. The Princess knows I speak enough to be competent in the language, and we’ve had conversations before.” He smiled softly at that, before he continued. “It’s not easy, especially if the odds are stacked against you. Kire had asked that I teach her the language. Hopefully it goes better than the last time I tried to tutor her,” he added, chuckling.



By the time Kire and Narda were done and had dressed to meet Ed again at noon, a group of fifteen had gathered outside, watched closely by their elven guards. When Ed approached they all bent into a curt bow, but upon sight of Kire and Narda behind him, the soldiers gaped. They were told who to expect, but like Edward yesterday, they hadn’t wanted to believe it until they had seen with their own eyes. 
“Your Majesty…” The man Ed had spoken to earlier was the first to break the stunned silence. “We live to serve the one, true Empress of Amria,” he said, and sank to one knee, bowing low. The others fell in and bowed much the same, one fist over their breast. 
Kire’s lips pursed, emotion welling up inside her. [i]Even after everything…[/i] She had prepared herself for skepticism, ambivalence, even some hostility. What kind of commander would leave them abandoned in another world for almost a year? And despite that, they knelt before her, their loyalty unwavering. She stepped forward, returned their bow, and touched the man’s shoulder lightly. “[i]Rise, children of Amria,[/i]” she said in Taakalon. “[i]Now and always, I accept your fealty.[/i]” 
They rose as she had ordered, some, she noted, on shakier legs. “You’ll be going home soon. But I should warn you, Amria hasn’t been quite the same.” 
“We have been told, Your Grace, by Lord Edward,” another replied. “Overrun by Gemini or not, home is home.”