"You have my word, nothing will happen to Gavin," Kire put in. Ed frowned again. 
"Is he the Gemini?" 
"Mmhmm. But Ed--"
"I know." Ed sighed. "I'm not going to charge at him. We'll talk about him another time, though I surmise we will meet him soon. Are you taking him back to Amria?"
Kire shook her head. "He doesn't want to yet."


The smells of meat greeted them as they approached the dining hall, and Ed's stomach immediately growled. The women laughed, and Ed chuckled along with them. "I missed meat more than I thought," he said sheepishly. The three Amrians inside immediately rose to their feet upon seeing them; Kire gestured for them to be at ease and resume their meal. 

At Envy's request, Narda grinned and linked arms with him. " Don't know about you, but this is the first time I get to walk arm in arm with somebody," she said, as she carefully led him to an unoccupied spot, sitting beside him. Kire and Ed, after getting their portions, sat not far from the other two. Before they could begin, Ysaryn burst in with what Kire assumed was drink. She was back in her usual garb, and her relief showed in her wolfish grin. 

"Seaweed?" The Amrians gave the bottle a wary glance, with Kire blushing a bit at Ysaryn'd description of her. "Yes, I can't be too drunk for that," she affirmed.
"Mmhmm." Ed looked skeptical as he ate. "None of you also need to see her drunk." 
"Shut up," Kire hissed, feeling her ears go hot as her blush spread. She looked at the bottle. "Just a taste."
"And so it begins," Nard said, grinning. She turned to Envy. "You don't drink, or perhaps just for tonight?" 
Kire, beside her, sniffed the cup where Ysaryb had put a little liquor. She took a sip, swallowed immediately, then coughed. "That--that's strong," she said in between coughs. "And it tastes a bit familiar. Can't place it. Maybe just seafood." 
"Ha! Ysaryn knows you pretty well!" Nard thumped Kire's back.