Narda grinned at Envy as she smoked beside him. Like Edward, Envy had a manner about him that was both kind and authoritative, though he seemed more paternal than the Amrian. She had yet to see the elf angry or in a darker mood, though, which made his remark about inhibitions a curious one. She could easily see how Kire would gravitate towards Envy, given the way she and the Wyvern cousins had lost their parents. When Envy asked to have his cigarette lighted, and offered one for her, Narda gladly took him up on it. She sat back beside him as they smoked, lazily watching the smoke rise with each exhale. 

“It can be lonely, yes. Even before the usurpation. But like you, we draw strength from each other.” She replied after a pause. “I don’t know if she had told you about this, but the last time the Gemini tried to open a world gate, it created the Black Storm, which killed many people besides those sacrificed to the blood ritual. Kire’s parents perished, along with some other members of the Wyvern family. That’s how the crown was passed to her, and why the remaining cousins are close to each other. I met the Wyverns sometime later after that, at a dark point in all our lives, when we’ve all had to step into the roles we were to inherit, grappling with losses. It does help a lot, yes, to have such friends as they. And our shipmates, too—they had all come from dire situations, and so found a new family onboard. But sometimes, when a strong bond was formed out of loneliness, there are days when the darkness can get too heavy, and all that you can do for each other is to be lonely together.” 

Narda chuckled, shaking her head. “Forgive the rather melancholy response. Lives as long as ours, you accumulate as much sadness as happiness. The former, sometimes a smidge more than the latter. So I say, fuck the fates, eh? I try to take what happiness I can get. My friend Kire—and most of her family—they don’t quite know how to do that part yet. Not even Edward, who seems the most even-tempered of the lot.” 

She enjoyed the conversation a while more until it was time for them both to retire to their own quarters. She took his hand as they walked back out to the cave, chuckling again at his remark about how much energy they needed to sustain themselves with their size. “I will have to come back to Amria, but I will definitely pester Kire to let me visit.” She smiled warmly when she felt his hand grazing her arm, and grinned when he took her hand to kiss it. “Good night, Envy. I will look forward to your send-off, then.” 


The next day, Narda was glad to note the storm had passed. She rose early, as usual, and had expected to be the first one up. But when she stepped out of her room, Edward had just come from the bath. “Good morning, milady,” he said with a grin as he dried his hair. “Did you enjoy Envy’s company? You seemed rather charmed by him yesterday.”
“He [i]is[/i] charming,” Narda replied, returning his grin. “Walk with me? It’s a lovely day.” The both of them didn’t need to ask when Kire would rise; given how tired she had been from yesterday’s portals, they had expected her to sleep deeply. Besides the fact that Kire was, well, Kire. Edward obliged, and after he tossed his towel quickly into his room, they walked out to greet the sunrise. “Can’t sleep much?” 
Ed shook his head. “Not for lack of trying. I hadn’t been able to ask yet, how is your family? Does your father still rule the Wild Meadows, or has the lordship passed to you?” 
“Ha! It should have, but the old man doesn’t know how to retire. I am in no hurry; the raids we conduct with the crew keep me plenty busy.”  They spoke in Taakalon, with Narda catching Edward up on other news from her side of things. “Will you look at that. Lovely view, don’t you think?” They stared out at the sea, illuminated by the early sun. “Let’s hope they have coffee in the dining hall. 

By the time they had refilled their second cup and were halfway through breakfast, Kire finally joined them, a little bleary eyed. “That seaweed taste from Ysaryn’s drink—it’s stuck in my mouth,” Kire said, going straight for the coffee, her face looking rather dejected at the thought of having woken up with that being the first sensation she had registered. Ed and Narda shook their heads as they made room for Kire to join them.