Nard listened to their exchange with interest. The granddaughter of a god? Now that was something. Even though Wyverns claimed descent from dragons, where the were practically godlike beasts, hearing someone was descended from an honest to goodness deity was still something out of a tale for the giantess. “Thank you for considering our requests, my lady,” Narda commented, nodding to her as she stood. She turned to Zeke and laughed softly at his remark. “Honestly, the same for me. Though yes, this wasn’t half bad. Some vegetable dish I can’t quite name. Still, I suspect I’d be famished soon. I seem to get hungrier faster on these meatless food.” She huffed, resting her chin on her hand. “The waiting is killing me, to be honest. But having Kay as a friend means you get used to situations where she’ll just vanish on you, on some adventure or other duty. Like she’s trying to be everywhere at once, [i]do[/i] everything at once. Woman needs to slow down.” She yawned, stretching her long arms. “You said Aera was the granddaughter of a god. That makes her part god, herself, doesn’t it?” -- While Ed excused himself and momentarily spoke with other officers and some of Myka’s crew loitered to either get news or refreshments, the pirate captain stayed behind with Ysaryn, along with a few others, eyeing the Gemini with suspicion. “Eh,” Myka said, shrugging a shoulder, “We share the duty, Narda and I. Rule of thumb is that I’m the Captain while she’s away or incapacitated. The more important thing to note is, Kire is not in charge for so long as she is on board. But you’re right, I [i]am[/i] brilliant,” She grinned mischievously at that last, though the women around her groaned. “You and Nard being leaders only means we’ve decided not to throw you two overboard yet,” the one named Len remarked, grinning. Myka pouted. “I’m the prettiest of you lot, admit it,” she said, though her expression clearly showed she was joking. The women chuckled before turning somber again, looking around them at how tense everybody was. Myka, too, took to frowning up at the Gemini banners. “If Nard was here, she’d have found some omen in the skies and said ‘this is bad luck’,” she murmured, crossing her arms. “It’s never good news when they’re around.” “Lying through their teeth,” Len hissed. “Slavers’ friends, they are.” Myka noticed the empty scabbards. “Lose them on the way here?” she asked. “Are you going back to your world tonight, or are you waiting till the other are found?” -- “Ha ha. You’re a regular old jester,” Kire said, her tone flat, before sighing deeply. “Can’t say you’re wrong, though. This isn’t even the most ridiculous thing I have ever worn to keep up appearances. You should see me in a dress. Train trailing behind me several miles long. Corset pushing my tits up to my neck. Hair so high the gods can see it.” She wrinkled her nose at the description she had just blurted out. “Yeah, better not see me in a dress.” She watched the healer do her work, dressing and cleaning his wound. So far, his flesh didn’t look terrible, though her imagination almost ran away with her, imagining it sprouting fur and hearing Ruli growl like the wolves they had just slaughtered. “If you start coughing up furballs, better inform me immediately,” she commented with a brief smirk, before she blinked at his remark about ending up in a pit. “You fell into a pit? Ah—alright, I think I get it,” she said, putting two and two together when she remembered who it was that had come across him. “I’m giving it until nightfall today, when my scouts have returned. Then, we could bring you and Ysaryn back with or without Zeke, see if we could spot them back at the forest. If Nard and Zeke did get left behind, I feel like they’d have made it back out by now. I’m sure Narda doesn’t want to be around the accursed portal any longer than they need to, once she’s figured out we aren’t coming back that way yet. In the meantime, there’s food and water or stronger drink at the other tent, if you need it.” She fell silent, going over the terms of the temporary truce she had discussed with the Gemini earlier, her face betraying just how much distaste she had for the whole thing. Then, thinking of something, she straightened up and looked at him again. “Say—do you have any idea at all how to cast those wards Envy uses? Or do you know any protection wards at all? I know there’s wards that can detect magic, and there’s that illusion magic Envy wants to cast on your new city.” Elbows on her knees, Kire steepled her fingers, eyes half-closed as she thought an idea over. “If blood magic worked in your world, and I can detect magic all the same there, regardless of whether it’s Amrian or native, then it’s possible to get those wards to work here, too. The Gemini’s plan is to cast a containment ward around the area where the portal is located, and use that, plus my own portals, to counter and siphon energy away from the gate. Of course, I trust them as much as I can trust Ikegai, but if there’s a way to use other wards instead, the plan could work. That is, if those are the only ‘steps’ behind this plan of theirs.” She paused, frowning, rubbing her face. “When I take you back, I could—hmm,” she stopped, as if considering something that wasn’t entirely a good idea, “I wonder if Gavin has any idea about what such a ritual would require. I’ll only consult with him, not make him do anything,” she clarified.