Kire sighed, shaking her head, though she had a smirk on her face as she did so. “Then, to preserve the good will between my people and yours, you will fight alongside us when the time comes.” 
“Enough talk for now about fighting. If you insist on bringing me home, why don’t we bring them along with us?” Ed said. “Elva’s manor in the mountains should have more than enough room.”
“Oh. Right. And you can meet the other stubborn Wyverns,” Kire said. Myka chuckled.
“Is there any [i]other[/i] kind of Wyvern, though?” the pirate captain put in, to which the cousins laughed softly. “So, if you’re all going back, I’ll say my ‘good nights’ for now. Will talk to my crew and then we’ll all have a nice long rest for the night. Hunting spies is tiring work, especially when you throw a wildcard into the mix,” she said, winking at Ruli. Kire and Ed rose, each embracing Myka. “Come by the ship soon, Ed. And bring Ysaryn. She should be fun to have around.” She grinned at the elf, before taking her leave. 

After Kire was finished with her meal, she and Ed spoke with the officers of the camp for a few moments, giving one final round of instructions before she went back to the other two. “Alright. I can bring us all back with a portal, but I think you all know how the sensation feels,” she warned before turning to Ruli. “If you’d prefer not feeling that until it’s time to portal back to your world, you can get the location from me instead and Shadow-Walk.” 
Ed grimaced. “I’d rather the latter, honestly.” 
Once the others agreed that the other option was infinitely better than experiencing anything portal-related for the night, Kire extended her hand to Ruli. He would have pictured a large hearth and a great stone hall lit with more torches. “It’s warm inside, but just to warn you, it might be snowing a bit this time of year there.” 

They stepped out of the shadows into the hall in Kire’s memory. There were attendants about, and as soon as they saw the Empress they bowed and excused themselves to fetch their mistress, having gotten used by now to Kire appearing out of nowhere to see her cousins or conduct her business. “Are you alright?” Ed asked Ysaryn, remembering that she didn’t feel too well the last time she Shadow-Walked. 
Not too long after the servant had left, Kire heard brisk footsteps approaching. The moment Ed was in sight, Elva broke into a run and pulled her brother into a tight hug. Next to Ed, the healer’s resemblance to him was unmistakable, though she was much slenderer, her features softer. Kire could be mistaken for a younger sister. “[i]Where have you been?[/i]” she murmured after a long, tearful silence, her question rhetorical. Ed didn’t answer, squeezing Elva tight in his embrace before looking back down at her. “Did Kire tell you about Earnest?” she asked. Ed nodded, lips pursed, then, remembering that they had company, cleared his throat and stepped back a little. 
“Told you I wasn’t making it up,” Kire said softly, smiling at her. 
“Well, you can’t bloody fault me for thinking it,” Elva said with a huff, before turning to Ysaryn and Ruli. “Ahh. You’ve told me about your friends, but proper introductions are in order.” 
“Right. This is Ruli and Ysaryn. They helped me a few months ago to hunt down Ikegai and Akuma, and they helped get me to Ed. This is Lady Elva of the Northern Reach, Ed’s sister and one of the best healers in the empire.” 
“Tsk. Stop it with the whole titles and such. Except the healer part. I will concede that that part’s accurate,” Elva said with a cheeky grin. She saw the bandages on Ruli’s arm. “How’s that getting on? May I?” She stepped closer to peer at the bandages, the look on her face showing she was tempted to ask more about the injury to see if it had been tended to properly. 
“See? Right to work,” Kire remarked. “Elva, if we may trouble you for accommodations for them for the night? And baths too, maybe. Also, where’s Jan?”
“Tired. Asleep. If you want her in a better mood, let’s let her stay that way for now. We can do the catching up tomorrow with her,” Elva said with a grin. “I’ll see to your rooms then. Wait here, or you can bring them to the kitchens, though I suspect you might prefer the cellar.” 

“Ooh. Have you got any of that spiced wine brewing in the kitchens now?”
“Of course.” Elva grinned, then pointed to her brother. “Now you, come with me and make yourself useful now that you’re back. I trust you’d want to see to the fifteen Kire dropped off here unceremoniously, hm?” 
Ed chuckled, shaking his head. “We’ll be back,” he said before following after his sister, the two of them conversing in Taakalon as they walked away. Kire chuckled softly, watching the two, before turning to Ysaryn and Ruli.
“Alright, got something that might warm you up faster. Come on.” 

The mountainside manor was cozy, though as Kire led them to the kitchens, the hallways in between chambers were still cold, the winter chill seeping into the stone. The kitchens, thankfully, were nice and hot, and the smell of mulled wine filled the chamber, particularly the smells of cinnamon and nutmeg. As soon as they saw the Empress and her guests, particularly the lusty look Kire gave the large pot of wine brewing over the fire, they fetched a jug and three mugs, as well as a platter of meat, cheese, and bread. Now that Kire’s stomach had settled, she found she was famished. “Gods, that hits the spot,” she muttered, sitting back as she sipped on the wine after nibbling on some cheese and bread. “Sorry if it’s a bit too cold for your liking here, though at least you’ve got this stuff,” she said, gleefully taking another long drink. 
“There you lot are, as predicted,” Elva said a while later, Ed beside her. “We’ll have someone bring those up to your rooms if you want to keep eating, though from what Ed tells me you have all had too long a day.” 
“Yup. And you two need a good long catching-up,” Kire remarked, standing up and following her out. “I’m good with just the wine, thanks. We’ll talk longer in the morning.” 
Elva smiled at her, then at Kire’s two guests. “Thank you. For helping her get him home.” 

After Elva and Ed excused themselves to go to her library and catch up, servants beckoned to them to follow them up to their chambers for the night. Though the manor was large and well-provisioned, there was simple, rustic feel to it as well. They were led up a flight of stairs and down a quiet hall with windows that afforded them a view of the mountainside below. Snow fell gently outside, though in the dark of the night one could only vaguely make out the snow-capped mountains that surrounded them. The Empress had been given a large chamber at the end of the hall, with Ruli’s chamber adjacent to hers. Ysaryn’s was next to his, while another room, presumably Ed’s, was being readied as they were shown their chambers. Each one was similar to the others, with a large bed covered in thick blankets and fur, a fireplace, and tapestries draped over the walls, woven with fine thread. A wardrobe filled with warmer clothes sat at the corner of each room. The servants left some of the food and wine on a table in each room.
“Get settled. I’ll go wash the grime of the day off me, just let them know if you need anything else,” Kire said as she stretched. She was going to feel this tomorrow, she was sure, so she looked forward to the hot spring baths underneath the manor.