Feeling a little foolish now for trying to hide her arm, she withdrew it, setting it on the table gingerly. Kire tried not to let her imagination get ahead of her when Ruli said he would’ve come to her twice a week. When he made the comment about Ysaryn, she cringed, nodding. “Yeeah. I know. Guess I better prepare to get that matching scar.” She grinned. “I’ve been thinking of giving her one, anyway. I’m just deciding on the make of it. She might like a scimitar, with steel that has this damask pattern from forging. Really pretty, bloody difficult to replicate. I’m glad the smiths here up North can rival the ones from the Capital.” 

She paused, then tilted her head. “So, speaking of Ysaryn, I know my Elvish is still rough, but that new name you gave your city sounded like you’re not happy with it. I assume there’s a good reason, or an interesting one, at least?” 

She tore a big chunk and pushed the rest to Ruli, silently insisting he eat more. She sank into thoughtful silence as she listened to Ruli’s explanation, now and then flexing the fingers on her right hand. She was about to ask if he felt like going downstairs with her to see if dinner was ready when she heard footsteps approaching. Too light-footed to be Elva or Narda, or any of the attendants, and the playful knock told Kire who it was. “Come in, Etta,” Kire called. The door opened slightly, and a girl that looked about twelve years old in human terms peeked in, her golden curls framing her face. The Wyvern resemblance was in her features.

“Hullo, Kay!—oh, sorry,” she said, blushing when she saw Kire had company. Kire waved her in, standing up. “Cousin Elva said you were back and resting. She also said you must be really hungry by now. There’s dinner.” She glanced at Ruli and offered a polite curtsy. “Hullo. Are you Kay’s friend? Elva said we were having guests over today.” 
“Lady Etta,” Kire said, smiling, “yes he is. This is Ruli. He and his friends would help me on my important missions whenever I go to another world.”
“Oh. Yeah, Daryll mentioned that.” She looked up, curious, at Ruli, then back at Kire, gasping when she saw the hand. “Oh! You’re hurt! What happened?”
“It’s okay, I’m doing much better, don’t worry,” Kire touched her cousin’s cheek. “It looks worse than it feels now,” she said, trying to assure her. Etta pouted, frowning up at her, then sighed, nodding.
“If you say so. Cousin Elva says you need a lot of rest, though. You’re gonna, right?”
“I have. I promise.” 

“Good! You better,” Etta said firmly, her hands on her waist, before she glanced at the bread left on the table. “What’s that? I saw the cook eating something like that.”
“Flatbread. Ruli made it. He’s a good cook,” Kire put in, and grinned when she saw Etta’s eyes grow wide, looking back at him.
“Do you bake?” Etta asked, and Kire chuckled, tugging playfully at her curls.
“How about we’ll answer your questions over dinner? Would you tell them we’ll be right down, please?” 
“Hey!” Etta giggled, pushing her hand away. “Okay, fine. See you then. Nice to meet you, Ruli!” She skipped to the door, then, suddenly remembering her manners, turned back to Ruli and curtsied again, before hurrying out, no doubt to hunt down her cousin Precy and tell her what had just happened.
Kire grinned, picking up the plate. “If she’s here, my other young cousin should be close by. Come on.” 

“Hello, you two,” Narda called, already seated at the dining hall. There was more of the pumpkin soup they had earlier, along with mutton and beef, and more roasted vegetables. Beside her was another young girl around Etta’s age, with brown hair tied in a neat ponytail. “I was just telling Precy here that we have a friend of yours from another world staying in the manor for today. She’s quite interested.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Precy said, before getting up from her seat and curtsying at Ruli as well. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Precy.”
“Where’s Etta? And your brother?” Kire asked, amused. 
“Etta ran straight to the kitchen,” Pres replied, sitting back down beside Narda, “and my brother’s gonna be down in a bit. He and Elva were talking about you,” she added, grinning mischievously at her older cousin. 
“Uh-oh. Looks like I’m due for another lecture,” Kire said, rolling her eyes.