Kire nodded, glad to hear Ruli’s explanation. She didn’t want to dare hope that everything would go according to plan, but she felt so close to their end goal already. And with the help of Ruli’s wards, she wanted to believe they wouldn’t have a more dangerous repeat of what had happened in the battlefield with the exploding dolls. She glanced down at her right hand, momentarily rubbing her thumb against her other fingers, feeling the burn marks. “Good,” she said. 
“Good,” Ed echoed. He looked his cousin over, reading the anxiety in her posture. Her body was wound up, but her mind, he knew, was heavy. “And are you ready to talk to Jan and Ulrich tomorrow about their marriage?” he asked, hoping to at least get her to think of something else for a few more minutes. 
Kire cringed. “Should I get them a gift?” she asked, though she did chuckled a little after her joke. “Elva, did you know? You didn’t tell me anything.”
Elva grinned, sipping some tea. “I thought it would be better this way.”
“Better—funnier, you mean?” Kire retorted. Elva grinned wide, turning to her brother.
“You missed the look on her face,” Ed said, gesturing at his jaw. “Practically dislocated it in her shock.” 

The cousins laughed. “I suppose that’s only fair. I got in the way of her first betrothal, after all,” Kire said with a sigh. “I deserved that.” She looked around the table. Everyone was tired in their own way, or lost in their thoughts. Gavin still looked like he was debating with himself on whether or not he would be present on the field. “Empress’s orders. Time for bed.” Gavin looked up, looking relieved at the dismissal.
Daryll was the first to stand. “Don’t mind if I do. I’d like to be up early, work on the bombs and whatever else. Rest well, everyone.” 
“Thank you, Dar.” Kire stood, and the rest followed. Ed hummed in thought.
“Good night, everyone. I’ll go loiter around a bit, settle my mind before I lay down,” the Captain said, though he glanced for a brief moment at Ysaryn as he spoke. 

Upstairs, Kire lay down, hands laced together under her head as she stared up at the ceiling. [i]In less than two days, we will be standing in the Capital.[/i] “Less than two days,” she repeated out loud, as if hardly able to believe it. Over a year’s work fighting, fleeing, and then gaining ground again. Defeating Ikegai, finding Ed, destroying the gate. Hunting down traitor-lords and winning back territories. A long, hard-won year, culminating in this.