Kire listened as Ruli explained the wards’ functions and exceptions for her portals, noting the discomfort in him, Envy, and even Ysaryn. The Empress wrinkled her nose. “Really made you work for that gold, huh?” she joked, before sighing. “Thank you for the work today. 
Narda snorted at Envy’s question. “A [i]couch[/i] for my guest? No such thing, good man. There will be a perfectly strong bed for you there, and a good-sized room.”
Kire grinned. “You’ll enjoy the place. Besides, you know, for the company.”
“Now I kinda wanna see what the place looks like,” Gavin admitted. Kire shook her head, though she was amused at the lad’s curiosity. 
“Alright, better feed you before you leave, then.”
They were given a simple meal, breaded chicken and mash, and some drink to wash it down. “Unless you’re staying at Narda’s too, I’ll show you to the inn when you come back,” Kire said to Ruli, before turning to Narda and winking at her with a grin. “[i]Be gentle,[/i]” she said in Taakalon, to which Narda snorted again. 
“[i]That’s rich coming from you, Wyvernling.[/i]” 

 
As expected, Narda’s manor was large, built for a woman her size. Her family crest was unusual—a silver star over a mountaintop and a green field. The banners were hung around the great hall, where they had emerged. Gavin whistled. “I know castles and manors are already huge, but looks like all the doors and hallways are, too,” he remarked. “Envy could go around here no problem.”
Narda had immediately called for attendants to prepare guest rooms. They took a few moments to process Envy, though they did also immediately understand his needs and went off to carry out the task.
“Where are your archives?” Daryll asked immediately. “Do you have old maps of the Wild Meadows?”
“Of course.” Narda nearly looked insulted by the question, which Daryll ignored. “Down that hall, near the libraries. Someone will take you.” 
“Thanks.” Daryll went off as soon as he could find someone to lead him to it. 
“Well. That one’s eager,” Gavin muttered. “Alright, I wanna see Envy’s room before we go back.”

He had been furnished, as promised, a sizable guest room. There were large windows, but at Narda’s request heavy curtains had been drawn. Charm or not, he was clearly not comfortable with sunlight. The bed, too, was large enough for a Kartaian-sized guest to move around in. “You could fit three of you in there,” Gavin mused with a grin, before stretching his arms with a yawn. The sight of the bed, and of their rooms at the inn waiting for them, made him want to lay down and sleep, despite the early evening; though he had been able to nap before lunch earlier today, the lack of proper sleep was getting to him, especially after all the excitement they had seen so far.