Nicolai's face looks guarded every time she talks about Draik. She purses her lips in dismay, but takes a moment to imagine herself in his shoes.

     It's obvious that she and Draik had chemistry, but they never acted on it. Maybe, if they'd had more time, things might have been different. They might have been together. But they hadn't been, because her heart was still too broken. 

     "I loved him." she says quietly to Nico, and his jaw tenses. "You deserve to know that. I loved Draik, but I never told him and I never touched him, because I loved you and I wasn't ready to move on. It's always been you, Nico. Please don't be jealous of a male who never held more than my attention, when you have always held my whole heart."

     He grips her hand, running his thumb gently over her knuckles. "I'm jealous that he got to be there when I would have given anything to be with you, that he was there for you when I couldn't be, but… I am also grateful. You needed somebody. I wasn't there, he was. I'm glad you weren't alone."  

     He leans in to press a gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth and she turns her head to kiss him more fully. 

     “I know things are feeling a little strained between us now. We’ve both changed in the last four years, and we need to get to know each other again.” she tells him. “It doesn’t change how I feel, how I’ve always felt.”

     “I know, Kae. We’ll figure it out.”

     And she knows they will. They always did when they were just kids navigating a friendship turned romantic, and they will now. 

     She scoots across the seat to lay her head down in his lap, and starts to doze off while he plays with her braid.

     Some time later, she wakes up and sees that he’s fallen asleep sitting up. It’s probably not very comfortable, but she lets him sleep as she gazes out the window at the passing scenery. It’s been a long time since she’s seen the massive trees of Gribb Forest, wide trunks sweeping up so high she can’t see the tops from within the carriage . Small white and yellow flowers dot the ground in the spaces between, and every once in a while she spots a glowing pixie flitting through the shadows. It’s beautiful and quiet here, with only the sounds of birds singing and the occasional animal skittering through the trees and underbrush. 

     “You still get the sweetest smile on your face when you’re enjoying a good view.” Nicolai says, startling her a bit. “It reminds me of how you used to look at the horizon back home, like the beauty of nature is a gift. I’ve always loved that about you. Not everyone stops to appreciate the world the way you do.”

     “You still say the sweetest things.” she grins at him, and gestures to the wooden sign, briefly visible through the window. “We’re almost there. Will we stay at the Inn or continue on?”

     “If it’s alright with you, I’d like to get to Tavedor as quickly as possible.”

     “That’s fine. “she says. “We have enough food and water to get us all the way to the harbor, and we can stock up there before we set sail.”

     “I can hardly believe we’re finally going home together,” he says.

     “I can still hardly believe you’re alive, Nico. I’ve been alternating between cursing the Gods for separating us and thanking them for bringing us back together.” She laughs softly. “I think I'm gonna be in a state of mild shock for a long time.”

     He grabs her face in both hands, suddenly looking so very vulnerable, and takes a long look into her eyes. “You want this, right? Please tell me now if you’re not sure this is what you want.”

     Tears spring to her eyes at the doubt in his voice. “I told you, I love you. You’re my home. You’re all I’ve ever wanted. I’ve had to live without you for too long, so you promise me that from now on wherever we go - we go together. Okay?”

     Nicolai kisses her, hard and demanding, and she parts her lips to deepen the kiss. His hands leave her face to trail down her arms until they reach her hips, and he pulls her into his lap so that she’s straddling him with her knees on the cushioned carriage seat, his mouth never parting from hers. 

     Even through their clothes, she can feel his hardness pressing against her. She rotates her hips, grinding against him, and he groans into her mouth. They’re both breathing heavily as she pleasures them both with the pressure and friction between them.

     “Kae,” he pants, his hands holding her still as he tries to speak. “I’m all for taking you here and now, driver be damned, but we’re pulling into town. We’ll have to pick this up later, love.”

     “Yes,“ she pouts, “We certainly will.” and she kisses him one final time before sliding off his lap, smirking as he adjusts himself. 

     This town is bigger and more colorful than the last, people bustling about the many merchant stalls, and Kaeda wonders if they might find daggers for her here. After the carriage stops and they retrieve all their things, Nicolai secures their next carriage and loads everything in. They have just a little while before they need to leave, so they get some warm, flaky meat pies from a cart passing by, and set out to find some weapons for sale. 

     There are a few blacksmiths here, selling their wares, and she eventually finds a beautiful set of twin daggers. They are similar in size and shape to her old ones, but instead of being adorned with beautiful engravings of leafy vines, they have plain silver handles. Plain or not, she’s glad to have them, and she knows she’ll feel a lot safer wearing them. She’s definitely missed the weight of her daggers strapped to her thighs. 

     Soon after, they get into the carriage and depart, traveling into the next town. Then, they get into a different carriage and travel all the way to the harbor in Hestle, just south of Mivraga. 

     It makes Kaeda nervous being even this close to where Queen Nola sits on her throne.