After they bid farewell to Katarina with what Leif would have considered minimal bickering considering Coltham's grumbling only lasted as long as it took them to leave the cottage's front steps, they settled into their duties quickly. Coltham coaxed his steer to leave behind the empty troughs and settle back into the harness attached to the front of the cart. While Coltham petted the ox's furry nose and talked in low, soft tones, Leif spared them a passing smile and slipped around the back of the cart.

He balanced the wooden chest against the crook of his elbow, using his other hand to rifle through the pouch tied to his thigh. A cursory glance both behind him and ahead, then up to the sky cooled his nerves as he blindly rustled about. His fingertips brushed against the lukewarm coals, then shifted over to wrap about the other cool, smooth stone. A tingling sensation itched beneath his skin as he turned the stone over in his grasp, feeling the deep etched markings meld to the lines of his palm.

Blood rushed through his ears, pounding harshly against his eardrums as he held the stone tighter. Nausea roiling in his stomach with the pull of mana drawing from his palm lines and into the stone's markings. The waves gave off an aquamarine glow when he peeked through his fingertips, and for a split second, he could almost hear splashing waves pulling from the tide. Sounds shifted and distorted around him as the dizzying rush of blood gradually died down, replaced with the sound of a sweet but melancholic humming. 

He couldn't tell what song was being sung immediately, but he knew the voice as though it were his own. With how the humming thrummed within his mind, it felt as if someone was singing in his head and he tamped down the wave of nausea at how closely it reminded of Arus. Yet, there was no flash of lightning or even the blinding burn of ethereal light when he opened his eyes to the ox's crooning.

Stirred from his thoughts, Leif shook off the haze from the stone's pull and called within the depths of his mind.

Ambriel, can you hear me?

The humming came to a gradual halt, then next was a mumble of wonder before feathery giggles ricocheted from one corner of Leif's mind to the next. He winced, reflexively tightening his hold on the chest to keep from dropping it to cover his ears. The laughter abruptly halted, and his shoulders seized when a ghostly touch brushed against his upper forearm as though someone was standing beside him. 

"Isn't this a surprise?" Ambriel sighed, and the tension in Leif's shoulders released itself with a sigh when the bard's voice no longer rested within his head but at his ear. "And here I'd come to believe my little gift would go unused for the rest of time itself as you said."

Leif bit back a sigh. His mind conjured the image of Ambriel's self-satisfied expression, in the same manner it was when they parted ways during the earliest days of their lodging in Yun-Fe. His cursory explanation of how the stone worked had passed over Leif's head when paired with how quickly he shooed him off, claiming that he would only get in the way of his exploits. A fine start to their co-habitation, and perhaps it rankled his nerves more than he thought since the stone was quickly passed off to Zopha under the pretense that he'd never need it to contact the bard.

Why in the All-Knowing's name would I ever wish to hear that voice in my head?

After all, following the trail of mischief and disaster was the best way to know where Ambriel was. The remembrance of his words made him sigh wearily, and shake his head.  Now that the damage had been done, Leif swallowed the blow to his pride and set the wooden chest down on the cart's back ledge.

"Then, shouldn't you know how dire the situation must be that I'm interrupting your precious search?" He asked a little more acidly than he had meant to be. 

Ambriel's bemused hum framed his first word as he sighed, "My, is that what you've been so crossed with me about?"

"Forget it," Leif grunted, feeling his temple throb at the needling tone within the bard's voice. He cursed under his breath but made sure that the thought hadn't reached his mind. Perhaps it was the gnawing concern at the back of his mind when he led Svet home that urged him to part ways with Ambriel. After all, if they'd been in one another's presence when Arus showed Herself before him - She may have compelled the bard to his knees. His throat felt tight at the thought of something worse befalling the cheerful sod, and forced the thought from mind.

"Listen clearly, return to the Steins and stay within Sipha's Mist until Zopha and I return."

"What for?" Ambriel airily countered, and the heavy weight of concern evaporated into irritated airs. 

Testily Leif said, "I do not believe you are in a position to argue."

There was a slight shift and a rustle of fabric, likely Ambriel's cloak as he situated himself into a comfortable position. Leif took a deep breath and willed himself not to groan with frustration. Whenever their discussions leaded to things like this and Ambriel found himself a comfortable perch, like a proud bird looking down upon its prey, it never boded well. 

There was a distinctly imperious edge to the bard's voice as he stated,  "And I do not believe you are positioned to do more than fret should I dare not to heed." 

Leif's eyebrow twitched as he imagined Ambriel batting a hand, and looking upon him like he was a child throwing a tantrum.

This bastard..

"At the very least, tell me what dangers would require me to hide behind an ogién's guard?"

"Her name is Sipha," Leif snapped, remembering to keep his voice low when he heard Coltham's shuffling around the front of the cart. He chanced a glance at the shuttered windows of Katarina's cottage, then slipped further down between the buildings. 

In his ear, Ambriel huffed then amended with what Leif almost thought was remorse, "Forgive me, what dangers pose the need to hide behind Lady Sipha's barrier?"

It wasn't perfect, but Leif brushed aside his indignation. "Soon, I will be leaving the village, and the Steins is the safest place for you without me near."

Ambriel scoffed, "Surely, you can do better than that. Even if you were to leave, Captain Zopha is present within the grounds."

Leif opened his mouth then closed it. It was reasonable to assume that Zopha would protect Ambriel should he stray too close to danger, but something akin to shame nestled in his chest. Ambriel was his charge, and while he appreciated her strength - the idea of leaving the bard to her was vexing at the least. Leif shook it off, and rubbed at his temple to stave off the headache that was forming, "Is it not enough to heed a warning and live another day to sing another verse?" 

"There's no need, as my songs will outlive me," Ambriel said. "Remember?"

Admonishments sat venomously at the tip of Leif's tongue at Ambriel's cheek. He considered the merit of telling him of what dangers were posed should he continue down this route. Likewise, the idea of giving him undue worry was disgruntling. Even if he tired of the bard's mouth at times, he hardly wanted to steal his sense of safety. 

I'm supposed to keep you safe.

"Oi, are y' done back there?!" Coltham shouted, his voice echoing off the walls that seemed to cage Leif in the longer he stood in the alleyway.  "Didn'tcha say time's of the essence an' all that?"

It felt as though an invisible hand was closing around his throat, keeping him from readily calling back. Nausea turned in his chest as he considered what would be best to do. How could he finish this job if his mind was constantly wracked with worry over Ambriel's whereabouts and going-ons?

"Leif," Ambriel called, and his name sounded strange in the bard's voice without Dear tacked at the front. "Just where is that you are going? I can admit, you've been quite lenient in allowing me out of your sight, which I do appreciate, for my freedom is priceless. However, my dear…"

The presence at his side pressed closer, and touch ghosted over the back of Leif's hand so warm that it felt real.  He blinked when the touch wrapped around his wrist and squeezed, turning his head to the left though he saw nothing there. Yet, warm breath ghosted over his lips as though Ambriel was there pressing closer into his space as he had earlier. 

"It sounds as though you fear that I will be left without protection much longer than it will take for a simple errand," Leif's fingers twitched with the urge to snap his wrist out of the invisible hold and the squeeze intensified. "Give me reason that I should not find you now and not leave your side."

His heart wavered when his hand was enveloped in a firm hold, a sweeping brush along his knuckles. 

"After all, am I not your ward?" He could hear the smile in his voice, and the soft sigh. "I feel safest in your care."