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[Sabra via Discord]

"Tai..." Kieran's expression was gentle as he tugged at their swinging arms so that he could wrap her into a hug. "Well, you are always more than welcome to share my space out here. Though I could always try to get some extra pillows and blankets for comfort." He added lightly, a soft chuckle leaving his lips at the thought. If Taijana was here then he would be more extravagant with his own luxuries, something Kieran often avoided for himself in favor of more books and work. Not that he thought it could compare to the luxuries of the Oban nobles, but he could definitely get some beautiful tapestries and share some of those chocolates that the others gushed about.

Kieran let out a soft sigh as he held onto Taijana, gently squeezing her in reassurance. "I think Alfina and Caolan will be fine on their own for a bit longer, but they would also be delighted to have their mother return. Why would they be upset if you came back home? If anything they should have a grudge against me for rarely being home, maybe?" He offered thoughtfully. "But why would you feel like you're in the way?" He asked quietly, pulling back a bit to look at his wife. "If you think you're to blame because our two oldest decided..." Kieran started as his words trailed off. If anything was it his fault for them inheriting his desire for travel? "Well, you've done nothing wrong." He concluded after a moment before nodding. "You're free to stay here like I said before. I think honestly once this is over that I'll think about retiring. Maybe I can finally publish some books from the journals I have stored at home. Some cozy nights with a warm drink spent together in front of the fire place sound nice to me, if that's alright with you."

[Sabra via Discord]

"You're only smothering them if you're hovering above their shoulder at every waking moment." Protested Kieran, his expression more relaxed the longer he kept Taijana in his arms. He had almost forgotten about how perfectly she fit there, her head nestled perfectly in the crook of his neck. His gaze lowered as he looked over her and placed a light kiss at the top of her head. "If anything then you can smother me. I need it because of how much I've missed you." Kieran admitted as cheesy as the line might have sounded and brought a slight flush to his own cheeks that went beyond the desert heat. "Also, our youngest are saints and thankfully less possessed by the devil's blood that flows in their father's veins. I don't think we need to worry as much." He teased even though the words had stung him at one point, the whispers not escaping his notice even as he lingered in Yael before leaving on the next excursion. So many still didn't understand how he could roam foreign lands even now, but Kieran refused to allow them to put him down. He just wished that he had been there more...maybe something could have been different then? Either way they couldn't live in the past and had to look forward to the future while wishing the best for their children.

"Really, truly." Replied Kieran with a smile. "I've missed you so much that it would only take years from my life if I don't settle soon. And if either of us get restless after I return then we can travel together going forward." The Yaeli nodded at the thought before looking around a bit. "If you're bold enough to try to explore this encampment then I'll gladly show you a bit of what we're doing. It's temple ruins so there's a lot of Oban culture embedded in the engravings that show their gods too. I could teach you more and you could impress your new friends with the knowledge, if you'd like?"

"Oooh, that might explain some things." Kieran joked back with a chuckle. Either way it would be nice to have such faith in things like Taijana did. If they truly could just be blessed going forward then Kieran would not complain and he would look towards their golden years together. The thought made him give her a grateful squeeze again, the Yaeli's shock from seeing his wife earlier forgotten as he just treasured the moment with her.

Another soft chuckle left his lips. "Is that so? Maybe I should keep you out here for a couple of days then else you'll never recover." They did like their drinking in Oba, that much he had learned over the months spent here. And he could only imagine how much his wife had been drinking, especially with how she was acting in the moment. "You can lean on me all you want, but we'll have to walk like this." He released her from his hug, Keiran offering her his arm instead so that he could begin Taijana's own private tour of the ruins while the rest continued walking around in their separate group for the time being.

[Kieran 10]