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"And Ninako reminds us constantly that you don't have to travel to meet people who may want to kill you," Aranxia sighed as they approached a large door. "The previous queen was murdered in her bed. Of course, it was her own grandson who orchestrated that, so even being prepared wouldn't have helped in that sort of situation, I think."

She opened the door in front of them. "This is my room," she told Miyuki, stepping in and holding the door open for Miyuki to follow her.

The room was a bit larger than the guest rooms, and almost seemed to be an entire apartment rather than just a bed chamber. There was a sleeping area with a bed and bedside table, closet, dresser, couch and writing table, like the other rooms, but there was also an area set aside for her painting: an easel, shelves of bottles of paint and other tools for her work, several blank canvases, and a stack of parchment. Another area was her dressing area, with a dressing screen, table and mirror, and a padded stool for sitting on.

Aranxia laughed softly. "Not always, but often," she grinned. She headed over to her writing desk. "Mother says I should do other things as well, but I think Nako is pleased that someone shares her love, if not her talent."

She picked up a canvas and brought it over to Miyuki.

"Here," she murmured, holding it out to her. "If you don't want it, I'll keep it ... I was a little inspired yesterday when I saw you and your Eevee."

Like all of her works, the painting did not stretch to the edges of the canvas; but in the center was an image of Miyuki walking through the courtyard, her Eevee in her arms, and like Aranxia's other works it too had an otherworldly lighting effect.

Aranxia's eyes lit up. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "You chose a name for her!"

She beamed at Miyuki. "You're very welcome for the painting, Miyuki. You could put it on the wall in your room while you're here, maybe on the ship or something, too! I don't know about when you're traveling ... but at least you can look at it whenever you want, still."

Aranxia smiled. "Yes," she murmured. "It will be quite the trip. I'm really looking forward to it. But on that note, I really must be getting to my lesson. I'll see you later, Miyuki."

She smiled warmly at her cousin, then went to retrieve the things that she would need for her lessons for the day.

Earendil and Lin meanwhile took the opportunity to speak with Shiro about Andarien's Ponyta. Once they had the information they needed, they spoke again with Reave and Atalya, and in the end it was decided that after the rain passed, they would set up a tent in the courtyard for Andarien and the Ponyta to stay in at night. That way they would be protected from outside dangers as well as from the elements.

Eventually, they were ready to visit Eldrin, and they made their way to the courtyard to find Miyuki. By this time, the sky was beginning to darken, and a light wind had picked up; but the wind was not very strong, and it was not yet raining.

"Miyuki," Earendil called out as he, Lin and Andarien made their way into the courtyard. "Miyuki, we're ready to go up the mountain."

"Mi!" Andarien called, looking around for his sister.

When Miyuki stood up, Earendil saw the movement, and he directed the family in her direction.

Andarien's eyes were bright, and he hurried forward to reach Miyuki first.

"There you are, Mi!" he exclaimed. "Come on, we're going to go meet Uncle Eldrin! And Ada says we have to hurry because weather is coming and we want to be up the mountain before it hits, and it's a long way up!"

Eon had been trotting along beside Andarien, but when he spotted the other Eevee in Miyuki's arms, he squeaked up at her and bounced playfully as if asking the other baby Eevee to play with him.

Eon was positively beaming with pleasure, his silver ears perked straight up proudly. He bounded around Ai, squeaking his excitement at having a playmate like himself. He paused briefly for a moment to sniff at her, then put his forepaws on her back and tried to hop over her ... with mixed results. He ended up tumbling over her rather than hopping.

Andarien giggled. "Keep up with us!" he told Eon and Ai as Earendil took his hand.

"Come, Miyuki," Earendil called her with a gentle smile. "It's a bit of a long way."

Eon scrambled back to his paws and skittered after the others. He gave Ai a playful n** to fuzz of her tail before running back after Andarien, who giggled down at him.

"Silly Eon," he teasted his Eevee, though his eyes were sparkling with laughter. "But it's good that you have a new friend! And maybe the two of you can train together, too!"

Eon squealed his approval of that suggestion, and skipped over to run next to Ai as they followed their family back into the castle.