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Iorlas and Daeron both looked relieved at the question. It had been a bit awkward for them, watching the interaction between Ahkshi and his mother.

"He's going to make it," Iorlas said happily, her smile lighting up her entire face as she looked down at the child in her arms.

"And," Daeron added with a grin, "he now has a name. So Miyuki and Wren, meet your new cousin, Amir."

Wren's eyes were sparkling brightly. "That is wonderful," she said warmly. "I'm so happy to hear it."

Ahkshi caught a glance from his mother, and he cleared his throat and sat down next to Kyrie again. "D-d-d-dearest," he murmured to her, "if you wouldn't mind d-d-doing some introd-d-ductions ..."

Kyrie rubbed her eyes one final time and nodded. "Everyone, this is Akoreyl, Ahkshi's mother, and my mother-in-law."

Akoreyl looked over the group, her eyes filled with suspicion and something unrecognizable, but unpleasant; and though she did not speak, after a moment she nodded her head in greeting.

Kyrie went on to introduce the others - all of them, since even Ahkshi didn't know anyone other than Daeron and Iorlas, whom Akoreyl wouldn't have known yet.

"Prince Daeron and Princess Iorlas of the Southland Elves, from the Four Lands," she began, "Princess Wren of the Westland Elves, and Princess Miyuki, also of the Southland Elves. And yes, Akoreyl, I'm aware she's not elvish," she added quickly, looking darkly at her mother-in-law, "but her father is and she was adopted. Just as Daeron and Iorlas have adopted this little boy."

She glanced back at the two. "Amir, you called him?"

Iorlas nodded, a bit uncertainly. She wasn't sure what to make of that last comment Kyrie had made about Miyuki to Akoreyl ...

Akoreyl just shook her head incredulously and said something in the Fire Elven tongue. Anger flared in Kyrie's eyes, but she masked it as quickly as it had come up, and she replied calmly in the Common Tongue, "I will help anyone who needs it."

Akoreyl sighed and looked at her son, who just looked evenly back at her; and then, without another word, the woman turned and left.

Wren arched one eyebrow at Kyrie and Ahkshi. "What was that about?" she asked quietly.

Kyrie clenched her jaw, but shook her head. "Don't worry about it. It wasn't about any of you."

"I would ask how close to here," Kyrie remarked dryly, "but I'm too tired at the moment. I'm going to go home and sleep until tomorrow morning. Unless," she added with a playful grin, turning to her husband and putting her hand on his knee, "you would like to join me."

Ahkshi chuckled and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. "N-n-not n-now," he grinned. "I still w-want to keep an eye on Am-m-mir while h-he's awake."

"And maybe give us some lessons in speaking in your language?" Daeron suggested as Kyrie pushed herself off the bed and reached for her bags, which were still on the floor where she had dropped them the night before. "We're going to be here a while, we promised Kyrie we would spend more time here whenever we came, and it would be great to be able to speak with the general populace."

Ahkshi blinked in surprise. "I thought you already kn-new it."

"Only me," Iorlas smiled. "But I'm not sure how effective I would be at teaching it. I've never taught a language before."

Well, not in the manner of giving lessons, anyways - though one could argue that she was after all the one who gave Andarien his knowledge of languages.

"Ah," Ahkshi nodded. "Then yes, I will t-t-teach you, or at least t-t-try. S-s-sometimes it's hard to g-g-get things out."

"I could help," Kyrie offered immediately.

Her husband laughed and pushed her playfully. "N-no! Go home and s-s-sleep already!" With a grin, he added, "L-l-loki, make sure she does."

Uruloki slithered out of his spot wrapped around Kyrie's torso and, still the same size as the tattoo, perched on her shoulders. "Yes, sir!" he replied sharply, saluting Ahkshi with one raised wing.

"All right," Kyrie laughed. "If you're going to gang up on me. But if anything big happens, I expect to be informed." She grinned at the others. "See you tomorrow, then. Good luck with the lessons. And once I'm properly rested, I promise I'll show you around the city properly."

"W-w-w-we both will," Ahkshi added. "N-n-now go, Kyrie."

With a laugh, Kyrie left.

"We're well-rested, thanks to Ahkshi and Kyrie," Daeron chuckled.

Iorlas laughed as well. "Sneaks. Kyrie told us, rather forcefully, to sleep last night, and promised she would wake us after a few hours so that we could take a turn watching Amir while he slept. Then the two of them stayed awake the whole night and left us sleeping."

"In our d-d-d-defense," Ahkshi pointed out with a grin, "we had a l-l-lot to catch up on. She's b-b-been away for a while."

Wren smiled to herself. Kyrie seemed to be a different person here. It was nice to know that the woman they only ever saw as serious could relax and enjoy herself, too.

"And how are things going at the inn?" Daeron asked, still grinning. "I guess we'll be joining you there eventually."

"It's a nice place," Wren added with a smile. "As far as we can tell, no one there speaks any languages we know, though, so we're really going to have to learn the language, especially if we're going to be here a while."

"How l-long?" Ahkshi asked softly.

Daeron and Iorlas exchanged a glance. "We're not sure, actually," Daeron replied. "Of course we want to make sure Amir is ready to travel, but we also promised Kyrie that we would spend extra time here so that she can be with you longer. It was part of our agreement for her guiding us around the continent."

"I suppose we'll be here until Kyrie's ready to move on, then," Iorlas shrugged.

"Ah," Ahkshi nodded. "S-s-so it depends on me, t-t-too."