The carriage rolled out of Minato's gates in the grey morning light, its wheels finding the mountain road with a rhythm that settled into the background of the enclosed space inside. Through the lacquered panels came the muffled sound of hooves — Ayame's women riding escort, disciplined and quiet. The town fell away behind them.
Inside, the three of them sat in the arrangement the carriage had assigned them — Ayame composed on one side, Nathan and Yukihime across from her, Yukihime having managed to reduce the gap between herself and Nathan's arm to something approaching zero without appearing to have done so deliberately.
Ayame's eyes moved between them with the pleasant attention of someone who finds the dynamic genuinely interesting.
"So then, Ryo," she said, settling back with a small smile. "Tell me about yourself."
Yukihime's expression tightened almost imperceptibly. She shifted closer.
