[ X’rhun waits with what one would assume to be quiet patience, but there is an anxiousness that settles under his skin, winding his nerves tighter with every moment that passes without reply. It shouldn’t matter, he tells himself. Ardyn is free to do as he wishes, and perhaps X’rhun is selfish for wanting to have both his pilgrimage and Ardyn’s company.

Perhaps it is selfish to force Ardyn to watch X’rhun live a pale imitation of his own, long-abandoned life.

Acceptable, says Ardyn at last, and at once the strings of quiet tension are cut. X’rhun breathes out a small laugh, something that sounds pleased and a bit too relieved for his liking, but there’s naught he can do to stop it. ]

Have some faith in me, my friend. I’d not be so foolish as to scare you away.

[ Not after finally finding him again. ]

Now— [ a vague motion with his fork, the metal catching the lamplight of the room. ] Let us finish supper ere it gets cold. Tomorrow, I shall show you the city, and from there… well, we shall see where the road takes us.