Waking up.

As you return to consciousness, your body aching from the ride out to the temple and back, your bad leg particularly sore from your night of passion, you feel Rhona nestled up against you under the furs, see Kara sat on the edge of the bed, watching you both.

"Mornin' Edward, cousin." Kara says, a glint in her eye.

Rhona rubs her bleary eyes.

"Kara! Spirits, how long've you been there?" the healer asks.

“Not long.” she assures her cousin.

“Sorry for jumping into bed wi' Edward without say-so.” the brunette says, a little sheepishly. “We were ale-ing, an' one thing led to another...”

Kara holds up a hand.

“Edward and I have an arrangement.” Kara admits. “Hence why I'm not chasin' him around the room with my axe right now.”

“In that case, cousin, there's always room for one more...” Rhona offers playfully, lifting the furs atop the both of you.

“Temptin', but... I can't.” Kara says plainly. “I've been up all night. I got in there wi' yous, I'd be asleep, and there'd be no rousin' me for at least six hours.”

“Six hours in bed wi' Kara, doesnae sound too bad, does it Edward?”

You're just about to agree when the princess stands.

“Donald needs my help.” she deflects. “More to do than there is hours in the day, aye?”

“I know how that feels, cousin, but you've got tae make room for some fun now and then.”

“And I have. This afternoon, I'm taking Madeleine to the alehouse, to raise a tankard with some of the coalition soldiers.”

“Is she feeling better?” you ask. Regardless of her situation, you have a hard time picturing the Dauphine drinking with the rank and file soldiers.

“More or less. Or at the very least, she insists on getting' out of her rooms for a wee bit. Who knows, might do her some good.” Kara shrugs.

“You've taken an interest in her.” you note.

“I do love a project. Why do you think I married you?” Kara scoffs.

“Hey!” you stammer.

“Hang on, Madeleine, that's that princess from Sinnabarrow, right?” Rhona asks, pushing herself up to a sitting position. “Bet you could share some dirt on her, Kara. Is she really as much of a freak as people say?”

“I don't know if I'd call her that, exactly.” Kara says. “She's... different. But I can't deny there's something I find intriguing about her.”

“Watch out, Edward.” Rhona giggles. “This one's prone to fallin' for 'intriguing' people. First it was Robert, then...”

“You're the one who should watch it, cousin.” Kara laughs, playfully swatting her relative's naked form. “You should both come along for these drinks, though. Madeleine's something of a healer herself.”

“Oh aye, I know her kind well.” Rhona says, rolling her eyes. “Let me guess, she thinks just because she can tell the four humours apart, she can do what I've spent my entire life learning to do, better even?”

“She'd certainly believe that, I'll give you that.” Kara concedes. “Now, I need tae be off. See yous in the camp?”

“We'll be there.” you promise, as Kara makes her exit.

“Enough about Madeleine.” Rhona decides, rubbing her nakedness against yours. “Where were we?”