The girls laughed when they saw Kay fall into the water, with the older cousins laughing as Kire made her way to shore. “I am going to murder you, you fuck—er, Myka!” 
“Kay!” Pres exclaimed, giggling even more as her cousin failed to censor herself. Jan tutted disapprovingly, though she didn’t make much of a fuss, while Elva just kept laughing. 
“[i]Perhaps you need to be pushed into the water, too,[/i]” Ed commented, grinning toothily at Ysaryn, holding out his hand to ask for a drink next. 
“Well, I sure as hell won’t be the only one wet here,” Kire said, pouting, before turning to Etta and Precy, an evil grin on her face. The girls immediately caught on and started running, shrieking as Kire caught up with them, dragging them both into the water. 

Myka laughed as she returned to join the rest of them, watching Kire play with her younger cousins as she sat down on the sand. “She doesn’t get to do that very often, does she?” 
“None of us do,” Elva put in. “I’m glad she found this place, and friends here. Not that her current set is insufficient, mind you,” she clarified, to which Myka merely shrugged as she continued drinking. “But I just mean she needs more people and spaces to be herself. Gods know how heavy the burden of a crown is, and that Ring of hers, too. Is it true, about the execution the other day, Ed?” 
Ed frowned. “Not exactly beach-side conversation, sister,” he reminded her, reluctant to think about it, himself. He had been to executions before, had seen death, but it still left a bitter taste in his mouth. “But fine. Yes. Thirteen lords by the axe, and Gael by burning.” He frowned as he said that, staring out at sea.
Gavin, who had been keeping quiet because he was too full and wanted to drink in peace, looked at Ed, unnerved a little at what he said. Burning…it was one thing to execute somebody, another to find the most excruciating death for him. No doubt the man deserved it, but Gavin understood why it would be an awful thing to witness, nevertheless. 
“And she asked for that, specifically?” Elva said. Ed nodded, taking a swig of wine. “Gods. No wonder she’d been under a dark cloud till the celebration started.” 
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of anything similar, after Earnest,” Ed murmured, sinking into silence afterward. Elva, too, was quiet after that. 

They sank into idle chat while Kire walked the beach with Etta and Precy. After a while, they returned to join the others, the girls having gathered a fine collection of shells and pebbles to take back home. All three at this point were slightly shivering from the cool air and wet clothes. “We really should have planned this better,” Jan said, brow raised as she looked them over, “none of us are dressed properly for the beach, and we didn’t bring food.” 
“Aw, c’mon,” Myka said lazily as she lay back on the sand, head rested on her hands. “Wouldn’t kill you to be spontaneous now and then.”
“Which was the point, Jan,” Kire said with a soft laugh, sitting near Ruli and getting a bottle to drink from, 
“This family only seems to swing between ‘Too Uptight’ and ‘Too Reckless’,” Daryll remarked, already flushed from the wine. “For instance, deciding to suddenly get married just to seal a powerful alliance without telling the Empress.” 
The cousins laughed as Jan blushed, frowning at them. “Fine. But if we’re coming back here, we’re doing it properly.” 
“Yes, mum,” Kire teased. 

Sunset came, and they admired the view, the grownups pleasantly warm from the wine while the girls stayed close to Elva and Jan for warmth. Narda joined them, smelling of tobacco and herbs. “A fine sight, that is,” she said. Even Jan had no complaints, though soon she stood up and excused herself, wanting to get back to Ulrich and to take the girls home. 
“I’m coming with,” Myka said, waving goodbye to the others. “We got our own celebration at the ship, and they’ll kill me if I miss it. Ta. Next time, you aren’t missing it either, Empress.”
“Duly noted. Next time I’ll push you into the sea and helm the ship,” Kire called, grinning. She watched them as the girls said their good nights and headed back up to the portal. She took another sip, then glanced sidelong at Ruli. “Y’know, I thought you wouldn’t come at all today,” she said.