Pietro’s reaction and subsequent praise earned him a wide grin. Although many years had passed since she’d needed the validation of others to have any confidence in her own abilities, she appreciated the compliment nonetheless, and a somewhat embarrassed flush rose to her cheeks. His wonder reminded her of happier times, too, and she found his enthusiasm infectious. Walnut had managed to cling to his joy despite everything that had happened, but she had found few others among the survivors as untroubled as he. Though the relative solemnity came more naturally to her, she sometimes missed the carefree happiness of the past.

“Usually missed,” Walnut corrected her, practically singsong. The river otter never had trouble verbalizing what she herself only admitted to in the dead of night.

Whatever.

She was talking to Pietro right now anyway, not Walnut. Pietro, whose interests lay more in exploring other kingdoms than they did investigating the secrets of Arynnite enchantments. At his question, she smiled and shook her head. “I’ve stood on Dresmond’s border and looked into Coheed and Lorendale, but there isn’t much to see from there,” Kester said, head tilting slightly to the side as she studied the man before her. Although her own knowledge of Coheed was limited to the battlefield, she didn’t think it unlikely that someone like Pietro would have had the opportunity to learn more. “Have you seen any other kingdoms?”