Chin skritches are very good indeed! She purrs quite loudly.

Artemesia laughs at his teasing. "Never doubted she'd choose well, when she picked someone to settle with." She eyes the position of the sun. "And I should be getting home to my Penelope." There's warmth, love, pride, in those words.

"We look forward to meeting her," Kirke says. Xenophon nods.

"Time to go, then," Artemesia says, sliding out of her chair. "Fair warning, you're like to hear stories about what I got up to with Kreyu, back in the day," she tells the two of them.

Xenophon smiles. "I'd like that."

Xenophon and Kirke both clasp forearms with Skellig in farewell. They are a bit sad to leave, but mostly excited about their future.