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Allura’s door opens on the first knock. Kima nearly stumbles forward, muttering “wizards” under her breath.
“Ah, Lady Kima! What brings you to my door?”
Kima frowns at the younger woman; faux innocence doesn’t suit Allura the way bluntness suits Kima, so: “You mean other than the eight adventurers you hired to rescue me? Powerful enough to kill the biggest beholder I’ve ever seen, and still have enough left in the tank to outrun a city of mind flayers? Awful lot of trouble and expense to go to just for old times’ sake.”
Kima savors the faint flush on Allura’s cheeks. “Oh - well - I thought if you’d gotten into trouble you couldn’t handle, it must be quite serious. And from what you've told me, it seems I was correct.”
“Why not come yourself then?” The words are unexpectedly soft coming out of Kima’s mouth, yearning. Hopeful, as befits a paladin of the light. “And don’t say your duties at the Pansophical; we both know you could have put those aside for a few weeks.”
“I–” Whatever she was going to say dies on her lips as Kima gives her the “don’t make me cast Zone of Truth” glare. “I wasn’t sure if you ever wanted to see me again.”
“Well, here I am,” Kima barks, and realizes that she doesn’t have a second half of that sentence.
“So you are,” and now it is Allura’s turn to grin as Kima feels herself blush slightly. “And all the way from Kraghammer? Awful lot of trouble to go to for idle curiosity,” she teases, and lets Kima linger uncomfortably on her front steps before spreading her hands in welcome. “Why don’t you come in for tea? We could catch up.”
“I’d like that,” Kima mutters, somehow managing to sound both sullen and delighted at the same time. It’s a nice trick, Allura thinks, and closes the door behind her.