She spoke of returning, and a smile broke his stony gaze. He hummed happily, the sound an almost-chuckle as he pulled away from her skin to just watch her, enjoy the view. "That would make me most happy." he nodded softly, "I'd like it very much for you to call the Ridge home." A true laugh rumbled in his chest and he bit his lip to stop himself from grinning too giddily. "And though I can't protect you everywhere," his smile faltered momentarily, "I can always offer you safety here." Oh, how he hoped that would always be the case. Any threat that entered the ridge he would fight, any issue that arose would be confronted, every problem that threatened his family would be kicked and beaten until the threat was gone and Asche no longer had to sleep with one eye open.

As the conversation developed Asche found himself relaxing, rocking his weight off his back right leg, lowering his head and relaxing his bottom lip as he leaned his shoulder closer to her in an attempt at comfort. The way Sinopa spoke of this Ahanu ignited a fire in the pit of this stomach - is this the way mares had spoken of Array? Would they one day speak this way of him? He shook his head, physically ridding his brain of such thoughts, and quietly listened with ears turned back against the wind. "What did he . . . " he stopped. There were times for prying, interrogation. Now was the time to show the woman who had opened so much of herself up him a reason to trust him and a reason to remain by his side. The envy he previously had felt for any other lover - or potential lover - of Tolinka had fled, only surpassed by concern and admiration for the sisters and the optimism that he could offer something better for them. He would offer something better, and he would deliver - if he had changed things as she admitted, he hoped it was for the better.

"Alright, let me show you." He smiled, planting one last kiss on her shoulder before turning and trotting up the bank, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that the bay mare was close behind. He scaled the rocks, following a narrow, twisting path around concealed caverns, momentarily skimming the edge of the jungle before leading them to the highest cliff with a view that would steal the breath from your lungs. The ledge was concealed by trees, private and perfect - the first cliff Caesisus had shown him on the night they met.

The cliff his capped father had thrown himself from was far different, bleak, lonely, sad.

The cliffs of the Ridge were resplendent, full of life. He turned to Sinopa and motioned with a swift flick of his head for her to join him. "On a clear day, like today, you can see all of the islands." He smiled, staring into the distance, his eyes avoiding the shores of Tinuvel with a laboured swallow. He'd watched here, waiting for Tolinka and Sinopa to arrive together - he would continue to wait for Tolinka, he knew. Perhaps he would even search for her - he kept these thoughts to himself. "And at night, the sun paints the sky as it falls and the stars seem to dance."

"This is my favourite place." he added, getting lost in the view with a twitch of his lips. "I hope, soon, you will find your own here."