"Gander!" he bellows. "I didn't know His Majesty already revived you! You bastard, I missed you?"
Gander allows himself the faintest smile. "And you're still loud as ever."
The two clasp forearms, the impact of it echoing like a hammer strike.
"It's good to see you, old friend," Gorath says with genuine warmth.
Varkas crosses his arms, and said. "We heard His Majesty was away for a few days."
Gorath scratches his beard, frowning slightly. "Where did the two of you even go? It's not like you to vanish without warning."
Gander steps aside and gestures toward the inner palace.
"His majesty will explain everything," he says simply.
The group moves with measured steps through the ornate corridor, columns of dark stone lined with soft-glowing crystal sconces. At the end, tall doors part silently as they approach, revealing a circular chamber of glass and obsidian. A wide, round table sits at the center, polished to a mirror sheen. Only one person stands within.
Alix.
