"Fuck… that was tiring," Alpheo muttered as he tipped the last of his cup back and let the sharp wine burn its way down. The sourness lingered on his tongue, but he savored it, for it felt like the first honest taste he'd had all day.
The first session of the conference had finally ended. In truth, it had lasted no more than a handful of hours, but for Alpheo it might as well have stretched on for a month. . By the end, his shoulders ached more than they had after battle, his mind heavy as lead.
Still, exhaustion did not mean dissatisfaction. Far from it.
"Have you seen that fucker's face?" Asag barked suddenly, half-laughing, half-shouting, his voice already made loud by the wine. He slammed his palm down on the table, rattling the cups and spilling a little of his own drink down his sleeve. "Gods damn it, that made all the travel worth it!"
The men around him chuckled, raising their cups in agreement.
