With Egil's return to the fold, it felt as though the last missing piece of a scattered puzzle had finally been set back into place.
The change was immediate, for the small tensions from his absences disappeared, melting into the air like mist under the morning sun. Smiles surfaced where moments before there had only been grim lines, even Jarza's stern expression softened.
And considering he was the one with most claims of anger against Egil, well that should have meant something...
Alpheo leaned toward his friend, studying the bruises and swelling with a frown that could not be fully hidden.
"Are you good?" he asked quietly, tilting his head, trying to take in the extent of Jarza's handiwork without drawing too much attention to it.
"Yes, yes, I'm good," Egil replied, his grin lopsided but unshaken. He raised his cup and took a hearty gulp of wine before adding with an easy laugh, "I barely had a scuffle with him. It's all dandy."
