"Lord Starlight. I didn't take you for someone who sleeps in."
Upon returning to the deck, I was greeted by none other than the former Temple Master, Bloodmader .. the old man still standing exactly where he'd been since the war began.
"My apologies," I replied. "I suppose the last battle finally caught up to me."
He nodded.
"No blame from me. Who am I to criticize the hero who saved all our asses?"
With a dry chuckle, I joined him at the ship's prow, where he led what remained of the fleet.
Bloodmader had changed the way he looked at me ever since the previous battle .. that much was obvious.
"I haven't saved anyone yet," I said. "Any one of us could lose our head at any moment. That was just one battle. The war is far from over."
"True."
He answered simply, and both our gazes shifted toward the horizon.
It felt like he wanted to continue the pleasant conversation .. there was a genuine curiosity in his eyes ..but something ahead quickly stole our full attention.
