On their way back, silence settled between the two men.
The road stretched out across the vast grasslands, bathed in the pale glow of early morning. It had only been an hour since the first light broke the horizon, and faint stars still lingered in the sky.
With everything done, it was a peaceful morning, but Kael's mind was far from peaceful. His thoughts were tangled, consumed by the image of Aster, leaving him unable to speak. He walked with his eyes looking straight ahead, but the scenery around him barely registered in his head.
Even after they had left the dwarven kingdom far behind, Kael couldn't shake the unease. His conversation with the dwarf king echoed in his mind.
He had asked, quietly and carefully, what would become of Aster. The dwarf king had paused for a long moment before replying, his voice carrying with equal parts respect and firmness:
