Darion followed her gaze. He finally remembered. Right. We aren't alone.
Darion slowly lowered her, setting her gently on her feet. Seren stepped away and hastily straightened her clothes, trying to regain her composure. Darion cleared his throat, turning toward the crowd.
"Time to put this place in order," he said.
His expression changed immediately. The playful look disappeared, the warmth in his eyes freezing over. The conqueror returned.
Darion looked over the streets of Vrethka. There was work to do. The wounded needed to be separated from the dead. The prisoners needed to be freed. The surviving warriors needed to be dealt with. The settlement needed guards. And somehow, someone needed to take responsibility for this place while he returned to Percvale.
Darion opened his mouth. "First—"
"MY LORD!"
A voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the silence.
Darion turned. A young man came running through the street, stumbling over the broken cobblestones. Marrick.
