The walk back to the west building was much more light-hearted than Kel's encounter with the emperor, thanks to Thane's chatter. The knight had appeared conveniently in time to prevent Kel from asking any further questions about the book, and he had kindly offered to escort her back.
"How long have you known His Majesty?" Kel blurted out during one of the rare lulls in Thane's conversation.
"Hmm," Thane stopped and rubbed his chin, "you could say we grew up together, I guess."
"So you're childhood friends?" Kel inquired. It was too odd to even picture the Dragon Emperor as a child.
"That's right," Thane nodded. "All three of us, Ira too."
"The secr- I mean the man in the office before?"
Thane smiled as Kel corrected herself. "He's really not all that bad, just a little stiff sometimes."
