Luke paused mid-step, the sight before him catching him off guard. Sitting on a bench beneath the shade of a solitary tree were Gareth and Princess Anastasia, their figures bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The Kingdom of Nateron spread out before them, a tapestry of stone and life that spoke of recent battles and hard-won victories.
The two seemed lost in conversation, their voices too low for Luke to hear from where he stood behind them. The easy way they sat together, the relaxed curve of Gareth's shoulders, the soft smile on Anastasia's face—these were moments of quiet intimacy that Luke had rarely seen in his friend. He hesitated, feeling as though he was intruding on something private, something delicate.
