The council meeting had barely ended when George made his way out of the room, his thoughts still weighed down by the enormity of what lay ahead. He was about to head back to his office when a voice from down the hall stopped him in his tracks.
"George!"
He turned, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw a familiar figure rushing toward him. Stephanie, her short brown hair tousled from travel, her eyes sharp and determined, was running toward him. Behind her was the rest of her group, Kaelen, the tall, silver-haired elf warrior, and the rugged survivors who had fought beside her during the winter. They were a sight for sore eyes.
"Stephanie!" George exclaimed, a mix of relief and surprise in his voice as he hurried forward to meet her.
She practically barreled into him, wrapping her arms around him in a fierce hug. "I'm not dead, George. I'm not dead," she said breathlessly, her voice filled with emotion.
