Maena watched the servants move around, preparing for Lorryll's departure.
"And what did the patriarch say about it?" Maena enquired.
"What would he say? Lorryll is a big man now, and he can do whatever he wants."
Maena nodded, looking at Elowen, noticing how her expression changed.
***
Jolthar walked with steady strides, the drake at his side.
The creature, once a berserk, unmanageable force, now followed him without hesitation. Its heavy claws scraped against the ground, but its usual aggressive energy had been subdued.
Jolthar whispered softly to it, his voice calm and steady, using the subtle connection he'd forged with the beast in their brief moments together.
"Stay here, in the pit," he murmured. "I'll come back soon. You'll be safe."
The drake let out a low, rumbling growl, its enormous head nodding in apparent understanding.
