Javier walked slowly, hands behind his back, calm. His father's command still sounded in his ears, but his thoughts wandered.
…Wait.
Where is Hesbeirn?
His brows lowered a little. He had brought the general along, right? He didn't forget him back in the dwarven kingdom, did he? That would be bad for his father's trust and for his own peace of mind.
He looked over his shoulder.
A long sigh escaped him.
There he was.
The tall general sat cross‑legged by a transport drone, holding a big dwarven barrel with both hands. His head leaned back as he drank strong liquor.
"Hic—this is the best!" Hesbeirn yelled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Around him, Armand maids and soldiers worked in perfect order, unloading the wine barrels that Gumarak had insisted on bringing. Their faces stayed steady, but the corners of their mouths twitched, showing they were barely holding back laughter.
Javier exhaled again and shook his head lightly.
