The journey back to the capital unfolded with less tension than before, though it was far from uneventful. Whenever they stopped to rest, Duke Cedric would drift toward Rhaegal, striking up conversations that stretched long into the evening. Malin disliked those moments. To him, the duke's presence always felt like an intrusion, as though Cedric meant to steal Rhaegal's attention away from him.
Rhaegal did not always entertain Cedric's sudden attempts at warmth. At times, he frowned at the man's behavior, but the duke only brushed it off with his usual nonchalance.
