"Brother Boren! Leaving without saying goodbye? How heartless!"
The voice echoed down the road like a barrel rolling downhill. Boren closed his eyes for a moment before turning around slowly, wearing a polite smile that resembled more of a surrender than a warm welcome.
Valeria shifted her weight on her mount behind him, watching with the quiet amusement that always surfaced whenever Garen was involved.
Garen Holtweiss waved both arms as if he feared Boren might suddenly gallop away and pretend not to hear him. Dressed in bright layers of silk that strained at the seams, his rings sparkled under the afternoon sun, and his belly bounced slightly as he hurried forward with surprising speed for someone of his size. Two attendants trailed behind him, looking embarrassed by how loudly he called out in the middle of the road.
"Brother!" Garen shouted again. "You were going to abandon me like this? After all we've been through?"
