The knight who came in wasn't moving with urgency.
Darion had noticed that first. It was the pace of someone carrying out a completed task rather than delivering bad news. He was holding something wrapped in cloth.
Darion relaxed slightly.
The knight stopped in front of the table, bowed placed the wrapped cloth on the ground.
"It's been done, m'lord."
Darion reached over and unwrapped the cloth.
The skull sat cleanly in his hands.
Whatever the smith had done to it, he had done thoroughly, the flesh was gone, all of it, the bone beneath pale and dry and smooth to the touch.
The eye sockets were hollow, the jaw intact, the whole structure clean. It was obvious the work had been careful rather than hurried.
