"I..." Iskandar started, savoring the strong bouquet of the generous helping of wine he was given. It was again, some of the finest drink he'd ever had, but perhaps he should continue to expect that from the selection of the King of Heroes. This wine wasn't of the blonde's treasury, strangely, but a cabernet he had sourced from the far west.

"I will never understand your obsession with that little girl," he said, and took a small sip of the alcohol to swirl in his mouth and appreciate.

The King of Heroes cracked a smug smirk over his own glass of wine and reclined on his leather Poltrona Frau Kennedee. Like a true king, he took his time to enjoy his drink before gracing the big fellow with an answer. After all, Iskandar was a guest here, he would abide by the rules.

"Then perhaps it would do you well to not struggle, King of Conquerors," he responded leisurely, kicking up his legs to rest on a soft cushion. "Merely accept that I do desire her for myself and advise me as I have requested."

Iskandar was silent for a moment, and although the burly man was across the room and by the window, the space was large enough for the echoes of his sighs to reach the host's ears. He was debating within himself whether or not giving out love advice was the best idea. On the one hand, Iskandar would have preferred changing Arturia's mindset on kingship before he could get the little girl started on courtship. On the other, there was the bet with Cú Chulainn, and Iskandar had somehow believed putting his money on the King of Heroes was the way to go.

"Do you not feel honored that I trust you to be my counsel? Few have ever been granted the privilege," Gilgamesh prodded, bribing the King of Macedon with a rather generous refill.

Iskandar wisely chose not to cackle as he delivered his next line. "Yes, well, it isn't every day the wise king Gilgamesh seeks advice on courtship of all things."

The room quivered just a little as the sinewy ginger took a seat across the first king. "From the beginning then, recount your actions, King of Heroes."

Normally, the demigod didn't care for mongrels who dared take that kind of imperative tone with him, but Alexander was a rare exception. Plus, the man did accept the gracious invitation into his home, unlike another certain blonde monarch who had yet to come to visit. So, Gilgamesh reported all their interactions, from the battle after Iskandar's defeat, his resurrection and corruption by the Grail Mud, her summoning, to their final battle in the Fifth War. He then told him of their meeting in the Throne of Heroes, their new names, and every day he'd had the chance to see her since her Master put them back in the world.

Iskandar was almost jealous, really, considering he was the only one of the kings who truly wished to be reborn and yet Gilgamesh was given a body post-war and the King of Knights was summoned twice in succession. What luck. To think the result of both wars was decided by the same two Servants also put a little dent in his pride, since one of those Servants was the dreaming little girl he no longer truly recognized as an equal. And she killed Gilgamesh too, he reminded himself.

At the same time, knowing that the Grail wasn't an omnipotent wish-granting device as he and Waver had guessed, made him feel...relieved. He wouldn't have had his wish granted even if his last Ionioi Hetairoi had survived Gilgamesh's Ea.

Back to what he was here for. In all honesty, Iskandar wasn't too well versed in courtship, considering most of his plethora of lovers were women and men alike who'd come to him and not the other way around. Nevertheless, he would try his best, especially when the one he was giving advice to had a... unique style of courtship. Even with Iskandar's inexperience he at least knew that was the wrong way to go about things, especially when the woman he was after was such a proud heroic spirit, her ideals aside. On what universe was it acceptable to strike a lady you fancy with swords and spears instead of gifting her flowers and gold?

Well, Medusa might be into knife play, but that was beside the point.

"You mentioned you were reborn in Grail Mud?"

Gilgamesh nodded and twirled his wine glass. "Rebirth...a scant term for describing that existence," he explained, remembering his struggles with maintaining that body, both in terms of collecting mana and preserving his mental state.

Gilgamesh wasn't an evil person. He was cruel when necessary, callous for he believed adopting such an attitude fit his role, especially since being two-thirds god, he was literally built superior. And since Kirei's methods of sustaining him were convenient, since they gave use to mongrel orphans who had no further purpose, why would he refuse?

Kings, as he and Iskandar have agreed, do not regret their decisions. However, that was only the case if that king was in his right mind. After that cursed black mud bath, Gilgamesh would begrudgingly admit he might not have been himself. Not entirely. Even if he had survived being faced with all the evils of the world, he might not have come out unscathed. What he allowed to happen in the basement of the Kotomine Church was necessary, but it wasn't a method Arturia would have approved of. If she knew, perhaps she would never truly turn his way again.

"This Merlin, King Arthur's father figure, what do you suppose he meant?" Iskandar asked, with a hand on his chin. Ah, yes, he had forgotten to mention that little detail, hadn't he.

"A gift from my mother," he said, and directed the other king's attention to his snake-like irises. They flashed with red luminescence that was entirely not human, reminding Iskandar how much 'god' Gilgamesh really was. "They can see all the way to humanity's end, should that sight be one I wish to behold. The half-blooded mongrel has similar abilities, though all that is clear to him is the present. Apparently, even that is not to be underestimated."

Iskandar took a long sip of wine. Clairvoyance...that was certainly a formidable quality to have, on top of the strength Gilgamesh possessed already. This Merlin seemed like a worthy man to recruit, if only he could get the King of Knights on board.

"And so you've seen a future, then? One where that girl falls into your arms?" Iskandar asked, his curiosity piqued.

Gilgamesh only shrugged. He knew it was a possibility, and that fact was reason enough to believe it would come true. After all, clearly, he was the superior- nay, the only viable candidate for her heart. He had decided she was his, and so it will be.

Iskandar took one look at the King's face and sighed. He believed he now knew what Arturia's court wizard had meant.

"Very well, then I believe I have come up with a suggestion."

The King of Heroes smirked, pleased. He set down his wine glass for the first time that day and leaned forward to listen. Iskandar mirrored him, trying to figure out how best to bring up the topic without insulting the king, not that he couldn't take it.

"Well, come now, no more dilly-dallying," Gilgamesh encouraged. "I only have so much patience."

The King of Conquerors sighed.

"Knock."

The look Gilgamesh gave him was priceless. It seemed his little statement had rendered the first King utterly speechless, with one eyebrow raised and mouth slightly agape. A few seconds passed in silence, and Gilgamesh's frozen expression prompted Iskandar to at least try to explain.

"You have visited her several times, yes?" Iskandar queried and continued as Gilgamesh gave him a slight nod. "When of those times have you actually been invited in?"

There was an almost imperceptible widening of eyes. Iskandar would have missed it, had he not been watching Gilgamesh closely. Ha, just as he guessed. Arturia hadn't ever let him in willingly. But, the King of Heroes only scoffed and poured himself and his guest another glass.

"You would have me march to her door and," Gilgamesh looked like he was sorting through a couple of terms, " ask to be let in? You think me a pet?" The last word was spoken with as much disgust as he could muster. How dare this mongrel even suggest such a thing? Clawing like a dog at the knob. Ridiculous.

Right, Iskandar had forgotten that Gilgamesh possessed not a single shred of humility, the pompous ass. Come on, even he groveled at Medusa's windowsill every now and then. The woman was a bloody sex goddess. If Gilgamesh never learned to take a bruise to the ego every now again, he feared the king would never advance with the little girl. Especially not when nearly every day that passed, it seemed Arturia drew that much closer to their fellow competitor in the Fourth War, if Cú was to be believed.

"You asked for my advice, Goldie. Take it or leave it, it is what it is."

The oldest king looked over to the side, the memory of Arturia's eyes the day he came to her dressing room overtaking his mind. He wanted her, he wanted those eyes to look only at him, but somehow the dauntless hatred in her orbs that day had taken him off guard, when so many times before he'd relished in that heated gaze.

The nights that passed since then, he contemplated what about them bothered him so much. She wasn't supposed to vex him by any means. She was only to be his wife after all, devoted to him at night, at his side during the day. She was his to proudly put on display, with that exotic beauty of hers he'd never before seen on any of his conquests. Her qualities made Arturia the only one ever fit to be his queen. She was a marvel so great mongrels who dared lay eyes on her could only seethe quietly in jealousy, knowing they could never have a woman better than she.

But her reaction the night when he'd so generously cared for her wounds…it was disconcerting. He had half a mind to punish her for striking him like she did, but all thought of doing so disappeared once he'd seen her expression.

He'd seen despair on Arturia once, when her Master ordered her to destroy the Grail. He'd seen rage the night of their final battle in Ryuudou Temple. But the fear and anguish on her distressed countenance that was enough to disarm him. The tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, the way she shuddered as she held herself...it was the kind of quiet horror that Gilgamesh only associated with trauma. That was never an expression that belonged on Arturia's face.

Ever since then, she'd been avoiding him, he could tell. When he'd grown tired of it, he visited her in her dressing room, and all he received was cold fury from those emerald eyes of hers. Even after it all, he was of the opinion he didn't deserve to be scorned like so.

"But," Iskandar added, momentarily pulling the King of Heroes from his thoughts, "it may be wise to leave her be for now, to not aggravate her ire, goldie."

The king crossed his eyebrows. Leave her be? It almost seemed out of the question. Then again, Gilgamesh was getting nowhere with her these days so perhaps it was worth a try.

"I'll consider it."

Satisfied, the burly men clapped his hands to his knees and stood up, making for Gilgamesh's balcony. He supposed that piece of advice was more than enough, and he had some other very exciting matters to attend to.

"Leaving so soon? And here I was feeling generous enough to reward you," Gilgamesh said, beckoning the butler in the corner forward. "What's your pleasure? Women, men, both? It would be no trouble to send for a few."

Iskandar shook his head, which made Gilgamesh's eyes go up in disbelief.

"The wine will suffice for today. As I've told you, the Servants that dismantled the First Seal are convening. Assassin has invited me to join," Iskandar said, already raising his sword to the heavens to summon his chariot.

Gilgamesh's laugh echoed through the hall as the familiar thunderclap heralded the summoning of the Gordius Wheel just beyond the balcony.

"It seems that long-haired wench has been keeping even you satiated then?" Gilgamesh phrased, dismissing the butler with a flick of his wrist. Interesting, very interesting.

"Her and Heracles," Iskandar confirmed, winking at the blonde king. After another bout of amused chuckles, Gilgamesh sent the beastly general off with a wave. A crack of a whip and Iskandar was on his way, flying above the clouds to keep hidden from the humans of this age.

The king, now alone, savored the last sip of wine in his cup. It was a flavor he would like to share with his queen one day, he thought. A puff of breath escaped his lips as he now realized he would have to find some other form of amusement to relieve his boredom, now that he wasn't dropping into Arturia's apartment later that night. What a bother.

Sunlight cast a warm, afternoon glow on the Emiya Mansion, making the ancient house feel all the more historic to those walking by. One average joe would merely appreciate the oriental house for its beauty and leave, but to those aware of the magics and those fascinated with world history, what was going on inside would be far more valuable.

After all, it was a gathering with a rather stellar guest list. Who would have ever thought to dine with the former members of the Argo, or one(many?) of the legendary holders worthy to be called the Old Man of the Mountain? They may have been missing the Japanese legend, Sasaki, but they were graced by the presence of Alexander the Great, which had more than made up for it.

However, for one King of Knights, it was precisely this stellar guest list that kept her on edge. Iskandar's piercing eyes for one, she suspected would be quite critical of how their little excursion went. She was not looking forward to explaining the general lack of Assassins or the scar that peeked out of her sleeveless top.

Arturia tilted her head in shame as she described how the mission went to Shirou and Rin, who'd offered to host, and to Rider, who'd come with Assassin to hear about the Seals. She omitted no details, and told them about the ambush, the poison, the high amount of losses Hassan-i-Sabbah suffered. She tells them about the wounds she sustained, about the loss of the ability to summon her normal armor, the barrier that trapped them within a hemisphere spanning a few miles.

"There were enough Servant-level adversaries within the boundary to be called an army. They were all distinct, most of them seemed to be under the influence of some spell. Even fewer were the ones who could speak," she finished, looking up at her former master, who had been holding his chin in contemplation. The mere memory of their enemies' whited out eyes was jarring, to say the least. She was similarly horrified when faced with Lancelot's madness in the Fourth War.

"This seal, King of Knights, can you please elaborate?" Iskandar asked, in a similar pose. It was...disturbing to say the least, knowing that what Saber's former master had crudely described as a defense mechanism was in fact a horde of Servants. If they had at least known, perhaps they wouldn't have suffered so many losses from being caught unaware.

"It was several meters in diameter, fashioned in the style of an elaborate magic circle. It had to be destroyed in one fell swoop, so the little archon here ended up using her Noble Phantasm. The strikes from my sword were barely effective," answered Heracles.

"If we are to strategize on what best action to take on the next summoning," he continued, "in order to destroy the seal, it is imperative to have someone with a large enough attack on the team, lest we risk trapping ourselves within the barrier."

The Servants all nodded. The barrier was another problem. It was seemingly impenetrable, trapping them all inside like it was a cage match. From it's behavior, one could infer it was powered by the Seal, since it disappeared once the magic circle was destroyed.

Medea huffed, calling the attention of the others to herself. She was just a little bit satisfied that the two former Masters in the room flinched, but she wasn't here to terrorize them today, after all.

"That would be the case, if the selection was up to us," She explained, remembering their rather colorful mess of a lineup. "Who's to say what kind of criteria Saber's former Master had in choosing?"

The Servants all nodded. They were perhaps the most incompatible group Kiritsugu could have sent, combining hostile personalities such as Medea and Heracles, and straight-forward combatants like Saber and Sasaki with Servants that relied on the shadows like Hassan-i-Sabbah. If Kiritsugu were being rational he would have used Assassin and Caster while forgoing Heracles and Arturia altogether. Furthermore, with the exception of the King of Knights, their Noble Phantasms would have been more effective against single opponents rather than the waves of people they had to thin in order to reach the Seal.

"Nonetheless, I believe it is safe to say we were taken by surprise this time. Now that we know to be ready for Servant-level attacks as soon as we are within the barrier, we can be ready to defend ourselves," Zhavia commented. Hassan-i-Sabbah had suffered the most losses during this ordeal, one of them being the alter best suited for strategy. It would have been him here today if he still existed, but as the protector, Zhavia had to take his place.

She took a glance at their little, who was now sleeping on Iskandar's lap as she and Zayd joined the other Servants at the table. This one was almost never out, but she was oddly grateful to her child alter for taking the time to be outside. She had inspired hope in Zhavia that things were going to sort themselves out soon.

One thing nagged at the back of Zhavia's mind no matter how hard she tried to quiet it. Medea mentioned criteria during the selection, and she was so sure that she knew the answer. It was just that the fact that Arturia was chosen as well didn't add up. She'd have to wait for the next selection to be sure.

"I'm beginning to think attrition might not even have been the best strategy, though it was what we fell to due to our lack of planning," Arturia mentioned, recalling how they had spent hours, nay, days on the battlefield taking down those that stood in their way.

"Ho? I'm intrigued to know why, little king," Iskandar said, patting the head of the sleeping child.

"Destroying the seal was our only objective," she explained. "That raises the question: What would have happened had we disregarded those who challenged us in favor of a swift conclusion?"

It did seem to the Servants that their foes were under some influence, and it was highly possible that was the seal's doing. The Servants had responded to their instincts and fought back when challenged to survive, but if they had worked together to destroy the offensive magic stigma on the first night, it might have churned out a different, lossless result. Arturia couldn't help but stare at the innocent sleeping child on the King of Conquerors' lap. She didn't want her to lose any more Hassans, if it was possible.

The Servants filtered out of the mansion quickly after some more discussion, but it was clear to everyone present that Kiritsugu had hidden a lot more about their mission than they'd realized. His omission was costly, and even if some of the others didn't show it, it was obvious to the King of Knights that they were beginning to regret their deal with the magus-killer. When she saw him next, they were going to have words.

But that was a matter to be dealt with later on. With the meeting finished, she'd taken it upon herself to collect the few things she'd left at Shirou's house. It dampened her spirits, as the action held with it a sense of finality like she was leaving his life in some way. But she was living with Kay now. It made no sense to leave these things here.

She carefully folded the simple blue and white outfit Rin gave her back then. It still fit perfectly, just like it did ten years ago. There were a few ribbons (one of which was a new gift from the magus in her signature crimson red), and a pair of fancy chopsticks, before her hands landed on the silver circlet she had in the Throne of Heroes. She was wearing it when she materialized in the temple, so she supposed it was brought into existence together with her. The last item was of course, the black rose from Gilles de Rais'. She quickly put it in the paper bag and made to leave.

"You forgot this."

His warm voice echoed through the room, deeper than she remembered, but still as wonderful. She could barely keep the heat from her face.

"Shirou."

The man passed her a small lion plush, the same one from their date, she remembered. She couldn't believe he kept that all these years, it was merely something she'd found cute, he didn't have to buy it. Yet, as she looked at it, she found herself fond of her master all the more.

"It's a bit far, but can I walk you home? I have something to tell you."

Saber felt her heart rate increase at the idea. Perhaps she was wrong to suspect they were growing distant.

This is it, Shirou. You're going to tell her what you feel. It's been ten years; you knew this could happen ever since Merlin showed up. You have to tell her. Saber deserves this.

They were nearing the Fuyuki Bridge now, just by the bank of the Mion River. If he said he wasn't hit by a slap of nostalgia he'd be lying. Everything was the same, the orange sunset, the gulls flying in the breeze, even that shipwreck Saber mentioned was her fault was still there in the distance. A bit more deteriorated, but still there. A few more moments of walking and they'd be right in the middle of the bridge, where they'd had that little clash of philosophies.

"I didn't think I'd see you again so soon, Shirou," Saber said, her hands clasped in front of her, blushing like a maiden given flowers.

"Neither did I."

It took Shirou an entire year before he could get Saber out of his head. It was a grueling process, having to wake up every day and tell himself she wasn't with them anymore. Even if she had just been around for a few days, he couldn't help the impact Saber made on his life. The first few months were a series of distractions, resuming training kendo with Fuji-nee, taking up magecraft with Tohsaka, spending time out of the house with Sakura and Illya.

It was during this time that Illya admitted to him the truth. She was his older sister, the biological daughter of Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern. A half-homunculus, half-human being that Kiritsugu abandoned as he adopted him into his life. He cried with her that day, calling himself a fool for never realizing the true meaning behind her calling him his brother. He couldn't believe his old man had hidden such a secret away for as long as he did, cursed him even, for leaving Illya like that.

So, Shirou did what he could for his new family. He renovated one of the rooms for Illya, had Sakura and Rin move in. It was mutually beneficial. They were the only people in the world who could understand the trauma of participating in the Grail War. At least, they believed they were the only ones.

He told himself he could live his dream if he kept on going, but every inch of his body told him it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to be up at five, mechanically grinding through weighted sets. It wasn't enough to read through every single book in the Tohsaka library, struggling to improve his magecraft. His volunteer work at the fire department wasn't enough. Helping rehabilitate the orphans at the Kotomine Church wasn't enough.

He couldn't be a hero if he stayed like that.

So, when Rin mentioned she'd been invited to the Clock Tower in Europe upon graduation, he'd dropped everything and left, believing he had to polish his magecraft if he ever wanted to be a true hero of justice. He devoted himself to his studies, practiced day and night till he could project Archer's swords with a thought, and snuck into classes by the great Lord El-Melloi II to improve his skills. The mage, he would later learn, was in fact, a survivor of the Fourth Holy Grail War, which was more than enough a reason for them to develop a bond.

Before he knew it, he was making a real impact, tagging along with the professor as he helped members of the Mage Association. It was on one of those excursions that he and Rin found Merlin, the first of many Servants that began popping up, one after the other, in all areas of the world. Merlin came bearing a mission, and soon Rin, El-Melloi II and Shirou had found themselves living for a much greater purpose.

That purpose forced the two young mages together more often than he realized. There were days they'd slump back to the dorms, arms slung over each other's shoulders. There were nights they'd collapse into the same bed, far too exhausted to bother with embarrassment. Eventually, he'd gotten so used to sharing the bed that when she crawled into the covers next to him one night, his first instinct was to pull her closer to share his warmth.

The kiss happened not long after, when a run-in with a violent servant left him bleeding from head to toe. She was scolding him for protecting her, crying as she patched up his wounds. He could remember that night like it was yesterday. The delicate salt of her tears, the strawberry lip gloss he'd finally gotten to taste, the warmth of her breath traveling his skin, all were details he could never forget.

It was then that he realized how much of her life Tohsaka had given him, from becoming his greatest ally in the Grail War, to taking him with her to the Clock Tower so he could realize his dream. He gained more than he gave her. Half of him told him it wasn't right, that he should be the one doing things for her. It was the least he could do after Kiritsugu pulled him out of the flames. But the other half? His other half told him that he loved her.

It was an accident when he toppled her jewelry box from her dresser, dozens of accessories spilling out of the impossibly small container. She scolded him again as she picked up the numerous priceless pieces she inherited, and then he saw it. Without missing a beat, he pulled it out of his pocket, the same triangular ruby pendant his saviour had left.

The weight of the realization that Shirou was Archer hit them like a truck, but to the former, heavier still was the fact that Tohsaka saved him. She didn't just forgo her chances to win the Grail for his benefit, he owed her his life, literally. All the life-changing things he had gone through, with Saber, with Illya, they were all the result of her bringing him back from the dead. Tohsaka had been there for him from the start, and even now he continued to be in her care.

He didn't stop at kisses that night. Their clothes hit the floor softly, her blouse first and then his shirt. Save for the pops when he left marks on her collarbone and her soft moans of pleasure, the night was quiet. Intimate. When his amber orbs met her sapphires, it was like the world seemed to disappear. Suddenly there was no magecraft, no Grail War, nothing. Just a man and a woman, with hearts so close they beat in sync.

It had been a few years since then. They were married and they had a kid, a little wonder the both of them loved to bits. Shirou had a family now, and he was older, much much older. Every time he looked at himself in the mirror and observed the streaks of white hair that were beginning to overtake his natural ginger locks, he looked more and more like Archer. He was around the same height now, towering over Rin like the man once did.

After everything he had been through, honestly, loving Saber seemed like a faraway dream.

"Will you be available tomorrow? I haven't been around town and I was hoping you could take me," she said, obvious mirth filling her once eternally serious eyes.

The magus' heart dropped about a mile, knowing full well he was about to break her heart. He was never good at this. He thanked the gods Sakura was so understanding that she moved out on her own, but he never loved Sakura. Saber may have well been the first woman he'd ever had feelings for. Words collected on his lips to deliver his rejection, but-

"Maybe next time,"

God Shirou, just say no. It's just one syllable.

Her curved lips twitched, but she maintained that same serene smile he must have loved a decade ago. If he were the same person he was, Shirou would have kissed her like he should have back then. Here, basking in the sunset, looking over the river as they leaned on the bridge railing, the passersby must have thought they were a loving couple.

Maybe they would have been if she stayed, if they had just a little more time together. Maybe, in another time, in another place, another Shirou was taking another Saber through the motions of their happily ever after. Maybe they lived under the same roof, maybe they had kids.

But that wasn't him.

"Are you perhaps avoiding me?" she asked, her emerald eyes straying from his figure to look in the distance. Her voice wavered even if she tried to keep it steady, and Shirou knew that voice far too well.

"No!" he interjected, the sudden spike in volume causing her to jump. "No, I've just...I have a lot on my plate," he explained carefully, concealing the fact he was supposed to take his daughter out into the city the next day. Damn, should he move that too? Or should they go to the next city over? It would be painfully awkward to run into Saber.

Abrupt ringing cut into the prolonged silence.

"Listen Saber, we'll spend time together to catch up if that's what you want. Just not tomorrow, alright?" he soothed, scrambling as he shoved his hands into every pocket he had looking for his phone. There was a string of texts from Rin telling him to hurry home and pick up a few ingredients for dinner and a bar of chocolate for Hoseki. He tried not to smile as Rin signed off her text with an I love you, but that happy thought disappeared into oblivion when he remembered who he was with right now.

"You really do have a lot on your plate," Saber said as she saw his expression fall, misinterpreting the text for being something related to work. Shirou felt a pang in his chest as she put on another smile, one so painfully fake it took all his self-restraint not to correct her.

What happened next was so unexpected he couldn't wrap his head around it till it was over.

"I'll see you soon then. Don't worry, I can go on my own from here." That was her last sentence before she turned around and traveled the other half of the bridge, leaving Shirou speechlessly waving a goodbye.

He let his arm drop to his side and staggered backward. Confused fingers brushed over his cheek as he cursed his inaction, the feel of her soft lips burning through his dermis like hot coals on butter.

Shit.

Shirou slinked away from the bridge, thinking through a million different ways to tell Rin he'd failed. Maybe even aggravated the situation. It would only be more difficult to let Saber down from this point, and he knew it. He'd been putting this off for too long, they had to settle this soon. The sooner, the better.

Meanwhile, Servants from two different wars watched the Counter Guardian retreat back across the bridge, both of their mouths hanging open. The sound of Iskandar's fork dropping brought Cú's attention back to the Rider, who'd paused in his retelling of the meeting when he'd spotted the King of Knights. Ahnenerbe was silent as their eyes met, the weight of what they had just witnessed settling in like a blanket draped over their shoulders.

Shit.