Gonan pulled his horse to a stop and was out of the saddle before Ragnar had fully dismounted. He crossed the distance between them in a few quick strides and pulled Ragnar into a firm embrace without preamble, one arm locked around his shoulders, the other gripping the back of his neck.
Ragnar heard Gonan sigh in relief.
When they broke apart, Gonan kept both hands on Ragnar's shoulders and looked at him with a broad grin.
"Gods," Gonan said. "I am glad to see you standing. We have been riding for days after word reached the capital about the fenrars—" He stopped himself, shook his head slightly. "Three of them. Three. And here you are in one piece."
"More or less," Ragnar said.
Gonan let out a short breath of a laugh. "More or less," he repeated.
Ragnar found himself smiling as well. He had not realized how much he had missed his friend until now.
