Trafalgar was inside his shop in Velkaris that afternoon.
Arden was not there today, and the place was quieter than usual. There were no customers, no noise from the front room, no familiar arguments over prices or materials. Only Marella in the kitchen, preparing something for him to eat, and Garrika sitting across from him at the table.
Trafalgar studied her for a moment before asking, "How are you feeling?"
Garrika's tail had not stopped moving since he entered the shop. He could see it swaying behind her chair, restless and pleased in a way she clearly made no effort to hide.
She smiled wide enough to show a hint of fang.
"Very well," she said. "Thanks for sending what you sent to treat my wounds and help me recover faster. It helped a lot." Her ears twitched once. "What about you? How have you been?"
"Busy, I suppose," Trafalgar replied. "The usual."
Garrika's smile shifted. "That sounds exactly like something you would say."
