Present Day
Sylvin watched Macedius from beneath his eyelashes as the king led the way through the hallways. They were shadowed by Gerica, as well as two of Macedius’ guardsmen, and one of Macedius’ page boys. The king’s hair was unbound, lying loose over his shoulders and his face had been freshly shaven that morning, his stubble just beginning to show through the skin.
Macedius had grown in a beard over the long war with the humans, his days and nights interrupted by enemy action, his servants often sent to aid the healers and attend to the needs of the injured, and his time more valuable employed in making battle plans than awaiting his barber’s blade.
Sylvin had become accustomed, he realised, to seeing him in that way, rather than with his hair unbound, and dressed in courtly finery.
“Report, Silver Dragon,” Macedius said, tossing his hair impatiently over his shoulder as he turned his head in Sylvin’s direction.