Nyxander was still lost in his swirling thoughts when the North Astro Lord's voice broke through.
"Hey, Nyxander," Astro Lord called out, raising his cup of wine towards him.
"Oh," Nyxander responded, instinctively lifting the cup of wine placed before him. Their glasses clinked together with a crisp chime that briefly pierced the ambient noise of the hall. Hildred took a hearty sip from his cup, but Nyxander merely set his glass back down, the liquid untouched.
"Is the wine bad?" Astro Lord asked, his tone laced with a curious undertone, as if probing.