STANDING STILL, ALEK WATCHED PHROMA land before him and Gredel slid down.

'Alek!' The strawberry blond man's face almost split with a beaming smile and he strode over, enveloping Alek in a bear hug. 'I thought we must have lost you this time! Damn good to see you, friend.'

Alek hugged him back feeling an odd mix of emotions but at the very least, joy, for seeing his friend alive and well. When they separated Gredel spotted the body and made a gruff noise in the back of ...