The first sign of Alfred's arrival was the shadow crossing the garden. Trafalgar looked up as the vessel came down through the low cloud over Euclid, black hull descending slowly, six wings shifting around it while pale vapour poured from the vents underneath.
The garden was another business entirely. Snow and loose soil blew outward as the ship lowered itself over the open ground.
Several of the ornamental shrubs bent flat, and one of the lighter stone pieces near the path shifted far enough that Trafalgar watched it go with open displeasure.
"Alfred, if you wreck my garden again, I'm sending you the bill."
The broad bridge came down from the side of the vessel and Alfred appeared at the top of it with one hand on the rail, white hair tied back at his neck, captain's coat hanging open. He looked over the garden before he started down.
"I've seen better planting outside roadside inns. If I break anything, I may be doing you a service."
