Chapter 449: Vows Beneath Borrowed Skin
Two days ago
Eldric swallowed.
The sound was soft, almost lost beneath the crackle of the fire, but Orion heard it all the same.
He lifted a hand to his face and adjusted his glasses, the familiar gesture looking almost practiced, like someone wearing another man's habits the way one wore borrowed clothes.
"If I had appeared in front of you sooner," Eldric said quietly, "you would have suspected there was something off with the real Eldric."
"You didn't need to appear in front of me for me to know," Orion replied calmly. "I found out either way."
Eldric's fingers paused at the rim of the glasses.
Then he nodded.
A heavy silence lingered between them.
Before the space could grow uncomfortable, Orion spoke again.
"Before we continue this discussion," he said quietly, "I want to know something first."
Caspian and Daniel both remained where they stood behind Orion, close enough to intervene if needed, far enough not to crowd him.
