Greg thought the preparations for leaving would take less time than they did. It wasn't because there was a lot to pack, but the Brotherhood came with little and left with even less. It was because saying goodbye to people who had fought with you and bled with you was harder than any battle.
They were at the western gate of Meridian, where the huge Eternal Engine carriage was already full of supplies that grateful citizens had given.
Bork was making sure the vehicle was in good shape by muttering to himself about the alignment of the fuel crystals and the strength of the axles. The rest of the Brotherhood stood around awkwardly, not quite ready to leave but all wanting to go home.
Veldway went up to Greg first. His hands were deep in his pockets, and the way he walked didn't show the precision of a master craftsman.
"So," he said, and then he stopped, clearly having trouble finding the right words. "You're going back to Ferndale."
