Late into the night, long after the banquet had ended and most of Galoria had fallen silent, Bao and Wolvrac sat with Ka'z beneath the open sky. The three of them had chosen a quiet elevated section overlooking the settlement, where they could see the scattered lights of dying campfires between the uneven hills and clusters of huts below.
The crescent moon hung high above them, casting a pale glow over the strange landscape while a cool breeze moved through the grass and carried the distant sounds of the sleeping clan toward them.
Bao and Wolvrac each held a cup of wine, occasionally taking slow sips as they looked toward the sky. Ka'z had a cup of water resting between his hands. He had already been offered wine earlier, but after the events of the past few weeks, he had no desire to cloud his judgment while discussing something as important as the survival of an entire race.
One cup was enough for him.
