037

"Where did you find her?"

"I didn't." Orphic absently looked at the inside of the Sakpatian temple. "She found me."

The acolyte looked at Orphic with lazy eyes. He wore a plain white rob with a red scapula denoting his rank. Orphic looked at the man's face, and then slowly down at the red scapula and the slight golden pattern that followed it's edge.

"I was told you had returned."

The voice that Orphic had been waiting for caused the acolyte to bow slightly and then leave the room. Orphic turned slowly, the man's face was older then he remembered. All of the colour had been washed from the trimmed bear on his face. The lines that appeared beside his eyes were not there the last time Orphic had seen him.

"You've aged. I'd wager you're almost able to grow a full beard these days."

Orphic absently ran his fingers over the stubble on his chin. "Not sure. I've never really tried."