The man who had once held the power of life and death over everyone with a single word now stood before me with his head bowed, rubbing the edge of his sleeve between his fingers.
He seemed to summon every last bit of courage before he finally spoke, "I wanted to see you. See how you've been doing."
His voice was softer than I'd ever heard it, so faint the wind might have carried it away.
I answered coolly, "Ever since I left Golden Mane, I've been doing really well."
He stared at me as if searching for some sign that I was only pretending to be okay.
I met his gaze steadily, without flinching. His expression darkened little by little, like a candle sputtering out its final flame.
Then he suddenly asked, "Was I really too much for you back then?"
It was the last question I'd ever ex
