The celebrations were getting louder. Aline was still dancing and having a good time. Gordon liked to see her smile. He hoped he would see more of that. Mantuan was also smiling and lifted his drink. Aline motioned for Mantuan to come join her dancing, but Mantuan waved her off. She gave up and kept dancing with the others.
“Where did you meet her?” asked Gordon.
“You might say we grew up together, in a way. I literally fell into her life and she into mine. Aline was living alone with the good people of the fortress. She was the first person I saw when I arrived there. She helped heal me, and I helped raise her up all these years. She"s like the daughter I never had.”
Gordon asked, “Was that in Aspora?”
“Yes. Aline has grown into a very fine warrior, too. She"s had to, with all we"ve b
