The little girl, Maera, turned and looked at Justin. She was all smiles.
"I saw him run across the bridge, so I came to find him," she said. "I knew it was him! Would've swore it was him-with every swear word I ever heard-"
"Hush, now," the big man whispered. Then, in a bigger voice, "Sir Justin, your holiness. Never, even in the darkest hour, did I lose hope that you would return. This is truly a glorious day. My sword is at your service."
Justin c****d an eyebrow. "Sir Justin?" he said. But it was the "your holiness" that really took him aback.
The man remained piously frozen on bended knee.
"You, uh, can stand up if you want," said Justin.
The man obeyed, standing to full height and staring ahead as if ready for a military inspection. He wasn't as tall as Justin, but he was certai
