CHAPTER TWELVE
I squinted at the creature. The stone figure did indeed resemble our Validen acquaintance down to the pair of arms carved out of its smooth black sides.
The eyes opened and gave off a yellowish glow. The voice it spoke in wasn’t the deep gruff tone of Pazari, but a higher pitched and more feminine version of him. “Who dares compare me to that oaf?”
Ben smiled at the creature as he bowed his head. “It’s been quite a while, Tijari.”
The golem squinted its eyes at Ben. “Benjamin Castle? Is that you?”
Ben spread out his arms on either side of himself and inclined his head to the stone. “In the flesh.”
The creature scoffed. “My god, you’ve aged poorly. You should take better care of yourself.”
Ben burst into laughter. “And you haven’t changed a bit, Tijari.”
“A
