Einen approached Hadjar and held out his hand. Hadjar clasped the forearm of his sworn brother. They locked eyes and, as always, said everything without words. The only thing Hadjar didn’t understand was:
“How did you all get here...”
“You always have to think a few steps ahead, Hadji, my dear buddy,” a black spot appeared atop the cloud cover, from which Helmer emerged. Dressed in his usual torn coat, each tear snarling like a vicious maw, a wide-brimmed hat partially covering his face, revealing only one eye, and holding a blazing crimson orb. “You built us a wonderful ladder of feathers that went from the border all the way up to the sky. Have they plucked you? Confess, you scoundrel! Were you doing unholy and weird things here while we were gathering the Army?”
“The Army?” Hadjar as
