They sat together, lit by the glow of the waning forge. The elder was a long limbed man who reclined with easy confidence. Across from him the younger sat, tightly corded with muscle despite his slim stature.
The elder eyed his companion with fondness.
“Look at you. So much has changed. You even cut your hair.”
The younger instinctively rubbed his dark, close cropped head.
“The length didn’t suite me,” he responded quietly. “Not for the work I’m doing now.”
“I quite understand.” Sipping his wine, the man then gestured at the boy’s feet.
“And those. Those are quite new.”
There was a slight clink of metal upon metal as the youth shifted positions and nodded.
“I needed the ability to stand by myself.”
“Did it hurt?”
He stared at the man.
“Yes,” he finally replied. “But not as much as being thrown from a mountain top.”
The man winced.
“I suppose not.” He emptied his cup.
“Why are you here, Dionysus?” the boy asked tiredly.
Sighing, the man reached for a second bottle.
“We’re going to need another drink.”