The oak doors of the receiving hall struck the stone walls with a crack that rattled the floorboards.
The quiet Seraphine maintained throughout the afternoon shattered. The smell of wet earth, crushed pine needles, and fresh blood flooded the entryway.
Gavric Kaelithar stepped inside.
He filled the space, a wall of hardened leather and muscle. Twin axes hung high across his back, their steel edges catching the amber glow of the overhead spirit lamps. Dried mud caked his boots up to the knees. A smear of dark blood stained the twin-moon crest etched into his chest plate. He dragged the broken carcass of a wildthorn boar across the polished floorboards, its tusks scraping against the wood.
"Right, boys!" Gavric boomed, his voice bouncing off the vaulted ceiling. "Time to show you how it's done!"
Eldrian shrieked with laughter. The toddler darted out from under the dining table to chase the feraline, Jitter, who hissed and scrambled up the stairs to escape the noise.
