"Thank you, Cassius," Satou said. "You've done well."
Cassius straightened, and Satou could see relief in his usually stoic expression. "I am glad you survived, my lord. The power you now emanate is... considerable. I believe your fight with Richard Clay will be very interesting indeed."
More people came forward—goblins who'd served under him, orcs from the Iron Fang tribe, Each one wanted to see him, to confirm he was really back, to welcome their chief home.
But Satou noticed one particular person pushing through the crowd, her distinctive administrator's bearing making people step aside instinctively.
Lyra.
She stopped about ten feet away, her eyes scanning Satou's transformed appearance. He could see her mind working, cataloging the changes—the scales, the eyes, the way he stood differently now, with coiled power that hadn't been there before.
