Page 2104

Rather weirdly, the King didn't want to sit in just one place while he ate, and he asked Hector to accompany him as they went around talking and eating with as many different people as possible. Lynnette moved to join as well, but the King told her to stay and relax with Roman and Gina. She seemed a bit reluctant to accept that order, but the man insisted, and she gave Hector a final lingering look before relenting.

Knowing how seriously she took her guard duty, that wasn't an insignificant gesture, Hector thought. She was trusting him to look after the King in her stead.

They'd been touring Warrenhold and meeting Rainlords the entire day, but the King had apparently not gotten his fill, because he went from table to table every few minutes. He would make introductions if he hadn't previously, then he would sit down and spark up a conversation, usually about history or medicine. Then he would politely excuse himself.

It was kind of amazing to witness, Hector felt. He'd always thought the King to be fairly charismatic, but seeing him now was something else. Granted, he hadn't really known King William all that well before, but still, Hector didn't recall him being this much of a conversationalist.

He decided to consult Garovel about it, privately. 'Was the King always like this?'

'Like what?' said the reaper, who was following close behind.

'Like, uh... er... actually, I'm not sure how to explain it...'

'Oh, do you mean how he seems to be channeling the God of Amicability, right now?'

Hector had to pause. 'God of Amicability?'

'I just made that up. It's not a real thing.'

'Oh... Well, shit, now I'm disappointed.'

The reaper chortled privately. 'Sorry.'

'But yeah, that IS what I was getting at,' said Hector. 'I never knew the King was so, uh... well, amicable is a good word, I guess.'

'Yeah,' said Garovel. 'He does seem a little different to me, too. In a good way, though.'