Test driving. Sorta.

How long had it been, since Halikras had betrayed his Queen and kingdom, his sovereign duty? How long had it been since he'd abandoned his friends, family, love? Since he'd left them to take the blame and punishment and torture for his actions, and none the wiser?

Long enough to see the change in power, unbeknownst to him when he finally returned.

On this morning, the murky dawn when most of their kind took to bed... all is quiet, all is calm, most of all in the great castle where the Queen makes her home.