The feast continued for a while after Garth and Leon arrived.
Stories flowed freely around the table. Old arguments resurfaced. New ones were created. Somewhere along the way I learned that Garth and my grandfather had once been banned from three separate districts in the same year, though nobody seemed willing to explain exactly why.
The more I listened, the more obvious one thing became.
Everyone had mentioned my grandfather. Nobody had actually told where he was. Eventually curiosity won.
I set down my cup.
"Can I ask something?"
Several conversations paused.
"Of course," Arlen said.
"Where is my grandfather?"
The reaction was immediate. Mira suddenly became very interested in her food. Jess took a slow sip from her drink.
Garth outright started laughing.
I narrowed my eyes.
"That's not a good sign."
"No," Leon agreed. "It really isn't."
