The crowd's murmur of recognition grew louder as Rowan van Ambrose made his appearance out of nowhere.
In the afternoon light, he looked exactly as Grim remembered from his childhood—tall, distinguished, with the same dark hair that marked the Ambrose bloodline.
There was no trace of the monstrous transformation Grim had witnessed twelve years ago, no hint of the supernatural entity that had possessed his father's body.
"My friends," Rowan said, his voice carrying easily across the courtyard with a warmth that seemed genuine, "I cannot express how moved I am to return and find such a celebration in progress."
The crowd began to respond positively, many of them calling out greetings and expressions of joy. To them, this was a miraculous reunion—the lost patriarch of House Ambrose returning just as his son was restoring the family's honor.
