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Finally, we reached another door, and Bastien returned uard pushed the door open, and we stepped into a vast hall with a high, round ceiling The place less except for the wall to our left, where astretched the entire length of it frolass, casting pale rays upon the rough walls, adorned with the hides of wolves hung like trophies Conquered enemy wolves, I supposed Wooden chairs surrounded the hall, and directly in front of us at the opposite end were stone steps leading to a raised altar upon which stood two black thrones, one larger and rander one He didn’t share any likeness to Bastien with his stark blond, straight hair, and he wore a silver crown An olderwhite beard sat on the throne next to hiroup of ten men surrounded them on lower chairs Apparently they had been in the ed in, they whirled to face us

"Detrius," Bastien breathed, his eyes fixed on the younger man

"Bastien?" Detrius almost yelped in shock As he shot to his feet, I could see that he was tall like Bastien--perhaps even taller--though his physique was narrower

The twosilence descended on the hall Then Bastien gatheredforward, while Detrius descended the stairs and approached too Now that ere closer to Bastien’s cousin, I could make out his dark maroon-colored eyes

Detrius’ expression was a cocktail of shock, alarm and… did I even detect panic? His eyes darted over his companions before he cleared his throat and forced a s But Bastien didn’t return the eo of him

When his cousin stepped back, Bastien’s eyes were on the crown atop Detrius’ head His grip on htened He looked more disconcerted than ever

"What happened?" he asked "How are you all here?"

"The humans left," Detrius replied, his voice a tad raspier than Bastien’s, "and they didn’t return We still don’t understand why, but having taken you, your father, uess why, or where they took you"

Bastien’s jaw clenched

"We are so very sorry," Detrius said softly "We have done nothing but lanced over Bastien’s shoulder, toward the entrance of the hall "Is your father back also?" he asked "And what of yourhis head grihtly "I’m so terribly sorry, cousin"

There was another span of silence as Detrius moved forward to e steadilydistance between them

"But at least we have you back" To ripping the crown, pulled it off and placed it in Bastien’s hands "This crown belongs to you, cousin As does the throne"

I glanced over to the e, his face panned vaguely in our direction

"My father and I were left with a crudoanize ourselves since you left… How did you escape?"