"Well," Garalt said, looking over his old mentor once more, "you sure haven't changed much."
    "You have," Kullvox said, motioning for Garalt to turn around in a circle, Garalt complied.  "Look at you, totally dressed for war.  And carrying a magical axe as well, you've come very far young knight."
    "Thank you," Garalt smiled.  He HAD come far, Garalt thought, but what he had to go through to get to this point.  But the fact that Kullvox was alive again made the rest of it not to seem to matter.  Somehow just the presence of Kullvox made Garalt feel like everything was going to work out now.
    "I suppose this belongs to you, Kullvox," Garalt said, handing his shield to his friend.
    "What do you mean?" Kullvox asked, puzzled, taking the shield.
    "After the dragon attacked me, I lost my shield, and used yours instead.  It's imbued now, too, it should block almost any magical spell."
    "Won't you need this Garalt?"
    "I have my axe, I use it better two handed anyway."

    "As I live and breathe," King Ulmerad said, walking up to the group.  Garalt noticed the King was carrying Kullvox' mace in his hand.  How did he get a hold of that, Garalt pondered.
    "My Liege," Kullvox saluted.
    "No, no, old friend.  There is no need for that now," Ulmerad smiled happily, "You've come back from the dead, I should be the one saluting you.  You must have gone through a lot."
    "Aye, sir," Kullvox said with a sigh.  Garalt could see a sadness and weariness in his friends eyes.  The time he had spent inside the black dragon must have been a great ordeal, Garalt could sense a change in Kullvox.  An air of greater seriousness seemed to hang about him.  
    "I've been carrying this," Ulmerad said, holding up Kullvox' mace to the knight, "every since you were lost.  I carried it in hopes you would watch over Ikros just as you did in life.  Now that you're back, I think it'd be best if you had it while you watched over Ikros again."
    "Thank you, Sire," Kullvox said, taking the mace from Ulmerad's hands.
    "I'm afraid, Sire, that we don't have much time for idle chat," Garalt broke in.
    "What is it, lad?" Ulmerad asked.
    "Zakar swore vengeance upon me for calling Tempi Frei to kill Tel'Karak Zrahl.  He's gone back to rally his forces and crush Ikros."
    "Then we must make ready!" Ulmerad said quickly, "Kullvox, my friend, are you up for a battle?"
    "Aye, Sire," Kullvox said, gripping his mace, "I'm ready for a challenge."
    "Wonderful," Ulmerad smiled, "Someone fetch this man some armor!" Ulmerad ordered.