Two hundred pounds of dire wolf doesn’t move easy, and Clive walks a narrow line between being grateful for Torgal’s loyalty and apprehensive of that loyalty making it harder on both of them.

“Jill’s going to be back before you know it,” Clive tells Torgal, kneeling down once more and putting his hands out for the beast. He has to be calm, untroubled. Firm: “But for now, with me, my friend.”