Khao'khen returned from the Arch on the twelfth day, arriving at Yohan in the early evening with Arka'garr and the two units and Grukk, who had found the mountain journey bracing in the way that ogres found most things bracing: with enthusiasm and without complaint, and with the specific observation that the Arch's dimensional energy tasted like a forge but sharper, which Arka'garr allowed was not an inaccurate description.
Sakh'arran met him at the northern gate with the briefing notes from Kael's nine-hour conversation and the summary of the archive review's initial findings. Khao'khen read these walking from the gate to the administrative hall, which was how he processed urgent material: without stopping the movement that the urgency required. He read and walked and occasionally asked a short question that Sakh'arran answered without breaking stride.
"Kael is here," Sakh'arran said.
"Good."
