The crystals began to glow. A chiming came through the right funnel. After about a minute, the chiming stopped.
“Hello?” Galin's voice came through the funnel.
“Holy fuck!” I exclaimed. “It works!”
“Who is this?”
“Oh, sorry, Galin! It's Sebastian Dahl. I just received your gift. Thank you so much.”
“Sebastian!” Galin exclaimed. “It's good to hear from you. How are you? How's Latur?”
“I'm great. Latur is beautiful. And hot. I spend most days shirtless.”
“Oh, my.”
I laughed. “I mean because I'm working in a garden, and it gets too hot to keep my tunic on.”
“Of course,” Galin said in a teasing tone. “But I'm sure you've found someone to appreciate your daily half-naked state.”
I paused.
“You have!” Galin exclaimed. “Tell me everything.”
“Who is that?” a deep voice came through the funnel on the heels of Galin's.
“It's Sebastian. Say hello.”
The deep voice got louder, recognizable as belonging to the King of Sken, “Hello, Sebastian.”
“Hello, Your Majesty,” I said. “Thank you for the gift.”
“The gift?”
“I sent him a far-speaker,” Galin's voice got louder as King Rianvar's went softer. “I told you I was sending him one.”
“Ah, yes. He's abroad for work.”
“He's in Latur.”
“Very good. I'll await you in the bath, Mate.”
Galin sighed. “I'm sorry, Sebastian. The mating bond is still in its infancy with us. I have to go, or he'll be pouting in the bathtub by himself. And a pouting king is bad for everyone.”
I chuckled. “So, that's going well?”
“It's going phenomenally. I've never been happier.”
“I'm glad for you, Your Grace. You deserve it.”
“Stop with the 'Your Grace' stuff. We're friends. And I hope you find a love like this, Sebastian. You deserve it.”
“Thank you, Galin. And thanks for the far-speaker. Although, I don't know who else I'll contact with it.”
“Oh, you'll have plenty of options soon. They're selling as fast as we can make them. But for now, I've sent one to your parents, so you can keep in touch with them. I mean, why send you a device you could only use with me?”
“Galin, that's so thoughtful. Thank you.”
“You're welcome, Sebastian. Know that wherever you wander, Sken will always be your home.”
