Hephaistion doubted greatly that Lydia and Gale would appreciate his relief that they were in there working the stables while his arm was still in a sling and taking it's [expletive deleted] sweet time healing. He worried that some of his persistent injury was psychosomatic, and he tried to work though it (often overdoing it), but in this instance, he was just glad the equines were not being neglected. Best to focus on that issue. He did what little he could when he went to visit Asteri, but it was still hard to do more than basic grooming.

And apples, which were the treats Hephaistion now carried in the sack over his shoulder. Enough for each horse and pegasus, plus anyone else he might run into while at the stables. He knocked on the door frame to announce his arrival.