Robert didn’t know what he expected. A part of him realized they were somewhere important given the location of the room, at the top of the Center Hall and behind a door with the most sophisticated enchantment he’d ever seen. However, he couldn’t imagine that he would be coming face to face with the Harvest Hero himself.

He had seen Dunwayne once. His mentor had taken him along to a banquet thrown by the first prince. Several officers in the royal army were in attendance along with many more knights. A good place to formally introduce him as his mentor’s apprentice and successor. He had watched in awe as the man who’d taken Robert under his wing chatted with the most famous caster in the kingdom.

Now, here they stood again. Dunwayne sat behind a simple desk, his neatly trimmed gray hair giving him the air of a wise patriarch. Standing at the corner of his desk was his mentor, an older man with salt and pepper hair, serious brown eyes, and silver armor polished to a gleam.

Manuel Reis Quintana, first of his name. Born to three generations of butchers, he found that his talent with knives extended to swordsmanship. As soon as he reached the age of majority at sixteen, he joined the royal army. He served three years as a common foot soldier until someone recognized his potential and offered him the opportunity to learn magic. Only then did they discover his dual affinities, wind and fire.

With magic, he became several times more formidable. After racking up many achievements over the course of five years, the crown offered him the title of baron, allowing him to choose the name Quintana. He was knighted into the order of the Harvest Royal Knights, where he protected the royal family for two decades before retiring to start a family.

He had yet to find a wife but he did find a young boy, bursting with unformed talent.

Coming from a family of butchers, Manuel believed in the ‘old way’ when it came to apprentices. When sharing a family’s secrets made someone family. He had asked Robert to take his last name and treated him like a son more than an apprentice or even a squire, like any order would.

His second father turned a kind gaze to him and Robert hung his head in shame.

Dunwayne chuckled as he stood from behind his desk. “I’ll leave you to it, Reis,” he said cordially.

“Thank you, Dunn.”

It spoke leagues to his mentor’s reputation that he could request the grandmaster’s office as a location for a private conversation. Robert risked a quick glance as the elderly caster passed by him, his heart pounding as Dunwayne offered him a small smile. The door closed quietly behind him and but the others remained paralyzed until Manuel addressed them. “Are you all going to offer me a greeting?”

“Good morning, sir!” Robert snapped reflexively. The others followed as the knight took a seat at the grandmaster’s desk. “I…we thought that a messenger would be coming.”

“I decided to come personally. Certain things that need to be said are too sensitive to be entrusted to just anyone to convey. First, I would like to express my condolences.” He met each of their gazes. “Death looms over every caster but no one expected Sebas to be taken so soon.”

“Do you know what happened, sir?” Orphelia asked.

“I read the report you sent to your father, Lady Yemen. This is not another interrogation.” His eyes narrowed. “Unless there is something you feel I need to know?”

“I haven’t discovered anything new about the attack or anyone involved.”

“Mm. As I said, I come bearing messages.” He raised his gauntleted hands, clasping them. “While what happened was an unexpected tragedy, it remains that one of your group was murdered before you. You may be novices, but it is still a failure of disastrous proportions. For your minder most of all, but also for the rest of you.” He sighed. “However, I am not here to scold you.”

Grabbing two envelopes on the desk, he motioned towards Cecile and Lanston who hesitantly approached. “Letters from home. I’ll be here for two days and will carry your responses back. Think carefully. Your words have more impact than you realize.” Lanston took the envelope with a grim face while Cecile paled. “The two of you are dismissed. I need to speak with Robert and Orphelia alone.”

“Yes, of course,” Cecile said while Lanston nodded. They both gave Robert a glance before leaving the room, closing the door behind them.

“Now.” Manuel stood, moving around to the front of the desk and leaning against it. His brows furrowed as he glared at Orphelia. “Explain yourself.”

“I believe I have—” She stopped with a choking sound, a hand going to her throat as her mouth worked uselessly.

“I did not travel all the way here to listen to the water-down drivel of a scheming girl. I know your father and if you take after him even a little, then you’re not telling us everything, either for yourself or for your family. I want to know what happened that day that you haven’t told.”

Robert watched with wide eyes as Orphelia’s chest heaved with the deep breath she sucked down. “I would think you would know better than me,” she said with a toneless voice. “The assassin, Ethor, claimed to be working on the behest of an acquaintance of yours.”

The knight frowned. “It is not confirmed Ethor was an assassin. I have known Jonathan Iris since we were both grunts. We have walked through blood together. I won’t believe that his apprentice, a boy that may as well have been his blood, would be a rebel, so do not speak of him as such.”

“Everything I know is in my report,” she said. “If you don’t believe me, let the capital’s investigators give you a better answer.”

“I could pull the truth from you,” he declared, flexing the fingers on one hand.

“There is nothing to pull.”

Tension made the air heavy as they held each other’s gaze. Robert was afraid the conversation would come to blows and was questioning what he should do in such a situation when his mentor retreated, lowering his hand with a huff. “Don’t think you fool me. Unfortunately for you, someone else has claimed the duty for themselves.” Reaching behind him, he grabbed another envelope and held it out. “While I don’t know the specifics, I do know you have been summoned by the crown to testify about the events surrounding Sebas’ death. I doubt you will be returning.”

She stepped forward to grab the envelope but Manuel held onto it. He leaned forward, looming over her. “If I find out you contributed to that boy’s death or didn’t act to your greatest ability to protect him and your charges, you will have to deal with me, personally.” He released the paper and she left the room without a backward glance.