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After a moment’s hesitation, the baron followed after her, waving off the blond’s offer to help him, as well.
Wearing an easy smile, his mother sauntered toward Solomon, who promptly bent forward to kiss the back of her hand.
“Lady Praecepsia,” he said on an air of reverence. “It is both an honor and a pleasure to have you grace us with a visit.”
“No need for formalities.” Chuckling, she patted his shoulder, urging him upright. The baron had never seen his mother act so casually, as if the two were longtime friends, and he frowned at the strangeness of it.
“It is my best effort to show respect where respect is due.” A dark spot in the whites of the old man’s eyes caught the baron’s attention, and his focus zeroed in on a tiny star shape there. One that seemed deliberately placed, with its perfect edges. So unusual, he found himself staring at it for far longer than he should have. However, the unnerving white, almostglowing, of the old man’s eyes as he stared back at the baron forced the boy to look away. He’d been around the blind before, but the way Solomon carried himself, the way his eyes seemed to fall on the baron, gave the unsettling impression that he could somehow see him
“And you, Lord Van Croix, I am honored to officially make your acquaintance.”
“Perhaps you can enlighten me, seeing as my mother chooses to keep secrets. Whatexactlyis the nature of our meetings?”
His cracked lips stretched to a smile. “You have much to learn, and I have much to teach. That is the nature of our meetings.”
“Teach what? To play an organ?”
“Jericho!” his mother snapped beside him, her eyes angry and accusing, which left him feeling a small bit of remorse for having upset her twice.
Solomon only chuckled and gently tapped her arm, their interactions proving to be a distraction. “I can certainly teach you that, as well. How are you with a sword?”
“I’ve been training with Pentacrux soldiers since I was a boy.”
“That is quite an education.” He reached both hands behind his back, and the slice of sharp steel was the only warning before he produced two long and unusually curved swords made of the finest-looking steel the baron had ever seen. “I much prefer two at a time.”
The baron just caught the smile his mother tried to hide as she lowered her gaze. “Were you a soldier?”
“A very long time ago.”
“You can fight with both swords at once?”
“As I said, young baron, I have much to teach.”
“Teach what? If I am not permitted to fight mytrueenemy,” the baron said, glancing back at his mother as he made a subtle reference to his father, “then, what is the point?”
“Is it only fighting that you think makes a great warrior?” Solomon asked, and damn the man and his milky-colored eyes that seemed to be looking right through him and sent a nervous thrumming through the boy’s muscles.
“What else is there to being a warrior? Teach me,wiseone.” An air of thick sarcasm clung to the baron’s words.
“I intend to do just that.”
“Well, then, I will let you get on with your lessons here.” The baron’s mother turned to him, resting her hands on his shoulders. “Do not underestimate him, son. He will surprise you. I shall send a carriage to retrieve you at dusk.”
“Dusk? You intend to have me stay until then?”
“As Solomon said, you have much to learn.”
“I can walk back to the manor. It is not all that far.”
“I do not think you will be in a condition to walk at any significant length.” She chuckled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I will speak with you more this evening.”
On those parting words, she left the young baron and, with the help of the blond, climbed back into the carriage.
“Well, then, let us not delay. Dusk will arrive before we know it,” Solomon said behind him, and the baron turned to see him stuffing his swords back into some unseen scabbard at his back. He nodded toward something beyond the baron. “Grab those tools.”
The baron glanced toward a hammer, hatchet, and saw lying beside the horse corral, again as if the older man could see them. “What for?”
“Your first lesson, young lord, is never question me. I give an order, you follow the order. No questions.”
