Chapter 34A:

The mansion’s gates were grand, made of wrought iron and decorated with intricate patterns. As we approached, the three guards standing watch opened the gates for us, and a stable boy rushed over to lead the horses to the stables on our right.

The herald ordered me to dismount, and I complied, cautiously and slowly, which only added to his annoyance. He dismounted after me, handing the reins to the stable boy, and the trumpet guard did the same. The boy led the horses away.

“Follow me.” The herald instructed, leading the way inside.

The estate itself was a grand mansion, its stone walls a pristine white, adorned with climbing ivy. Lush, well-manicured gardens surrounded it, filled with a variety of plants and flowers. They reminded me of the royal palace gardens on the night we attempted our final heist, and the memory sent a jolt of pain through me.

We approached the main door - the herald and I - while his trumpet-bearing companion turned and went in a different direction.

The main door was massive, made of dark wood reinforced with iron. A guard stood at his post near the door, and as he spotted the herald, he nodded.

“Please leave all of your weapons and magical minerals here, sir.” He addressed me.

The request startled me, but I managed to speak up. “I don’t carry any weapons, and my minerals aren’t of the offensive type. You can check for yourself.”

The guard nodded and proceeded with a body check. Just like last time, I used my sleight-of-hand techniques to keep the calcite and the unrefined hematite hidden from both his and the herald’s eyes. Once the guard confirmed my words, he signaled for us to enter.

Inside, a butler greeted us. He looked aged, dressed in a black suit, and addressed the herald with a smooth, professional voice. “Welcome, Master Herring. And who’s this? I was under the impression that Master Thornwood was coming.”

“Thornwood was unavailable.” The herald explained. “This is his apprentice.”

“I see.” The butler said thoughtfully, scanning me for a few seconds. “And what is the gentleman’s name, if I may ask?”

I was caught off guard. My first instinct was to lie, but realizing that Seb could’ve mentioned my name to them, I decided to take a chance on the truth. Clearing my throat, I spoke. “It’s Meret, Luca Meret.”

The butler nodded with a welcoming smile. “Welcome to the Tremoux family’s household, Master Meret. My name is Simon; I’m the main butler of this estate. Please, follow me.”

We stepped into the foyer, spacious and well-lit through large windows that let in an abundance of natural light, illuminating the polished white marble floor. A pair of maids hurried by, hands full of linens, nodding respectfully as they passed.

The butler led us down a corridor lined with portraits of various young men, whom I assumed were the Baron’s ancestors - the previous heads of the house. Considering the Tremoux lineage spanned at least five centuries, it made sense.

The air was filled with the faint scent of fresh flowers, and the sound of soft classical music drifted from an unseen room. We passed several doors, some slightly ajar, revealing glimpses of luxurious rooms – a library lined with seemingly hundreds of books, sitting rooms with plush sofas and ornate fireplaces, and a dining room set with beautiful dishes and silverware.

As we walked, we encountered other visitors – merchants dressed in fine silks, some noble, which I assumed he was judging by his garbs, speaking with a steward, and a scholar carrying a stack of papers. Each person we passed acknowledged the herald with a nod or quick word, though their gazes lingered on me, questioning.

Meanwhile, inside, I was terrified. Every look I received sent my mind racing, wondering if any of these people recognized me from Alaric’s descriptions and might tell him I’m here. I wanted to shake off the paranoia, but after the last time I did, I knew it was best to stay alert. Either way, I had to find Seb, and this was the only way I could think of, so I couldn’t back now. Both him and Ren needed me.

We reached a grand staircase with a red carpet that led to the upper floors, but the butler guided us past it toward a set of double doors at the end of the corridor. The doors were dark wood, carved with the Tremoux’s coat of arms – a roaring bear.

“This is the Baron’s work study.” The butler explained. “If you were Master Thornwood, I would take you directly to young Joshua’s room, but since the Baron doesn’t know you, I believe it would be appropriate for you to introduce yourself to him first.”

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The butler knocked softly before opening the doors and ushering us inside.

The Baron’s work study was a large, opulent room with high ceilings and tall windows. A grand fireplace, currently unlit, dominated one wall, and above it hung a large portrait of the Baron in ceremonial attire, standing alongside a woman and a child - his wife and son, I assumed. There was a certain simplicity to this portrait, especially compared to the other barons’ portraits, which had looked grandiose and depicted the as mighty figures.

The opposite wall was lined with a large bookcase, while in the center of the room stood a long tabl, behind which the Baron sat, engrossed in some documents. He looked to be in his thirties, with a neatly trimmed beard and short, dark hair. When he looked up as we approached, his gaze settled on me. As our eyes met, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he didn’t have the typical air of nobility. Based on the many nobles I saw in Willox, I could tell they had that specific aura about them, but this man – he didn’t look like a noble at all. His eyes looked tired - these were the eyes of a man accustomed to work, not privilege.

The butler bowed. “My Lord, Master Herring has returned accompanied by Master Thornwood’s young apprentice, Master Meret.”

To my side, I saw the herald bow, so I mimicked the gesture as best as I could to avoid drawing any negative attention.

The Baron stood, using a cane to steady himself, which surprised me given his relatively young age. He looked at us with a hint of confusion. “Where’s Thornwood?” he asked in a neutral voice.

Everyone remained quiet until I realized both the butler and herald looked at me, waiting for my answer. Unsure how to answer without potentially getting Seb in trouble, I decided to be vague. “Oh, I’m not sure, sir. I haven’t seen him since early this morning.”

The Baron rolled his eyes, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. “And are you positive you can treat my son?”

I nodded quickly, trying to steady my voice. “I believe so.”

The Baron cleared his throat. “Leave us.”

The butler and herald turned to leave, but the Baron signaled for the herald to stay. “Not you, Herring. Stay and listen.”

The Baron then turned back to me, his expression skeptical.

“Despite your words sounding positive, I still feel discouraged.” he said. “Can you explain why that is?”

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Well, I’ve learned a lot from Seb,” I began, trying to sound confident. “I’ve been studying his techniques and – “

The Baron raised an eyebrow. “Studying, you say? Where did you study before that?”

I thought about lying, maybe saying I’d studied at Willox’s University of Arcane Arts. I had been on academy grounds a few times in the past, mostly while running away from guards. But something told me this wouldn’t work. It might even make him suspect that I was from Willox, which would be dangerous if Alaric Belton had already put out word about me. Too many clues, and he’d likely figure it out.

“I’ve traveled a lot. Picked up knowledge along the way.” I replied, going for vagueness.

“Interesting. And where exactly are you from?” The Baron’s gaze was sharp, piercing.

Despite my attempt to evade, he’d zeroed in on my origins. It was almost like he knew what I was thinking.

“Peltragow.” I answered quickly, naming the first village that came to mind - far enough away to seem plausible.

But the questions kept coming.

“Peltragow...” The Baron echoed, tapping his cane thoughtfully. “And who was your mentor there?”

“I didn’t have a specific mentor.” I replied quickly, fearing he might know the local healer of that area and catch me in the lie. “I gained knowledge and practice from various healers and herbalists I met along my journeys.”

“Various healers and herbalists.” The Baron echoed, smiling slightly. “That’s a very vague answer. When someone tells the truth, they tend to provide specifics. Details.” He turned to the herald. “Herring, you should have asked these questions beforehand instead of wasting everyone’s time. That’s why I told you to stay - so you’d learn now.”

The herald’s face reddened, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Apologies, my Lord.”

I shrugged, trying to look unaffected by the Baron’s doubt. “I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure why you’d think I’m lying.”

The Baron tilted his head, a weak smile playing on his lips. “Very well. Then can you name a couple of them? At least two of these various healers and herbalists you claim to have studied under?”

I swallowed hard, feeling the pressure mount as I realized I might’ve dug my own grave here. Desperately, I tried to recall any names I’d overheard in Willox when adventurers spoke with their healers. Yet only one came to mind.

“No problem.” I said, forcing a calm expression. “There was a woman named Zilah. She was an adventurer from the north of the kingdom. I crossed paths with her during my travels and learned a lot from her.”

“Zilah...” the baron repeated, a hint of curiosity in his voice. “And another?”

“Belferon.” I blurted out, trying to sound sure of myself. “He was an older, very knowledgeable herbalist. Helped me out in a time of need and taught me a few things here and there.”

My skin crawled as I spoke his name, recalling that despicable man. But it was the best I could come up with on the spot. Hopefully, those two names would satisfy the Baron’s curiosity. I wasn’t here to actually treat anyone. I just needed free reign to move around the mansion and learn about Seb’s visit yesterday.

“You see, judging by your tone and body language, I believe you really did meet these people.” The Baron said, watching me closely. “But who’s to say they’re truly healers? I haven’t heard of them before. And typically, the greater the healer, the more widely known they are. Take your master as an example - everyone knows who Sebastian Thornwood is.”

“Well, I never said they were as famous as Seb.”

“True, and yet, how can I trust that the knowledge you gained from them is enough to treat my son?”

“The knowledge I gained from them was enough to earn me an apprenticeship under the great Sebastian Thornwood, wasn’t it?” I pointed out, putting everything on the line.

“Fair point.” The Baron smiled weakly. “This is interesting.”

Buoyed by his reaction, I decided to take a gamble and press a little further. “And if you don’t trust my knowledge, you could always call any herbalist here to test me, and – “

“No, there’s no need.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I believe you.”

Surprised that I actually managed to convince him, I supressed a smile.

“But I will be accompanying you. I can’t let just anyone near my son, can I?” He added, and suddenly, I felt my shaky plan turning against me.