Chapter 34B:

I followed the Baron to the second floor of the mansion. At some point, he turned around and dismissed the herald, who had been following us up until then, before continuing forward.

Meanwhile, my mind raced. This wasn’t going as planned. I’d hoped to gain some freedom within the estate to ask around about Seb’s visit the previous day, but with the Baron now watching my every move, it seemed impossible. And, on top of that, I now needed to treat his son, and I needed to do it convincingly, or else I’d get both myself and Seb in serious trouble.

We stopped at a large wooden door. The Baron pushed it open, revealing a spacious room. In the center, on one of the largest beds I’d ever seen, lay an unconscious young boy of about ten years old, covered in a strange rash that spread across his body. The sight of it immediately jogged my memory, recalling instances where similar rashes were described in Sicknesses and Diseases, a tome I’d read after finishing Elbloom’s Compendium.

Three possible diagnoses came to mind, and I wondered which one Seb had given the previous day. I knew I’d need to match his assessment.

In the corner of the room sat a young maid, about my age. She quickly rose and bowed as we entered before the baron signaled her to sit back down.

“This is my son, Joshua.” The baron said, his voice softening. “He developed this condition two days ago and has since fallen into a deep sleep. Fortunately, he was found by peasants and brought here, rather than by any ill-wanting individuals.”

“Did any of your herbalists diagnose him before my master came yesterday?” I asked, trying to buy myself more time. I wasn’t yet sure what exactly he was suffering from.

“Yes.” The baron replied. “I don’t call upon Thornwood for simple sicknesses. My herbalists diagnosed him with Firebloom Dermatitis. They attempted treatment, but his condition only worsened, so I lost faith in them. That was when I called Thornwood.”

“I see.” I said, stepping closer to examine the boy. Realizing that Firebloom Dermatits, one of my initial guesses, was likely incorrect, I took note of the vivid red rash, interspersed with blisters filled with clear fluid, swelling around the affected areas.

“Your master gave a different diagnosis and began treating it with his turquoise yesterday.” The baron suddenly added. “Since I don’t see a turquoise ring on your finger, I assume you’ll be treating Joshua with traditional methods?”

I nodded nervously. “Yes, exactly. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet received my turquoise ring from the guild, but I’ve always been a believer in the green arts.”

The last bit was literally something Elbloom had said in his Compendium. I hoped it made a good impression on the Baron.

He nodded. “I could tell you the diagnosis your master gave to speed things up, but I’m curious to see if your knowledge matches the confidence you showed in my study.”

I swallowed hard at his words and inspected the rash carefully, making sure not to touch it. If there was one piece of advice Galienda, the author of Sicknesses and Diseases, constantly repeated in the skin diseases section, it was never to touch the infected area with bare hands. For your patient’s sake as much as for your own.

“I’m sorry to ask this, my Lord.” I said, preparing a request. “But would it be possible to provide me with a pair of medical gloves?”

“A bit odd that a healer’s apprentice doesn’t have his own.” The Baron commented.

“You’re right, my Lord.” I tried to keep up the formal etiquette - or at least my beast attempt at it - while lying my way through. “It’s just that your herald rushed me so much, I didn’t have time to bring everything I needed.”

“Very well.” The Baron chuckled, then turned to the maid. “Nina, please get the young gentleman a pair of medical gloves.”

The maid nodded and left the room.

“So, what’s your assessment?” the Baron asked.

I shrugged, doing my best to sound professional. “Well, at the moment, I’m torn between Thornbark Rash and Redroot Blight. If its the former, the fluid inside the blisters will be mixed with blood. I’ll need to open one of them to find out.”

“I see.” The baron nodded, watching me carefully.

In truth, I had only a mild idea of what I was doing. I had the entire Compendium and Sicknesses and Diseases committed to memory, but that didn’t mean I had the practical experience to match. My eidetic memory only ensured I could recall everything perfectly, but understanding the subjects and applying the treatments in real-life scenarios was still up to me.

The maid returned with a pair of leather gloves and a scalpel. “Here you go.” She handed them to me with a smile before returning to her seat in the corner of the room.

I put on the gloves and brought the metallic tool close to one of the blisters. Inside, I tried to steady myself. I just needed to make a small incision to examine the fluid - nothing more.

“Be careful with that, eh?” The Baron said, and I realized he was standing right beside me.

I nodded, took a deep breath, and pressed the scalpel gently against a blister, creating a small incision. Applying light pressure, I watched as some of the fluid escaped through the hole. It was clear - no blood mixed in.

“It’s definitely a case of Redroot Blight, my Lord.” I said, trying to sound confident. “It’s caused by exposure to redroot, a plant that grows in damp areas. Has your son perhaps been playing in such places? Where was he found, exactly?”

The baron smiled, seemingly impressed. “So far, you’ve matched your master’s diagnosis. I’ll spare you the rest of the details. Yes, he came in contact with a sap of redroot while playing in the garden. Not sure where the plant came from, if I’m honest, but that’s a different matter I’ll have to look into afterward.”

I nodded, relieved that I’d gotten it right.

“How do you plan to treat it?” The Baron asked.

“I would need silverleaf, ground thistle, and a few drops of willow sap.” I replied, recalling the ingredients needed to treat the condition, then realized I needed to make another request. “Forgive me again, my Lord, but as I mentioned earlier, I was rushed and came a tad unprepared, so I lack the necessary ingredients.”

I was hoping he’d send me to the local market to retrieve the ingredients myself, giving me a chance to roam around and search for clues about Seb’s whereabouts. Instead, he simply nodded and addressed the maid.

“Nina, you heard the young healer.” He said. “Please, fetch the ingredients he asked for - quickly.”

The maid nodded. “Right away, my Lord.”

“I would also need some tools.” I added, realizing my plan had been thwarted again. “A mortar and pestle for grinding, a beaker, and something to mix it all together.”

The maid nodded again and left the room.

The baron turned his gaze back to me, a knowing look in his eyes. “You’re not the worst liar I’ve met, my boy, but you do need some practice.”

I raised an eyebrow, realizing he still doubted me despite my accurate diagnosis and supposed skill. “My Lord, I don’t understand.”

The baron shrugged. “If there’s one thing I’m skilled at, it’s catching people in their lies. I’m no mage, but you could say that’s my gift. I never make mistakes in this area. You slipped up twice earlier.”

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He continued before I could say anything. “First, to lie convincingly, you have to believe your own lie. It’s subtle, but if you don’t, people pick up on it. The best lies have as little deception as possible. For instance, when I asked you to name your mentors, you should have stuck to the general story about learning on the road instead of offering fake specifics. And here’s the second mistake: Zilah Rennee. I knew her. She was an extraordinary healer and adventurer. She and her party once helped us with some lekken outbreak. But she died six years ago on a failed quest. I can’t tell your exact age, but for her to teach you anything, you would have to be a child at that point in time.”

I stayed silent, thinking about what I could say in my defense. Lying again could easily trip me up again.

“You see, lying is an art.” He continued, his tone almost amused. “It may work on the unsuspecting, but the higher you climb in society, the better the liars you’ll face. To fool someone like me, you need a whole lot of practice.”

Sweat formed on my back and forehead as I began to realize the risk of my situation. Was he going to punish me? Should I make a run for it? Could I even escape if I tried?

The Baron chuckled, reading my tension. “Thinking of running?”

“Should I?” I replied, trying to keep him talking as I began calculating the odds of surviving a jump from this second-floor window.

“No, I don’t think so.” He said, surprising me. But then he added, unsettling me once again. “You still need to treat Joshua.”

“If I can say something in my defense, my Lord,” I spoke up nervously, “it’s that my knowledge did grant me an apprenticeship under the great Sebastian Thornwood.”

“Perhaps.” The Baron said. “But it’s hardly a reason to lie, isn’t it?”

“I might’ve – “ I began, but he cut me off.

“Might’ve?” he asked, amused.

“Exaggerated – “ I tried to continue, but he interrupted again.

“Exaggerated?” he repeated, his expression still amused.

I took a deep breath before coming half-clean. “Yeah, I lied. But only because I was afraid that if I didn’t impress you enough, you wouldn’t let me treat your son, and Seb would be punished.”

“Punished?” he seemed genuinely surprised.

I nodded. “I wanted to cover for Seb. Your herald said he would be punished if I didn’t agree.”

The baron sighed. “I’ll have a talk with Herring about this. Thornwood is someone I value highly. If he couldn’t make it here today, I assume there’s a good reason for it. He was never going to be punished.” He paused, then added. “If I’d known this beforehand, I wouldn’t have tested you so harshly.”

I nodded at his words, though I was till debating whether I should try to get away quickly.

“Rest easy.” He said eventually. “You’re not in trouble.”

I swallowed hard, still unsure if I could trust him.

His gaze shifted to his son. “I wish Isabella was here.”

“Your wife?” I asked, assuming that was her name.

The Baron nodded. “She would be here if she could. Unfortunately, she’s away on official duty.”

“Official duty?” I asked, surprised by his words. He was the baron, yet his wife was the one on official duty?

“Yes, she’s in the Viloros Valley, meeting with some local nobles there.” He replied, then locked his gaze with mine. “I assume you find it odd?”

“Not exactly, my Lord.” I shook my head slowly. “Just unorthodox, I guess.”

He nodded. “I understand what you mean, but, well, my wife is a different kind of woman. She’s not just my wife; she’s my partner. And besides, she’s originally from that area, so it makes sense for her to go. She almost canceled the trip and turned back when she heard about Joshua’s condition, but I assured her that everything will be alright. Isn’t that right, Master Meret?”

I nodded nervously. “It will.”

The silence enveloped us once more, and I feared that if I didn’t speak first, he would ask me even more difficult questions. So, I took the initiative. “I noticed the many portraits of your ancestors in the corridors. How old is the Tremoux family?”

“Oh, as ancient as Morthryga itself.” He replied. “The first to receive the title of baron was Bastian Tremoux, after the last demonic war, but those before him were nobles as well, dating back to the earliest days of Morthryga’s history.”

Judging by the number of portraits I had seen, his words sounded true.

“Yours is the only portrait I saw that wasn’t a solo portrait.” I observed.

He smiled. “Indeed. That was by design, of course.”

“By design?” I asked, intrigued.

“Yes.” He nodded. “My ancestors may have, wrongly, thought differently, or maybe they were simply conservatives who followed tradition blindly. But in all honesty, who are we without family? My strength comes from them, and only from them. That’s why they deserve to be in that portrait as much, if not more, than I do.”

“Perhaps your ancestors weren’t necessarily conservatives,” I suggested, hoping to prolong the conversation until the maid returned, “but really believed they drew strength from within themselves.”

“Perhaps they did.” He agreed. “But a lone person can never truly understand what real strength feels like - the strength that only a family can give you.” He looked at his sleeping son with a loving expression. “When my boy looks at me with those eyes, filled with trust, hope, and love, I feel as if I can conquer anything. And that,” he continued softly, “is something a solitary person could never feel.”

His words stung a little, though I still found them hard to agree with. I had survived on the streets my own for almost five years - he couldn’t just say that wasn’t true strength. Yet, in a way, I could understand what he meant. I remembered my mother; she was always so strong for me, and that’s where I drew my inspiration from. I knew I had to be strong for her as well. The Blood Moon Foxes were similar in that regard. I felt like I had a place to belong, people who trusted me and believed in me.

“Your eyes look like they’ve seen loss.” The Baron said, studying me.

I wasn’t sure how to respond, but since the maid had still not returned, I simply nodded.

“I won’t pry.” The Baron said. “But know this: pain has a way of pushing us away from what we really need. It doesn’t mean we must accept it. Being a man does not mean simply shouldering your pain and moving on. Being a man means making the right decisions - decisions that are right for you and for those around you. If your wounds are fresh, you might not fully understand or agree with me now, but I believe the purpose of life is this: it’s about giving, about building something.”

He looked over at his son again. “My family - they are my world. They make every struggle worth it. And I’m sure that, one day, you’ll find someone for who you would feel the same.”

I pondered his words. Maybe he was right...Ren was my family now. I had to be strong for her and get her back to full health. I also couldn’t shake the feeling that the Baron knew more about me than he let on.

A moment later, the maid returned with everything I’d requested, giving me a shy smile before settling back in the corner of the room. I took the mortar and pestle and began grinding the herbs, adding the willow sap and bit of water, mixing everything into a paste in the beaker. After a few minutes, it was ready, and I was prepared to apply it to the boy’s skin.

“This should start working within a few hours.” I explained as I spread the mixture evenly across the affected areas of the rash. “The herbs will soothe the blisters and reduce inflammation. They’ll also help detoxify his body, and he should wake up soon.”

“Soon?” the Baron raised an eyebrow.

“Give it a day and a half. Two tops.” I replied. “Just keep applying it three times a day. Even after he wakes up.”

After finishing the application, I set the remainder of the paste on the table near the bed. “There should be enough here for two more uses. I believe your herbalists will be able to make more.”

“They should be able to.” The Baron nodded. “They’ve made me skeptical of their competence after they worsened my son’s condition, but I assume they’re not so foolish as to fail to replicate this paste.” He paused before continuing. “I originally intended for Thornwood to complete the treatment with the turquoise, but once he gave us the right diagnosis, my own herbalists could’ve made that paste as well.”

I glanced at him. “But you were more interested in catching me in my lies?”

He nodded, smiling. “That’s how I entertain myself.” He reached out his hand. “As you probably already know, I’m Santon Tremoux. Pleasure to meet you, Master Meret.”

I shook his hand, though my mind raced at his candor. “A pleasure to meet you too, my Lord.”

Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded from outside. But this wasn’t an ordinary explosion; it sounded like lightning – which made no sense under the clear sky.

The Baron turned to the maid after the sound faded. “Nina, please escort the young gentleman to the exit.” He then looked back at me, giving a knowing wink. “And don’t worry - your secret is safe with me.”

His words made my heart skip a beat. When I looked at him, he just smiled softly. Did he know who I was? And if he did, could I even trust his assurance?

The maid approached and gestured toward the door, and I followed her out.

***

On the way outside, the maid kept glancing at me and smiling, only to look away each time I tried to meet her gaze. I wondered what her deal was.

Realizing I was about to leave the estate without learning anything about Seb, I decided to try questioning her. If she was the young boy’s personal maid, maybe she’d have some useful information.

“Excuse me.” I began. “Nina, right?”

She smiled and nodded. “That’s right.”

“Were you here on duty yesterday as well? In the Baron’s son’s room?”

She nodded. “I was.”

“Do you remember by chance around what hour my master left?”

She seemed thoughtful. “Early evening, I think.”

“And did he leave alone? Or was someone escorting him?”

Her face scrunched in thought. “I’m not really sure. I barely left the young master’s room these past two days. You might want to ask Herring, or Mirol - the stable boy.”

I nodded, realizing she didn’t know much. “Thank you.”

As we continued walking, we suddenly came across Herring himself.

“Oh, you’re finished already? Good.” He addressed me, a slight smirk on his face. “There’s someone here looking for you.”

“Me? Who?” I asked, surprised. Who would be asking for me?

“Yes. You’ll see.” Herring replied, his smile widening. “I’ll take it from here, Nina.”

The maid nodded, flashing me one last smile and a wink before disappearing down the corridor.

As I followed Herring toward the entrance, I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling left by the lightning strike I’d heard earlier. My survival instincts were kicking in, and initially, I couldn’t understand why - until it finally dawned on me.

Leon Valter was here.

A lightning strike on a sunny day could only mean magic, and the only person in the kingdom who possessed a lapis lazuli was the Stormbringer.

He had to be the one looking for me.