"He mentioned you once or twice," Oliver said. Still, he was unsure how to treat this man. But his heart was calm. He did not feel fear for him, despite the way Blackwell towered over him, and tried to look through him with his piercing pale blue eyes.
After a tense moment, Blackwell broke into a smile. "Of battle, then?"
"Only with the Pandora Goblin," Oliver replied.
That smile faded just as quickly as it had come. Blackwell coughed uncomfortably, and Oliver saw Lombard's eyebrow twitch.
"Apologies, boy. I saw the village. It is unsurprising that you hold a grudge against me," Blackwell said, uncomfortably. Oliver did not know enough about the nobility to know that a Lord of Blackwell's position apologising to a mere minor noble such as he, it was a serious breach of etiquette.
But it was Oliver's turn to be surprised, as he frowned. "Why would I be angry with you?"
