"The four of us… have decided to stay here."
My words hung heavy in the air.
Sir Lawrence's appearance looked more intimidating than usual, accented by the orange glow coming from the crackling fireplace. His shadow stretched long across the wooden floor, and the firelight flickered across his face, hiding and revealing the lines of age carved there.
He didn't look surprised—though I bet he was, inwardly.
The old knight studied our faces from across the table. His eyes swept over each of us at the opposite bench, with the weight of a man who had already seen too many decisions made by boys far too young.
"The four of you? Here in Candor?" he finally said, mentioning what apparently was the name of the town, "And whose decision was that?"
"It was… our individual decisions," I replied carefully, shifting in my seat. "But it stemmed from Lady Elena's choice to stay."
