LOREN
”No reason for you to know!” Loren obviously couldn’t know what Phoebe was thinking, but their minds were on similar trajectories it seemed. ”I don’t think anyone would consider the founder and first Dean of the Hollowed Ground’s College of Medicine a nobody, do you?” And that wasn’t even getting into how the healer had spoken to Wessex at the meeting; that spoke to a strength of spirit that might’ve even given Zariah pause. However, he wasn’t going to let Phoebe’s comments about nobility go without comment. ”Well, I was a duke. But I'm not anymore, and I have no interest in reclaiming my former title. Do you find me particularly ducal or noble right now?” He was honestly curious to hear her response, because if it was a yes then he had a lot of work to do.”Right, right, the boat. And good. I thought I knew most of the people in Northaven, at least by reputation, but I didn’t have much time to meet you newcomers before...well...you know. Caido.” He gave her a sympathetic smile, both because they should’ve met well before this—and might have, if he hadn’t lost his damn mind—and because of her comment about marrying. ”Sorry I missed you back in the old world. But better late than never, right? And as for all that child-bearing stuff, well, I managed to escape getting married off by my family dint of being a useless weakling of a magician.” It was completely true: the Launceleyns didn’t want him passing on his weak blood to the next generation, and by the time they’d realized (and he realized as well) that he was stronger than they thought, it was too late.
People in the Hollowed Grounds really needed to stop downplaying their importance. And yes, he was fully aware of the hypocrisy of that thought. ”Well I think so. There, easy.” He flashed a grin at her before he gave her statement the consideration it deserved. ”In all seriousness, I don’t think they could possibly think less of the Dean and founder of a major college, let alone forget who you are, as I already said. But even so, is it that important to you to be remembered?” Loren had been spending a lot of time thinking about his legacy and heritage, so this topic was particularly close to his heart.
”Technically I think it’s a warlock. And I guess I’ll have to go dig up my wart collection from the cellar.” He laughed at the image. ”I can definitely take a look at the library, though don’t expect me to be able to talk about the contents for a while.” Organizing books hadn’t exactly been what he'd been talking about, but it was certainly something he was qualified and excited to do.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
