Lukas straightened himself in his chair as the servant placed a plate in front of him at the dining table. It was heaped with eggs, bacon, and spiced potatoes that could feed three people with several slices of fresh bread on a side plate. This had become common over the last few days, with the servants bringing massive meals whenever Lukas ate to help him recover. Lukas had only complained about the first meal after he was politely told that it was ordered from his Uncle. And it had honestly helped him recover, with him feeling almost back to normal.


    Digging into the wonderful food, Lukas noticed Marie enter, taking the seat on his left, while Lord Sulli took his normal seat and sat at the head of the table.


    "Good morning, Lukas," Marie said. She turned to the servant, who rushed over to get her order. "The usual, please, and a cup of coffee."


    "Good morning, Marie, Uncle," Lukas responded.


    Marie looked fully recovered from the party and smiled while turning a page of the book she had brought with her, reading while she waited. While Lukas had enjoyed the party, it had taken a great deal out of him. He stayed in bed the entire next day, and the healer had come back for another round of healing.


    Lord Sulli nodded but focused on the papers he had brought with him. His cup of coffee was in one hand and the other occupied, and he went through each paper diligently, writing down notes as he worked. Lukas could honestly say that he did not envy the work his uncle had to do at all times; there had not been a meal, and he was not doing a bit of work in these few days. Lukas almost dreaded when it would become his life, but maybe he could find a way to lessen the load.


    Lukas continued eating and was full when Marie received her coffee.


    "How are you feeling? Are you going to feel ready for the play in a few days?" She asked, sipping on the coffee. There was genuine concern in her voice; Lukas frowned; maybe he didn’t look as good as he was.


    He hadn’t looked in the mirror this morning, nor had his manservant, William, said anything. And beyond Marie, Lord Sulli, and William, he hadn’t seen many people. Marie had told him Lord Sulli ordered everyone to stay away until he had recovered more.


    Sulli placed the paper he was reading onto the table. "What''s this, Marie?" He asked in a gruff voice, his eyes on both of them.


    "We were planning to go to the play next Friday," Marie answered nervously.


    "Sorry, uncle, I meant to tell you. I invited Marius Reza and his sisters to the play. They were talking of going, and with everything he did for me, I offered to take them." Lukas added, trying to alleviate Marie''s concerns and keep his breakfast from coming back up. His stomach felt uncomfortable all of a sudden. But glancing over to Marie, she gave him an encouraging smile. Lukas knew this would become common for him, and he needed to overcome his nervousness when discussing with his uncle. Trying to calm himself, he waited for his uncle to respond.


    "Well, this makes quite a quandary. I also told Lady Sulli we would attend the play that night. How many seats did you promise?" His tone was neutral.


    Lukas felt a bead of sweat form between his shoulder blades, as he may have created an issue for himself if he had over-promised what he had committed to. Unfortunately, he was not sure. Lukas had no idea how many seats Lord Sulli had in his private box. Echoes be with me and give us enough seats.


    "Three, so it would be five of us with Marie also," Lukas answered with as much confidence as he could muster, his nerves trying to overtake him. Marie nodded. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "We only promised seats for them, and they are all unmarried. Tavia and Cassia were wonderful and very bright. You''ll like them," she glanced at Lukas when she mentioned both names and smiled knowingly.


    Lukas had known with Reza’s warning that everyone knew, but Marie hadn’t commented on the topic except as they returned from the party that she had enjoyed talking with the Rezas. Echoes be damned, she would probably give him no end of ridicule.


    "And Uncle, you have eight seats. Unless you told Aunt Sulli to invite someone, we have the seats," Marie tried to convince Lord Sulli.


    Lukas felt lighter after her words, knowing he had likely not overpromised. Withdrawing the offer would have been in bad taste, and he did not want to. He had been looking forward to seeing them all again.


    They waited, servants, coming to refill their drinks as Lord Sulli pondered silently.


    "I shall make the arrangements. The man wasn''t so bad when he came here," Sulli agreed. "I respected his honor in how he handled the situation."


    Lukas audibly let out a breath he had not realized he was holding. Marie squeezed his hand, giving Lukas a small smile before walking over to Lord Sulli to hug and kiss him on the cheek.


    "Thank you. I''ll have to talk with Lady Sulli about what she is wearing," Marie said, leaving without another word.


    Lord Sulli nodded, placing his papers in a neat pile before his attention turned to Lukas.


    “We need to discuss something before I leave for my meeting today,” Lord Sulli said.


    Lukas pushed his food away, his attention focused on his uncle. “Do you need me for something?”


    In his short time as heir, he had only been required to recover and attend the Reza party. Did his Uncle want him to join the meetings, or was there something else he would be required to do? Lukas waited to find out.


    "I believe you know that the contest to replace Marcellus starts tomorrow. Her church has invited us to be in the main box," Lord Sulli explained emotionlessly.


    "Oh," Lukas didn''t know what else to say. It had been a week, but it felt wrong how he already started to move on. He had to make sure Marcellus'' memory lived on. He had saved his life; he could not be forgotten. "I suppose we must, for his memory."


    "Well said. But yes, I have already accepted.” Lord Sulli explained, continuing to keep his expressionless, and Lukas could not figure out what his Uncle was thinking. “But the main reason I brought it up was I thought it might be a good way to identify a teacher for you."


    A teacher? It took longer than it should have for Lukas to realize what his uncle meant—a teacher for him to learn how to control and use his wraith. Lukas had suspected he would get a teacher with Marcellus dead, but this was not how he expected such a person would be found.


    "Wouldn''t you or someone in the family do that?" Lukas asked.


    Lord Sulli laughed, surprising Lukas. "Oh, no. I am far too busy for such a thing, and no, there aren''t many accomplished users from the family in the city. Tiberius and Acis would have been good candidates, but alas, they are with the Naval Legion and will be gone for another two months at least. No, we will have to look outside the family to start your education," Lord Sulli responded.


    Lukas felt a measure of excitement at the thought of getting a teacher. He needed to understand his wraith so that he would not be afraid or unable to defend himself again. But before he started the training, Lukas would take advice from Reza and try to figure out his wraith''s name.


    "I was wondering if I might go to the library. When I talked with Reza at the party, he suggested I might find something on my wraith in the logs," Lukas asked.


    "The Library? Not now.” Lord Sulli said harshly before relenting. "Maybe in a few days. I want you rested for the games tomorrow, and how that party took your energy, you''ll need the rest today."


    "Ok, I guess you might be right. I would like the chance, though, before the play." Lukas was determined to get some information before his uncle selected a candidate for him.


    "See how tomorrow goes, and then maybe the next day William can bring you, but I must go, or I will be late,” He stood, gathering up his papers. Servants were already moving to clean off the table from their breakfast. "Go get some rest. Your manservant will be in later with new clothes to try."


    Lukas ambled up to his room before climbing back into bed.


    Tomorrow would be a sad day. Lukas knew that when he sat in that box, it would not be with excitement or eagerness but with mourning and sadness. Tomorrow would be the funeral Marcellus never got. It was likely that a service or something would be done for the fallen Archon, and it would be something. It was Sorana, his echo, that was being fought over.


    Lukas grabbed the book Marie had lent him and began to read, only half-focused on it. His mind wandered off, thinking about tomorrow and his wraith.