"The man - his name was Simon Lovelace - was obviously far more powerful than me, both socially and personally. He was a respected politician, no one would've believed he was behind the murder of my guardian, even if I had more proof than being an eyewitness. So, I went to get proof." He thinks it over, but his journey to Heddleham Hall isn't important to the story. Nor is much detail on Lovelace's political ambitions required, not for this purpose.

"I'm afraid I wasn't able to sneak in completely unnoticed." He had managed to get into the hall itself, despite the distance, magical wards and suspicious mercenaries but he hadn't managed to totally manage to hide. He had been only twelve, he's grown since then. "Lovelace found me, but he also offered me... a position. Lovelace was planning a coup, and he'd need people with talent. He offered me a teacher who would help me reach my potential, and a future after that. He could tell that I was frustrated by the way Mr. Underwood held me back." In a moment of bleak, dark humor, "He had evidence of my talent."