63

"My real name is Gabriel Fane."

Theo was lost. He began fidgeting and tapping his foot on the stone floor of the waiting room.

"Fane? I don't think I've ever heard of the Fane family."

Gabriel nodded as if he was expecting Theo's confusion.

"That makes sense. You shouldn't have."

"Why not?"

Gabriel leaned slightly forward toward Theo.

"We the Fane family have been serving His Majesty in secrecy."

"What?"

It wasn't helping Theo understand the situation any better.

"My father is a member of the Order of King William."

"Oh."

That explained Gabriel's competence in a fight while at the same time is not recognized at all by any other noble. Theo had heard from rumors that the children of the knights of King William are trained from within the order rather than with the other nobles at the academy, so their skills were all hidden from the world.