Aftermath - Part 3

He wasn't sure what to think about the pat on the head. It made him feel a little bit too much like a dog. He was quite sure that Nila would have laughed at him if she'd seen that. But it must have meant more than Oliver realized, for Amelia was fidgeting excitedly, and Pauline had looked away with a blush as Blackthorn went to rejoin them.

Once again, Oliver couldn't help but think that nobles were a strange lot.

"A coat, my liege," Verdant said, removing his own blue rope and handing it to him. Underneath he had a warm wool jumper, so it seemed doubtful that the man would get too cold.

Oliver took it without the hesitation that he would have normally felt. "Thanks, Verdant." He was eager to get off this rock, and get back to his room at the Academy before it started. He could feel it coming, what Ingolsol and Claudia had warned him of. And whatever it was, it would not be pleasant.