Breakfast at Earl Castermere's mansion was anything but quiet, thanks to the twins, who had insisted on sitting as close to Eric as possible.
Eric didn't mind in the slightest. He had always liked children, and after spending enough time with the boisterous kids of Eldarf, he was more than accustomed to noise. Compared to the elves and dwarves he had lived among, Leonard and Nicolas were barely half as active.
Across the table, Eric noticed that Drac had become the twins' secondary target.
"Your Highness, will you come see our stables?"
"We have a lot of horses!"
"Do you like horses?"
The questions came in a rapid stream, the twins turning eagerly from Eric to Drac.
"What about you, Sir Knight?" Nicolas asked.
Drac straightened slightly. "I'm not a knight," he replied, his tone serious and precise.
The twins immediately brightened.
"I'm not a knight," Leonard repeated solemnly.
"I'm not a knight either," Nicolas echoed, nodding with equal gravity.
