Orlando’s study had never been a refuge. Spending time with his family had never been a chore and so he had never felt the need, as some men did, to make it a foreboding place and had instead simply filled it with whatever books did not fit in the library. As a result, though it was not austere and off-putting, it was rather cramped and as such when his stepson came through the door Orlando could not immediately see him over a stack of potions books he had piled on his desk.

He did, however, look up from his adventure story, leaning sideways in his seat to glance around the tomes.

“Afternoon to you too Rex! What do you have there?”