Ryan stood still, contemplating.
After a few seconds, Ryan said, "I… I will do my best," he took in a deep breath. "But how will I tell your father you are… alright?"
For several seconds, James Blackwood said nothing. His gaze drifted back toward the arena, toward the place where his father still knelt beside his body.
Then suddenly, the boy's eyes lit up.
"Tell him that I enjoyed the day he slipped away from the council meeting and took me to the river."
Ryan blinked. "What?"
James let out a small breath, something halfway between a laugh and a sigh.
"When I was twelve, my father took me fishing at a river south of our estate. We sat there the entire day and didn't catch a single fish." He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I told him it was the most boring day of my life."
James' expression softened as he looked back toward the arena.
"But it wasn't," he said quietly. "It was the best day I ever had with him."
Ryan followed his gaze.
