Paris came to find him.
Not in the office, not in the library — at the south training ground at dawn, which meant he had been looking for Lysander for a while and had eventually asked someone who knew his schedule.
Hector was not there — solo session, the weight-shift drill Lysander ran alone three mornings a week when Hector had command obligations. He was midway through the third repetition when he heard the gate.
He lowered the sword.
Paris came in and looked at the ground — the space, the practice marks in the dirt, the single lamp still burning from before the sun had fully risen.
He said: *"You are here every morning."*
*"Most mornings."*
*"I did not know that."*
*"You were not looking."*
Paris looked at him.
He said: *"I want to tell you something. Before I leave."*
*"Sit down."*
