There would be no telling if Damen shared the same building as Erasmus until they found the strange packet of papers, but Damen kept that to himself as he led the boy toward the train station. Fortunately, it was not a far walk.

'There is no Regent here,' Damen told him instead, glancing over as Erasmus walked along beside him, wholly out of place in this world in his blue chiton. More than a few people stared as they passed. 'And no king,' he added, trying to keep his voice quiet and reassuring. 'As I said, this is a different world with different customs. You will have no master, Erasmus. You are free here.'