"Ah? Well, you can butter the bread--" Balthazar breaks off as the tone of voice sinks in, and he turns to look at the boy, shocked and a bit awed. "That's not what you meant, is it."

He crouches to be on Roi's eye level, searching his face. "That's a big decision. I won't hold you to it right now...but I'll remember. I think you could be a very big help. To me. To my world."