Instead of condolences, which he didn't imagine would mean much of anything to someone how had never truly known the one lost, he offered a compliment to the boy's grandmother for stepping where lesser women might not have.

"I don't imagine it's the same, but I'm glad she did. She's obviously a good woman." Doing as well as she had thus far with Bayard.

Then, as the boy went on, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"That's not a race I'm familiar with. What are they like?"