"Mister Ward," he said with a nod. He pulled the pipe out of his mouth with another plume of smoke, sighing lightly in a relaxed way. He had been meaning to talk to him about his son, Bram. "How are you faring these days, friend?" he asked when the older man was close enough to do so. He stood and straightened up, offering his right hand for a shake. "Haven't seen your boy in a few days, is everything alright?"