The city was in ruins—at least the parts that were unshielded. Those neighborhoods where the wealthy lived were protected and easily withstood the occasional meteor showers.

Grell took them to a large, richly decorated villa in the heart of the city. Its walls were a shiny white—clean and uncracked. Carved statues rose on each side of the lavish staircase that led to a massive wooden door.

It opened shortly after the second ring.

A small man looked up at them with a bland expression.

“Yes?”

“We bring Rishi home,” said Zax as he pointed behind him.

Two of his servants carried the girl.

The small man blinked, then stepped aside to let them in.

“Please. I will show you to her room.”

The inside was as luxurious as the outside—perhaps more so. It was little wonder, though, considering who Rishi’s father was.

They walked through the large carpeted hall, went up a staircase, and through another hall. The small man stopped at the second on the right and opened it. Again, he stepped aside. Zax stayed in the hall as the two servants went in and gently laid the girl down on her bed.

A nervous Grell stood next to his master, looking in every direction—though more often than not toward the room and the resting girl.

“She will need medical attention,” said Zax. “I treated what I could, but I am no doctor.”

“Of course. She will be taken care of. Please follow me. My mistress wishes to see you.”

He nodded and glanced at Grell. “You’re coming with me, boy.”

The servant made a face and looked longingly at the girl before following Zax.

They went back downstairs, and through two more halls before they reached the library.

As soon as they walked in, an elderly woman stood and stared at them.

“Zax,” she said coolly.

He paused, staring back.

This was unexpected.

“Lady Bharmi. How intriguing.”

He would have laughed, but kept it to himself. It would not have been proper.

“I hear you’ve brought back my granddaughter,” she said with some displeasure.

“Perhaps you would have preferred I let her bleed to death?”

She pursed her lips and shook her head.

“I suppose I owe you now.”

Zax shrugged. “You no longer have a position that would have made this useful, so no. Your son, on the other hand... He is the girl’s father, yes?”

She nodded curtly. “Please tell me this was not all calculated?”

This time, his laughter came unbidden. “You think I would have had the poor thing attacked just so I could come to her rescue? Come now, you can’t really think so low of me! Besides, I didn’t even know who she was until I saw you just now.” He pointed at his servant over his shoulder. “If it wasn’t for Grell here, she’d still be lying in a bed in my house. I suppose it’s him you have to thank.”

She barely glanced at the servant, her eyes darting back to him, squinting.

“You are the one who saved her life.”

“That is true.”

They remained quiet for a moment, staring at each other.

“Very well,” she said. “Please sit. I will have refreshments brought to you while I talk with my son.”

The woman hurried out of the room—still quite alert for her old age.

Zax sat on a couch with a big grin on his lips.

“I don’t understand,” muttered Grell. “Who is that woman? You know her?”

The boy stood by his side until his master allowed him to sit with a nod.

“She, my dear Grell, was once a formidable adversary. A member of Parliament, no less. I broke her, once. I’m afraid she might still hold a grudge.”

“Broke her, sir?”

Zax sighed. “She was a corrupt woman, Grell. And she used corruption to buy others as well. At the peak of her career, she held over half of the Parliament in the palm of her hand. I took them away from her. One by one. Then I pulled on the strings that controlled her. Cut them. She lost her support because of me. She was shamed and thrown out of the government.”

“She’s still wealthy.”

There was a hint of reproach in the boy’s voice.

“Not as much as you might think.” Zax chuckled as he gestured around him. “All of this belongs to her son—”

He stopped talking when the servants came in, carrying trays with drinks, fruits, and crackers. After they were gone, he noticed Grell was frowning.

“What is it, boy?”

Grell glanced at him. “Is it true? Did you do it?”

“Did I hire people to attack the girl? Of course not! You should know better than to ask that.”

The boy looked down, blushing a little. “Sorry.” He remained quiet for a moment, then glanced at his master again. “Who is the woman’s son?”

Zax was eating grapes as he grabbed a pitcher and poured asperry juice into a glass. He smiled at the question.

“Her son happens to be Esselius Crane, only the most powerful man on the planet. And now, he owes me.”