They heard footsteps coming quickly toward the library. The door flew open and a tall man with curled brown hair breezed in. His fists were clenched, his eyes hard.

He glared at Zax, then snapped at Grell.

“You! Leave.”

Zax lifted a hand in front of his servant to stop him from getting up.

“Without him, your daughter would not be here. You should be more thankful, Esselius. Had it not been for Grell, I would never have known where to take Rishi.”

The tall man squinted but said nothing, waiting.

Zax sighed and brought down his hand.

“Fine. You can go, Grell. Wait with the others outside. I won’t be long.”

The boy was only too happy to jump out of the couch and hurry out.

Once they were alone, Crane stepped closer to his visitor, though he did not sit.

“What game are you playing, Iden?”

“Game? You think the life of your daughter is a game?”

Crane snapped his fingers. “Don’t play wise with me! We both know this is all about politics.”

“If you say so.”

The tall man stared at him for a long time, while Zax sat with his legs crossed, eating crackers and sipping from his glass with not a care in the world. Neither of them spoke. Then the father started pacing the room.

“I will not thank you for doing the right thing,” he grunted as he went back and forth. “Did I thank you for exposing my mother’s corruption? I will not thank you for this either.”

“I care little for your thanks, Crane. What I want is your support.”

“On what?”

“I will let you know when the time comes.”

Zax enjoyed watching the younger man squirm.

“I thought you were about to leave the planet?”

“So you should have nothing to worry about. And even so, is it such a high price to pay for the life of your precious daughter?”

The man stopped pacing and turned again to face his visitor.

“You knew I had a daughter, didn’t you?”

“Not at all. Grell brought me here. I didn’t even recognize the house. It was only when I saw your mother that I understood who the girl was.”

Crane squinted at him. “And I’m supposed to believe this?”

Zax sighed as he put down his glass and stood. “I don’t care whether you believe it or not. The fact is, one day, I will ask for your support on a little matter, and you will give it to me.”

“And if I don’t?”

Zax headed toward the door and answered over his shoulder.

“Well, the next time something happens to your daughter, there might not be anyone around to save her.”

He walked out into the hall without waiting for a response. He knew he had Crane, and Crane knew it too. That was the only reason the man was so worked up. Too bad for him. He should have chosen his mother better.

That thought made him snicker.

He stepped out of the house and found all of his servants standing there, waiting for him. Grell was in the back, eyes cast down.

“What am I gonna do with you lot?” he muttered. “Can’t take you all with me, can I?” He sighed. “Come on, let’s head back.”

As they got into the large glider, he motioned for Grell to sit next to him.

“I will write recommendations for you all,” he said. “That should get you the best jobs in town.”

“Can’t I go with you?” asked the boy.

Zax quirked a brow. “You would move away from Rishi? Is that really what you want?”

Grell blushed. “You know I could never...”

Zax chuckled. “You’re a good boy, and I appreciate your loyalty, but where I’m going, I cannot take anyone. Things will be... complicated.”

“Where are you going?”

The politician glanced out the window at the stars.

“Up there,” he muttered. “Off Domnach, and into the pulsing heart of the beast...”