---
Then he answered. "Grandfather sent me to the lower domain. To him…"
Sekhmet's eyes sharpened instantly. "Grandfather."
So now the old man behind Eyra's exile, behind the vanished name, behind the Middle Domain and all the old family rot was no longer a distant story in Elena's voice. Now he stood at the center of current action.
Seraphiel did not let the moment breathe too long.
"And did you deliver the actual message?"
Mihos looked at her.
"No."
There was the first true shift in Seraphiel's face.
Not a shock. She was too old for that over Mihos. Irritation, perhaps, and that was more dangerous.
"Why?"
Mihos's answer came with the lazy honesty of a man too arrogant to understand when lying would have protected his dignity better.
"I wanted entertainment."
Silence followed. Not because anyone was confused. Because everyone understood too well.
Kess lowered his eyes farther.
Stephen looked briefly like a man having a familiar headache.
