Chapter XXIII – Desert Fox

“Noodles! Noodles! Noodles!” sung Nova.

Seraphina’s crimson gaze locked upon her. “I don’t understand.”

Nova looked over at her. “Not much to understand. It’s my noodle song.”

“What is its purpose?”

“To celebrate eating noodles.”

“It’s not very good.”

“Well, miss critic, do you have a better noodle song?”

“I do not have any noodle songs.”

“As I suspected,” said Nova, enunciating each word slowly, picking up some noodles with her chopsticks and gleefully slurping them up. “Noodles! Noodles! Noodles!” she sung through a full mouth.

She put the cup of noodles down, taking a swig from her can of drink. She looked at the noodles contemplatively. “I do enjoy noodles… but I do kinda wish Harry would come back. He makes better noodles… and I miss pizza… and burgers…”

“You could learn to cook,” suggested Seraphina.

“What part of ‘banned from the kitchen’ don’t you understand?”

Seraphina seemed convinced by this argument.

Nova’s eerie experiences with the ghost were fading from the forefront of her mind. The whole incident seemed more of a curiosity now than the thing of horror it had been not so long ago. Not that she was quite ready to head back to her own room.

Meanwhile she’d been immersing herself in cracking the mystery on the surface.

If the ghost had faded somewhat in her consciousness, events down below had taken the opposite trajectory. Kal had just informed them that Mu – and now Tavian – had ventured beyond the protected zone. It was a cause for considerable concern, but she tried to comfort herself that if things went awry, Kal was there, and he would be sure to keep everyone safe.

Even as she was contemplating the situation, she heard a vibration. She slurped up some more noodles and looked to her side, where her tablet was sitting. A small notification was on screen.

“Got ‘em!” she exclaimed.

Seraphina looked her way with enquiring eyes. “Got what?”

“Some idiot has kindly – if unknowingly – granted me access to the Yarghun Company’s network.”

“Does that mean you can see the security footage now?” asked Seraphina.

“Hopefully,” replied Nova, her noodles now abandoned as she clicked away on her tablet. “Hrm… let’s see…”

It didn’t take her long to locate the raw security footage. It also didn’t take long to confirm her fears.

“It’s been cleared out,” she said.

“The footage?”

“Yep. For the cameras that would have covered the murder, the span of about fifteen minutes either side of the murder is missing,” said Nova.

“That does not sound like a coincidence.”

“No, my friend, it does not.”

Let’s look for backups… depending on how tech literate they are, they may not even realise backups were being made.

A moment later she was looking at the backup files.

“Backups for those cameras have been wiped too.”

“That does not give us much material to continue our investigation.”

“No,” agreed Nova. “But it isn’t a dead end either. Everything leaves a trace. If we can find out who wiped the footage… then we have a lead.”

“Is that something you’ll be able to find?” asked Seraphina.

“We’ll know in a sec,” said Nova, navigating through the forgotten parts of the company’s network. “Ah, there we go. Access audit. Let’s have a look.”

She awaited the results.

Leaning in to look at them, she clicked her tongue.

“Well, we have a name.”

“Taghay?” asked Seraphina.

Nova shook her head.

“Kinda doubt the top guy himself is the one doing all this dirty work,” said Nova.

She showed the audit logs to Seraphina. The witch shook her head.

“It’s not a name I recognise,” she said. “We should consult the others on the surface. Maybe they will be familiar.”

“Maybe,” said Nova. “Before we go bothering them, though, I’m gonna do some more snooping on this guy first. See what else he’s been up to. Check out his personnel file. Could be he does all the shady jobs for Taghay.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” said Seraphina.

Nova set to work getting the system to bringing up the relevant personnel file, and searching the access audit to put together a history of his activity on the network.

As this was happening, she resumed stuffing her face with noodles. “How’s the ghost going, by the way?”

“It is being elusive,” said Seraphina. “I thought it wanted to communicate, but though it continues to dwell in the background, I have been unable to established direct contact.”

“I shoulda asked it what it wanted when it was haunting me,” said Nova. “Maybe if it’d been more chill…”

“Spirit behaviour is often difficult to fully explain,” said Seraphina. “We cannot know what qualia the dead truly perceive, so it is highly probable that their observational experience of the mortal realm is highly inconsistent with our own. This may be why they do not seem to behave in a manner we may consider wholly rational.”

“Totally,” said Nova, “And I’m not into that. Opposite of machines and computers.”

“I will concede that it does make this task of communing with the spirit quite difficult,” said Seraphina. “Perhaps I shall further consult my grimoire.”

With that she conjured up her enormous floating book once more. Nova put her noodles aside once more, took a swig of her drink, then returned her attention to her tablet.

“Ha,” she said.

Seraphina looked over from her book. “Have you discovered something interesting?”

“Kinda the opposite. If this guy is doing all the suss jobs for Taghay, they’ve done a really good job of getting rid of any obvious connections.”

“What is his job?” asked Seraphina.

“Going by his personnel file, he’s just some grunt on site at Karbaliq. I don’t even understand why he has this level of access. He’s not involved in security or anything,” said Nova.

She shrugged and took another drink.

“Ah well,” she said, “I guess I’ll let the others know what I’ve found and see if the name rings a bell with them.”

She pulled up the personnel file again, scanning it once more for anything she may have missed on her first perusal. Nothing.

There were definitely more leads to investigate – when and by who were his access permissions granted? Had he contacted Taghay or any likely intermediaries… she’d keep probing. But if any of the others knew the name, they might at least be able to give her search some focus.

“I tell you what, Sera,” she said. “I really struggle with these names. Gotta learn how to pronounce this one before I speak to Ostara and the others. Hrm… let’s see…”

She examined the name, mentally forming the sounds.

“I guess it makes it easier that they all have the same endings. I can say the whole ‘oghul’ part now. Still, makes them all blend together. How’s this sound? Chee-nor Yee-nahl-o-ghul. Chinor Yinaloghul.”

Seraphina nodded. “That sounded approximately correct to me.”

The cameleers had found Tavian near Özgünyaylaq.

As they entered the camp Tavian was in a contemplative mood, his mind wandering over his experiences in the buried village. The desert landscapes, especially in the early hours, with the sandstorm now long abated, had a certain quality that demanded such reflection.

Before him stretched an expanse of maybe fifty or so tents. Though the hour was still early, there was already plenty of activity. At the centre of the camp, a great fire was burning and many of the nomads gathered about it, breaking their fast.

The two cameleers were not a talkative pair. There had been a perfunctory exchange when first they arrived before him at Özgünyaylaq. From this he had ascertained the answer to his principal question: an Aixin woman was staying at their camp as a guest of Sister Sayan. After that, there was little further discussion, but given his pensive mindset, Tavian was fine with that. It was enough to take in those vast and undulating desert landscapes and await his reunion with Mu – Mu, who if nothing else, was confirmed to still be alive. The Black City had seemed comparatively kind to him, but had Mu endured greater tribulation?

The tribesmen halted their mounts.

“You wait here,” said one.

He dismounted. Tavian followed suit, less gracefully. The other man led the camels away, while the first man headed off among the maze of tents.

Tavian gazed around him. The morning’s light was spreading, the sky transitioning from pink to blue. A complex melange of scents wafted through the camp. A few people looked his way. In each instance he responded with a broad grin, more often than not reciprocated. His erstwhile guides’ subdued vibes notwithstanding, he had found that the Yarkanese were, as a rule, always ready with a smile, regardless of what attitudes they might harbour. He could not deny the planet’s hospitality. Irrespective of the smiles, though, no one deigned to say a word to him, each person merely continuing about whatever business animated them.

“I see you came better prepared than your friend,” came a jovial voice from behind him.

He spun about to come face to face with a tall woman, dressed in typical Yarkanese nomad fashion, but eschewing the bright colours of others in favour of shades of orange-brown and green. She carried herself with a sense of pride and strength. There was a danger about her, too. Tavian didn’t know precisely what it was, but he had the distinct impression that though she was someone who was quick to display mirth, she would be as quick to violence, given just cause.

“Well, I didn’t think it’d be much use two of us dying the desert,” Tavian responded.

“You’re funnier than she is,” said the woman. She put a hand to her chest, “Sayan Yinalqizi.”

“Tavian Locke. Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

Tavian only now saw that a young girl was standing behind Sayan, seemingly willing that she not be noticed.

“And who is this young lady?” asked Tavian.

“This is my daughter, Erkegul,” said Sayan, stepping aside so that she was no longer between Tavian and the girl.

“Nice to meet you, Erkegul,” said Tavian, with a smile and a bow of his head.

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“Ha-hello,” said Erkegul.

Tavian observed with interest the momentarily soft smile that crossed Sayan’s face as she looked down at Erkegul, placing a hand gently upon the girl’s shoulder. Of course, it was fleeting. Her raptor’s gaze returned to Tavian.

“I expect you are firstly wishing to speak with Mukushen?” asked Sayan.

Tavian nodded. “I would appreciate it.”

“Follow me,” said Sayan.

Tavian nodded and set off after her. Erkegul walked along, a little behind.

“Atilay Mallam tells me you are a musician?”

“That is my trade,” said Tavian.

“But you are no ordinary musician.”

“I do try to be other than ordinary… in anything I do,” replied Tavian.

“Mallam says you play the music of the Učarmaz.”

“Is he here?”

“He was the one that brought Princess Mukushen to us.”

Tavian was genuinely surprised to hear this. “Funny: last we met him, it seemed as if he was determined to have her killed.”

Sayan laughed, “Oh, he is not so terrible as he likes to appear. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“Well, I played him a song. Barchin’s Lament, I am told,” said Tavian. “Frankly, he didn’t seem particularly impressed.”

“Neither you nor Mukushen would be here if he was not impressed,” said Sayan. “Chinor has certainly taken a liking to the two of you. He heard your song, no?”

“He was the one that took us to see Atilay Qam.”

“I daresay I can blame my dear little brother for much of the trouble that is to come.”

“We don’t been to bring trouble,” said Tavian. “We are just trying to prove a man’s innocence.”

“Yes, Mukushen has spoken to me of your mission.”

Tavian flashed a grin, “And have you solved everything for her?”

Sayan stopped walking. She faced Tavian. “Mr Tavian… there are things at play here that you two, as outsiders, cannot comprehend.”

“I guess not, then.”

Sayan gestured to the tent they were standing beside. “Go speak to Mukushen. She will tell you what we have discussed. After that we will talk further.”

Tavian nodded, but didn’t immediately part ways with her. “We are trying to help Toghrul. As I understand things, that puts you and me on the same side.”

“You don’t understand much, Mr Tavian,” said Sayan, and Tavian thought for just a moment that he detected a note of sorrow or regret in her tone.

“Perhaps you can help me with that?”

“Perhaps… Things are in motion. Big things. They have not yet acquired the quality of inevitability, but that threshold is surely not far off. I’m not sure your understanding will change much. For me. For Toghrul. For Yarkan.”

“Very mysterious,” said Tavian. He indicated over his shoulder with his thumb. “I’ll go talk to Mu.”

“You do that.”

With that Sayan turned and strode away, Erkegul scampering after her.

Tavian watched them go, then turned to the tent. He found the entrance and called in, “Morning, Mu!”

He heard hurried rustling sounds from within. Moments later, Mu pulled back the flap at the entrance.

“Tavian!” she said, her eyes lit up. She seemed to catch herself and cleared her throat. “Took your time.”

“Well, Princess, you ran off without me,” he said. “Am I coming in, or are you coming out?”

She glanced around. “Oh, come in.”

He stepped inside, setting about removing his boots. This was no simple task, given the complex design of the sand suit. Eventually, though, he set the boots aside and followed Mu in.

It was a smaller tent with a distinctly more traditional design than the mass-produced company tents back in the protected zone. This little circular tent and everything inside it gave the impression of being handmade. To Tavian’s mind, it gave it all a folkish charm.

Mu, he saw, was now dressed after the manner of the desert nomads, wearing a light and colourful dress. Her long black hair – which ordinarily was carefully and precisely arranged – was tied into a simple, loose bun.

“You’ve gone native, I see,” he remarked.

Mu rolled her eyes. “Our hosts provided me with a change of clothes.”

“They do seem nice,” said Tavian. “I met Sayan.”

“I met her last night,” said Mu, “She seems intense… but not unreasonable.”

“I would not like to be on her bad side,” said Tavian. “And I’m reasonably sure we aren’t yet.”

“I think she’s fairly straightforward. We would know if she had problems with us,” said Mu.

“You’re probably right,” said Tavian, taking a seat on the small bed. Mu, who was still standing, gave him a look, but said nothing. “Quite the looker, too.”

“Is that the only thing you can think about?”

“That’s not fair, I mentioned other things before that. Plus, you can’t deny it,” said Tavian.

Mu said nothing, but glared at him.

“So, did you get much out of her?”

Mu shook her head. “Not really. Less than I was hoping. Like Chinor said, she’s definitely a strong supporter of Toghrul, but she seems pretty resigned to his fate. Almost weirdly so, given how fierce she comes across.”

“Maybe she isn’t as straightforward as we think. She certainly said some cryptic stuff when she was talking to me just now,” said Tavian. He swung his legs up onto the bed and lay down, staring up at the ceiling. The sun was getting brighter outside.

Mu didn’t immediately say anything, so he looked over her way. She was glaring at him, but also clearly considering something.

“She definitely has secrets… but she’s also pretty upfront about the fact she’s not telling us things, or at least that’s how she was with me. She talked about Toghrul having big plans, about him wanting to end the Tempest on Yarkan… but she wouldn’t tell me details.”

“She told me ‘big things’ were in motion,” said Tavian, providing air quotes for ‘big things’.

Mu was rubbing her hands together, deep in thought, when she next spoke, “I did find out something. Not from Sayan, but I think it’s important.”

“Oh?”

“Well, I spoke to her daughter.”

“I met her. Erky—”

“Erkegul,” said Mu. “She brought me food last night.”

“Food! Now there’s a good idea, I am starving… but, er, carry on.”

“She let on that Chinor might be working with Toghrul and Sayan.”

Tavian shrugged. “I mean, he’s been willing to help us from the beginning. New info, I guess, but not exactly surprising.”

Mu shook her head. “That’s not the big part. Su Bolin – the murder victim – often came and talked with Sayan and Toghrul.”

Tavian sat up. “Now that is something new.”

“What do you think it means?”

“I think it means Taghay’s trying to kill two birds with one stone,” said Tavian.

“How do you figure?”

“Well, if I had to guess what happened, based on what we know so far, I’d say our late friend Mr Su was secretly working with Toghrul and Sayan and got found out. Now he’s reasonably senior in the company – a site manager or whatever – and so this is a big problem. Taghay has him taken out, blames it on Toghrul. Bam! The traitor’s dealt with and the principal nuisance is taken out of the picture at the same time.”

Mu considered what Tavian had said. “One thing bothers me though. If it happened like that, I still just don’t buy that Toghrul and Sayan are just accepting it. I mean, I dunno, I haven’t met Toghrul, but he seems like someone who’s managed to get everyone stirred up. He seems like a pretty passionate guy. And Sayan, well you’ve met her.”

“You got a theory then?”

Mu shook her head. “No. But I think that’s the missing piece of the puzzle that would bring this all together: what is Toghrul planning?”

“So, you don’t like my theory?” asked Tavian.

“Don’t be sad, it’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just I think there’s some extra part of it that we’re not getting,” said Mu.

Tavian shrugged. “I guess the investigation goes on, then.”

“I guess so,” said Mu. “You know another thing that’s interesting?”

“Bees? How are they so organised?”

Mu looked half-puzzled, half-annoyed. “What? No. Su Bolin. It’s a Shang name. In the time I’ve spent on Yarkan, I’ve hardly seen any Shang people. Pretty much everyone appears to be ethnically Jaril.”

“Company employs offworlders. Doesn’t seem so remarkable,” said Tavian.

“Sure, but why would an offworlder get tied up with Toghrul’s group?” asked Mu.

Tavian shrugged. “No idea. Guess we add that one to the mystery pile. At any rate, maybe we should contact Ostara and the others, see what they think about all of this?”

“Yes!” said Mu. “I lost my tablet at some point – I don’t know when – and I’ve been wanting to let everyone know I’m alive.”

“We were wondering about that. Before I left to come after you, we were trying to contact you – after we got your cheery little message. Figured the storm was getting in the way, but then I still couldn’t get hold of you once it cleared. Did wonder whether you were dead – hoped you weren’t.”

“Gee, thanks,” said Mu. “It was not easy getting here.”

“I was gonna ask. How did the Black City treat you?”

“I saw some things. I’m still trying to make sense of it all,” said Mu, gazing down at her feet. “I—I kept seeing the dead and the dying of Karbaliq… you know, when it all happened. Children… he murdered children, their parents… everyone. I can’t understand how anyone could do that, but I just keep thinking… that was my ancestor. The blood of that monster…”

Tavian gave an exasperated sigh. “How many times are you going to do this? You aren’t the First Emperor. You didn’t do this. And, look, the whole reason you and I met is because you’re running away from all that.”

“Maybe that’s stupid of me. Maybe I can’t escape… that’s what people keep telling me. It’s my destiny, apparently.”

“Bullshit,” said Tavian. “You get to choose who you are. That’s why you were on Shangxia. That’s why you’re on the Amrita. Because you get to choose, and you did choose. Hey, maybe I’d be saying something else if you came here as Empress-to-be on some inspection of your dominions. But you didn’t. You came here as a lowly runaway, just like me, just like the rest of us on that ship. And now you’re out here risking your life to try and make things better. Sure, I don’t know what you hope to achieve, and I’m not sure you do either, but your heart’s in the right place. So just forget about feeling guilty.”

Mu was silent.

She took a shuddering breath.

“It’s just not that simple,” she said. “You didn’t see what I did in the ruins.”

“I saw things. I saw the dead,” said Tavian. “But I get it, I didn’t experience what you did. I haven’t had your experiences. My Dad was a piece of shit alcoholic who beat his kids, and I’m pretty sure his was pretty much the same, but I’m reasonably certain none of my ancestors committed Cosmic genocide.”

Mu narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you trying to help right now?”

Tavian swung his legs around to place his feet once more on the ground. “Tell you what. If you wanna just go rogue – go all in with whatever Sayan and Toghrul are up to, I’ll happily advocate for you. I’ll be there right by your side. I’ve got nothing better going on. Mind you, I’m not saying this is what you need to do. I stand by what I said about you not being guilty of anything. But you gotta work out what it takes to get your head sorted, clear your conscience, whatever.”

“Why are you like this?”

“Did I say something offensive?” asked Tavian.

“One moment you’re an arsehole, the next… why are you so willing to help me?”

Tavian shrugged. “I dunno. Duality of man… or something. Who am I kidding? I guess this place has kinda got under my skin. I’m invested now. Plus—” here he paused just long enough to ensure he had Mu waiting on his next words, “—you’re an attractive woman. That’s always been reason enough for me to do anything.”

“And there it is,” she said. “For a moment there I thought Karbaliq might have changed you, but you’re still an arsehole.”

Tavian laughed. “I’ve been hearing some allegations lately that I might be a nice guy. Just wanted to clear that up.”

“Don’t worry,” said Mu, “I am not confused anymore.”

Harry ended the call.

“Well?” said Kal, taking a sip of his beer.

“Mu’s alive. Tavian’s with her,” said Harry.

“That’s good news,” said Kal.

Harry nodded. “Especially since I would have felt quite guilty that we’re sitting by the oasis drinking beers if it turned out she was dead.”

“She’s tough, that girl,” said Kal. “I was sure she’d make it.”

Harry sipped his own beer, nodding slowly, while observing Kal. “’Course.”

A gentle breeze played upon the surface of the lake. The weather had improved out of sight after the storm of the previous day. It was hard to even imagine this being the same place.

“You know, I think I get it now,” said Harry.

“Get what?” asked Kal.

“How they plan on making this into a resort. It’s actually quite a pleasant spot, when the weather’s behaving.”

Kal nodded.

“I mean, they say it’s haunted, but I haven’t seen any ghosts,” said Harry. “You?”

“Only the ones in my dreams,” said Kal.

Harry grinned. “Ah, uplifting as ever.”

He gazed out at the lake. The water was a profound blue, reflecting the clear desert sky, except where the dark reflections of the ruins stretched out, their outlines distorted with each breath of the zephyr.

“Have they contacted Ostara?” asked Kal.

“Apparently,” said Harry.

“Any word from Yengishahr?”

“No major breakthroughs, though she has succeeded in getting access to Toghrul, so who knows, perhaps she’ll find something out there.”

Kal moved his hand to his mouth, ostensibly stroking his beard and moustache, but quietly he spoke. “Don’t look, but we’re being watched.”

Harry had to resist the very strong impulse to immediately turn and look. He nonchalantly took another sip of his beer. Never breaking his smile, he spoke, continuing to stare out towards the water.

“Anyone we know?” he said, quietly.

“No, but I saw her earlier too,” said Kal. “Some company worker.”

Harry yawned, maintaining a spectacularly unbothered appearance. “Well, I mean, we did come here thanks to Nova’s surveillance coverage map. Guess they need to keep an eye on us the old-fashioned way.”

Kal took a sip of his beer. “This one’s different. Something about her I can’t put my finger on. The way she moves.”

Harry laughed. “The way she moves, huh? Got a little crush there, Big Guy?”

But Kal didn’t respond. “She’s gone.”

Harry looked over at Kal. The other man seemed more concerned about this than Harry would have expected. “I guess two guys sitting and drinking beers isn’t all that interesting.”

“She was just there…” said Kal.

Harry now dropped his act and looked around. He saw trees. Sand. Water. The Black City rose beyond the edge of the trees. The tents of the company camp were arrayed a little closer. He did not see any woman watching them.

“Tell you what, why don’t we head back to the tent. We’ll take the long way, via the foreshore. There’s not anyone around, so if anyone wants to follow us, they’ll be pretty obvious.”

Kal looked over at him. “Fine.”

Harry rose to his feet, Kal virtually leapt to his, his eyes scanning their surroundings. Harry dusted the sand off his trousers, casting his own eyes about once more, but still seeing no one. He stooped to pick up the cooler of beers, using the strap on it to hang it over his shoulder. Without another word they began making their way down the short slope to the lake shore. As they went Harry tried to decide whether this was a case of Kal being paranoid, or whether he should trust the older man’s instincts on this. Something about the intensity of Kal’s expression made him lean towards the latter.

But what was Kal concerned about?

They knew the company was keeping a close eye on them while they were at Karbaliq. Some company employee tailing them seemed to be no big deal. An annoyance at most, but hardly even that.

They were not far from the water’s edge when Kal stopped. He turned around.

“Come out,” he demanded, his voice deep and commanding.

Harry stopped a few metres ahead of him, turning to face back towards the poplars. From among them emerged a woman wearing a company worker’s uniform. She had narrow eyes with a knowing look, and a sly smile.

“Hello, boys,” she said. “I guess the game’s over.”

“Guess so,” said Kal, snarling the words.

The woman raised a finger to point at him. “Kallistos Nyx,” she said, then pointed to Harry. “Harry Zhang. Am I right?”

The revelation that she knew their names did little to improve Kal’s mood. “Who are you?”

“Oh, how rude of me,” she said. “Zhen Yan is my name. I thought maybe we could have a little chat.”

“Talk then.”

“I was hoping you could tell me where I’d find Mukushen.”

Kal glared darkly at her. “Not here.”

“I figured,” said Zhen Yan, “That’s why I’m asking you. I have some… business to discuss with her.”

Kal was about to speak again, but Harry put his hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Easy there, Big Guy,” he said, then turned to Zhen Yan, “Perhaps if you could give us a bit of a better idea about what’s going on, we could be more helpful.”

Zhen Yan seemed to consider his words, taking a few more steps towards them as she did so. “Well, Mr Zhang, I am in a bit of a hurry and I have some clients who very much appreciate confidentiality, so I’m not sure I can provide you with too much additional information. However—”

Here she paused and lifted one hand over her head, raising her index finger and making a quick circular motion. Before their eyes her appearance changed in an instant. The unremarkable company uniform was gone, replaced by a black sleeveless tunic, one side crossed over the other, bound at the waist by a cloth belt. Underneath this, she wore a pair of tight shorts. Her forearms were bound in white cloth. On her feet were a pair of split-toed boots rising to the mid-calf. More remarkable than her outfit though, was the pair of fox-like ears that sprouted from her head and the nine tails that appeared behind her.

“—you need not be concerned,” she continued, drawing a long straight sword from a sheath on her back, “You are not my targets, so if you cooperate… we can make this easy.”

Kal groaned and move his head from side to side, his neck making a cracking sound. “Pass that cooler,” he said to Harry.

Wordlessly, Harry complied. Kal opened it, and took out two beer bottles. He smashed them together, the liquid within splashing across the dry desert sand, leaving behind a mess of jagged glass.

His voice was low and filled with menace once he next spoke. “This was never going to be easy, not the moment you threatened any member of my crew. Not for you.”

“Oooh, but I think it will be fun.”

Zhen Yan’s eyes lit up with delight.

"Finally someone who isn't afraid."