Chris Alan didn’t return to the Hind immediately, but rather suggested that Tina go visit Autumn in the mothers room. He figured it would be good for the two of them to spend time together, and Tina would want to prepare Autumn for her testimony anyway. Meanwhile, Chris Alan planned to have a talk with Edwin. Once he arrived at the chamber where Edwin was being held, and once he felt ready, Chris Alan nodded to the two guards at the door. One of the guards opened the door, and Chris Alan stepped in to the dimly lit room.

“That was quite a show out there, wasn’t it?” Edwin placed his harp down to meet Chris Alan’s gaze.

“Just the way you planned it, I’ll bet.”

“You know the Centurions; they must have a trial for everything.”

“Just what are you up to, anyway?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.” Edwin chuckled. “The warden here said one thing right to me: you’re as devious in your own way as I am, and I have to admit that’s really saying something.”

“I don’t know whether to thank him or not. But basically, I’m here to listen, to help…and if all possible, to expose what’s hidden.”

“You think I have some evil scheme up my sleeve? How could you think so low of me?” Edwin joked.

And some people think I have “gallows humor”, Chris Alan thought wryly.

“Stop being sarcastic, Edwin. You may fool these people, but not me. I know you far too well by now.”

“Far be it from me to fool you. Hey, I hear you’re back in the White Hand business.”

“That’s a big reason why you can’t fool me. But let’s not change the subject. Why are you here?”

“The Centurions caught me and imprisoned me.”

“Stop stonewalling, for the sake of your own enlightened self-interest if nothing else!”

“Oo, you must’ve been working on your vocabulary lately. Oh, that’s right: as a child, you were very nearly as precocious a reader as I was.”

“For the record, Edwin Bitterroot,” said Raphael suddenly, “Chris Alan Starbright was well ahead of even your recorded reading level by the time he was ten years old.”

“What? Where’s that blasted meta-tech of yours hiding?”

“In Contact Lens Mode,” Chris Alan replied with a dry laugh, “and needless to say, he’s recording this conversation. So why did you come to this solar system at all? You knew they had this new hyper-tech prepared just for you, so why did you return? What game are you playing at?”

“Come now, Chris Alan, you know better than that. Even if I had a plan, I wouldn’t just spill my guts to the likes of you.”

“A Protector without a plan? That’ll be the day. Planning’s second nature to you – and so is foresight of consequences. You must get a real kick out of insulting my intelligence.”

“Just checking to see if you’re as quick on your Inspirer feet as ever, Undying Singer.”

“Trust me, I am.” It was time to take a different tack. “You know, there’s still a place of repentance for you if you choose to take it.”

Edwin frowned. “Now I know you’re in Inspirer mode – because now you’re starting to preach. You must be crazier than I am. Don’t waste your breath, Lightchild.”

“I’m not. Your cries for freedom are pretty loud, if one knows what to listen for. Many things you do go against even you hidden master’s wishes.” Chris Alan alluded to Set the Elemental, whose name appropriately was Shet (Decay or Destruction) in Adamic. By this time in history, it was the Adamic name that was more commonly used.

“You know nothing of me.” Edwin turned his back on Chris Alan.

“I know more than I ever wanted to know, believe me. Do you really think the story of your life would be kept hidden from me?”

Edwin turned. “What do you mean?” But he knew with the asking.