Palamedes lifts an eyebrow, impressed. “I should have assumed you might figure that out. One of them is under surveillance. She has some sort of leverage I don’t entirely understand. It’s political. Ancient and political.”

Then he hesitates. The other person is still a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and Pal is awfully afraid of what Blood of Eden might do if they ever manage to solve the mystery. “The other one is barely conscious. I mean that literally—they barely possess consciousness." His gaze goes a bit distance. “But they're important, Valdis. They may be the most important person in the universe.”

Then he blinks and brings himself back to the present. “You can ask me questions, you know. Instead of poking around.”