Acknowledgement

  "I do not bear his name...yet..." declared Darian, interrupting his mother, startling her deeply with his answer and hurting her. "I will bear it when I see him again and discover everything about him, about this person so complex and foreign, from whom I inherited all that I have and all that I am, even this Zeogian power that surpasses all understanding."

"Darian, my love, I had no idea..."

"I know mother."

"Do you hate him, this person, do you hate him?" said Castellian in a soft, tender voice.

Darian took a long time to answer, but finally did.

"Yes."

Ivy howled in pain.

"But he's dead, darling! That person is dead! He's never coming back!"

Darian finally turned around and considered every person in the room, then sketched a very meaningful gesture with his head.

"I'll know soon enough."

He scowled and then disintegrated the entire room.

"Darian..."