Chapter 42

“I have to begin by telling you that my hands are not tied by your laws,” Old Man starts. He sounds wise and experienced and all the good things, but that’s a suspicious sentence to begin with. “My wish is that I will never be put in a situation where I judge other people and, thankfully, my species is powerful enough for the people to prefer it too.”

Wes looks at Ollie, confused. Was that a threat? It kind of sounded like a threat when put into context. Or is it a warning? Is Old Man just trying to share information and is really awkward about it?

“I congratulate you on a perfectly innocuous thing to say as an opening for a peaceful conversation,” Ollie says dryly.

Wes winces. “Nothing in there makes us feel any safer.”

“That is perhaps why you should follow my example,” Old Man offers.

Ollie’s getting past annoyed, so even though Wes is cranky too, he’s more used to getting his temper under control, so Wes asks, “What sort of example is that?”