Chapter 8: In the library.

THE PALACE LIBRARY was wall-to-wall bookshelves. The room smelled like parchment, ink, and dust. For the last two days, Render, Toren, and the next Dagerstanteen king sat at the heart of the third pyramid. Some part of Render thought that the studious and academic location would make him seem more like a legitimate teacher.

It wasn’t working. Daris was as pugnacious and antagonistic as ever. At first, Render thought the alien was hard to read, but quickly, he learned that Daris was sarcastic, sullen, and an unmotivated student. And when he wasn’t being petulant, the alien was disappearing on them.

At least today, they had their eyes on the next ruler. Render reminded himself that the most important thing was to keep the royal safe.

“The Panchen Fire feeds the heart of the planet. It is the life of the plants, the air, and the ground we stand on. It is everything.”