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David squinted. “You hate them that much? Why?”

“Ask me that again after you have been married for seventeen years.”

David could almost understand the man’s hatred for his wife; that woman was a relentless ladder-climber, and to Luther, she probably embodied everything he despised about nobility. But still. “Your wife is one thing, but you even resent your own children?”

“I resent all insufferable nuisances.”

David felt his irritation flare up, becoming true anger for a moment, and he couldn’t keep himself from glowering.

“Oh, does that bother you?” said Luther. “Hmm. That is right, isn’t it? You were always the affectionate uncle.”

David breathed and wiped his expression clean again. “At least I can take solace in the fact that you are no longer part of their lives.”

“On that, we can agree.”

“There is hope for us yet.”

That made Luther laugh outright, longer and more loudly than David had perhaps ever heard from him. Admittedly, that wasn’t saying much, but it was surprising just the same. When Luther’s voice settled again, a small period of silence elapsed. And Luther looked suddenly hollow, as if that laugh had gouged a hole into him. “I genuinely wanted to trust you, you know. You were the only one I liked.”

David had nothing for him. Four dead brothers. Countless innocent lives lost at the hands of Abolish. For this man here, David could hold no pity.

“Why did you have to side with Helen?” said Luther. “When I think of what you and I could have built, I feel like weeping for this country.”

David couldn’t even bring himself to humor the man. “You are mad.”

And there it was again, that look in Luther’s eyes. The cold, flat stare. After a moment, however, it was gone once more. “Enough,” he said. “Let us continue our game. Am I hiding something, or am I not?”

“Of course you are,” said David.

“Correct. Would you like to know what it is?”

“Sure.”

“Wonderful. Then I will give you a hint. If you give me something first, of course.”

“Well, I have two candy bars on me. I am willing to part with half of one, but only if you promise to tell the truth.”