Page 3365

That was why Gohvis had gone to great lengths, at a relatively young age, to acquire via mutation the power of telepathy. Because with it, he was able to speak in two simultaneous voices, one physical and one non-physical.

It certainly hadn’t been perfect at first. But over time, he’d refined. And now, of course, he was of sufficient age that none questioned it, anymore. They all simply assumed--quite reasonably--that he existed in a perpetual hyper-state with his reaper.

These days, Dozer was one of only a handful in the entire world who knew this about him. Even Morgunov and Jercash didn’t seem to know, though it was difficult to be certain of that. Those two both had their own ways of getting their hands on information that seemed otherwise unobtainable.

Just as Dozer himself did.

“If you truly wanted to have such a conversation with me,” said the old man, “then this is not the way. And you know that.”

Gohvis merely stood there, eyes as piercingly red as ever.

Then a thought struck him. “Or perhaps--hmm. Is this about the Dulvani? You did have a fondness for them, didn’t you? If so, then cease your worrying. I have no plans to eradicate them.” Unless they got in his way, of course, but Gohvis would already know that, too.

Still, the lad said nothing.

Mm. Hold on a minute... Yes, he would already know that, wouldn’t he? So then...

“...You did come here for them, didn’t you?” said Dozer, tilting his head. “Because you know that they have what I seek. Or some knowledge of it, at least.”

“You are jumping to conclusions, Father. I’d not recommend doing that, today of all days.”

Dozer squinted with one eye. “And what difference does the day make?”

“I’m not here for the woodfolk, Father. I’m here at the behest of the Vanguard. Of Sermung.”

Dozer clenched his jaw. Invoking that name, here and now, was a deliberate insult. But he maintained his composure. After all, just as he knew what to say in order to get under his son's skin, the opposite was undoubtedly true, too.

“And today is the day of their counteroffensive,” said Gohvis. Despite his words, he did not sound smug at all. Just flat and serious, as ever. “My job was merely to keep you busy. They didn’t even ask me to kill you, though I’m sure they wanted to.”