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“Ah, Dr. David Hayter, at your service.” Dr. Hayter beelined to Typhon as if he were the most fascinating thing in the world. “I dare say, your accent! You’ve been watching the BBC, haven’t you? That’s how you learned English so well.”

Typhon blued, which Khoth had never seen him do before. He gave a dry cough. “I hope it is an acceptable imitation.”

“Oh, it’s wonderful! Quite wonderful!” Dr. Hayter beamed.

“Dr. Hayter is a linguist. I brought him along especially to help improve our translator. There’s so much that can be missed,” Jace said.

“Even by an AI like the Osiris?” Typhon’s eyes dropped to Gehenna.

“The Osiris would say ‘no’, but that’s just one opinion,” Jace answered dryly.

Having heard Dr. Hayter’s insights into himself and his mother--and that being the true reason the doctor was along--Khoth was eager to hear what he thought of Typhon.

“But as I was saying, it appears like your people are very interested in seeing something more of Haseon than the spaceport.” Typhon looked indulgently upon Dr. Hayter who was now being herded back to the group by Gehenna. Her ball form lightly bumped into the doctor’s legs and he reluctantly came back. “I can assure you that the Moturin Compound has many fine pieces of art, parts of our history, and pleasant gardens to enjoy. And it would be a better place to speak than the tarmac.”

Khoth stiffened. “If the Pilot was to accept your offer, we would be showing favor to whatever faction you represent, Justiciar Moturin, without knowing exactly what that faction represents.”

“True, but you know something about us. We don't believe you should be exiled for stopping Nova Voor from killing innocents and imprisoning the Pilot,” Typhon remarked with a slight smile. “Isn’t that a good start?”

Khoth stared at Typhon’s handsome face. He remembered how he used to feel heat in his belly every time that Typhon looked upon him and a desperate desire to please. No longer. Now Typhon wanted his attention and there was some kind of justice in that. At least Jace would think so.

“And you will only discover more if you come and speak with us. Don’t you wish to talk with your father and meet your new House, Khoth?” Typhon asked softly.

“My loyalty is to the Pilot. I have made no other,” Khoth stated.

He had cut off his selchitte. He had cut off his ties. Typhon would try to use the bonds of love with his father to compromise Jace. But he would not do it.

“My son is right to be cautious after all that has happened,” his father said, trying to soothe the sting in Khoth’s words.

Not that Typhon appeared stung.

“You are honorable to the core as always,” Typhon remarked.

“I am certain my father made clear to you that I disobeyed a direct order from the High Councillor before she undertook those actions you spoke of,” Khoth said coolly. “So I was not exiled for those particular acts.”

He saw the faintest blush on Jace’s cheeks and the Pilot lowered his head as if embarrassed or ashamed. But Jace had acted honorably. He had not been the weak, malleable thing his mother had suspected him of.

“Yes.” Typhon inclined his head. “But, as you told your father, such an order could only have led to dishonor and ruin. So you saved the Alliance twice at least in your actions.”

“The Commander would never have done what she asked even if it would have worked,” Jace said quietly.

Typhon’s smile grew sharp. “I’m sure you think that shows more of his honor. In human terms, perhaps it does, but in Thaf’ell to not do something that costs little and would bring great reward is illogical.”

“Costs little?” Jace’s eyebrow lifted. “You hide your emotions, especially the physical aspects of them. You save them for when you are behind closed doors. Yet you would have me believe that those same emotions--repressing them, ignoring them, or God forbid, following them--costs little? I’m sorry, Justiciar Moturin, but I am not the one who doesn’t understand the Thaf’ell in this matter.”

His father smiled and chuckled softly. “You would make a good Justiciar, Pilot. You cut through to the core of things.”

“They say the worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves,” Jace said quietly and he looked discontented as if looking at something inside of himself.

But Jace doesn’t lie to himself or anyone else.

“Could you excuse us for a moment?” Jace asked.

“Of course.” Typhon appeared completely unruffled that Jace was not jumping to take him up on his offer.

Jace gestured for Khoth to step aside. Dr. Hayter remained and spoke to the Justiciar with Gehenna almost keeping guard on him. They moved over to Davies.

“Well, this adds a level of complexity,” Davies remarked with a mirthless grin. “They want you to be family, Commander. Oh, and they’ve got some great ideas about what the Pilot can do on behalf of the Alliance. And it would be their controlled portion of the Alliance.”