"Nice trick you played on me."
"Thank you, Guy. That's just an idea. If I can play puppets with a ruler of Ertene, an ambitious young man from Terra, and the fate of worlds and make everything come out even—I can run the show."
"You controlled the election of Elanane because he resembled me."
"Naturally. That was part of it."
"Why?"
"Because I knew that no Ertinian would permit me to arm Ertene for power and invasion. It took an energetic man, with will, force, and fear of discovery to push it through. Guy, you'd have been safe if I'd been permitted to run this freely. Terra couldn't touch you. But you choose to pit your futile will against mine. Mine—and Ertene's!"
"I am going to keep Ertene free!" shouted Guy, hammering on the desk with his fist.
"You mean, 'Gomanar is going to save his skin!' don't you?" sneered Thomakein.
"I'll shoot the works, Thomakein, if it's necessary."
"Poor lad. You had promise."