‘Oh? Why did you need the best?’
Galywis began tapping his toes against the tree trunk, as if in time to a tune only he could hear. ‘Populating an empty world is never easy, as you must know. She had everything we needed.’
Eva stared, thunderstruck. ‘You… what did you say? This world was empty when you arrived?’
He fluttered a hand in a prevaricating gesture. ‘Oh, some low-level denizens here, that kind of thing. Nothing approaching sentient. What a waste that was, with such beautiful energies! Nothing quite like it anywhere else.’ He tilted back his head to beam at her. ‘It was my idea, you know.’
‘So… uh, tell us about your project, Galywis,’ Eva prompted. ‘Did you bring some other creatures here?’
He seemed horrified by this idea. ‘No, no! Stupid! Transplants never take, you should
