I stopped myself. I had spent the entire day checking on Gorvar, worrying about Wilmos, and trying to research some way to Karron. I was so worn out, my brain had resorted to nonsense in self-defense.

“Thank you for your assistance,” George said. “It was most helpful.”

“I take it, your issue with the Valkkinians is resolved?” I asked.

“Yes.”

If one of us didn’t step into the breach, we would be dancing around the Klaus issue all night.

I raised my head. “How is my brother?”

“He is well,” George replied. “A rather unfortunate slip up on my part. I would appreciate it if you would attribute it to fatigue rather than indiscretion. Apparently, one-hundred and fifty hours without sleep significantly impaired my cognitive functions.”

Sean whistled quietly. “Six days is pushing it.”

George grimaced. “So it would seem. Lesson learned. Klaus has his reasons for his current course of action. You and your sister are very dear to him.”

“You don’t have to cover for him,” I told him. “He can explain himself when we meet.”

“You mentioned Karron,” George said. “I understand there was an incident at Baha-char?”

And he knew every detail of it. There was a whole flock of koo-ko present at the scene. By now the furthest reaches of known space were aware that Wilmos had been taken from his shop and only the shocking heroism and tremendous wisdom of the First Scholar had uncovered the kidnapper’s destination. I didn’t envy the juvenile sphinx. He was likely gone from Baha-char and back with his own people, where he would have to explain how exactly he managed to spectacularly embarrass his entire species in front of the known galaxy.

“A being resembling a corrupted ad-hal took Wilmos to Karron,” Sean said. “I need to get to that planet.”

“Quite impossible, I’m afraid,” George said. “Even our office doesn’t possess a craft able to survive a landing on and take off from that world.”

All of the hope went out of me at once.

“Not impossible,” Sean said. “Wilmos was taken there. Someone has the means to take him there and keep him alive, otherwise why not just kill him?”

“Clearly, they would like you to die in the attempt to rescue him.” George tilted his head to the side. “There is, however, a galactic power that maintains a portal gate to Karron.”

I sat up straighter.

“Why would they have a gate on Karron?” Sean asked.

“They have an outpost there.”

“What a coincidence,” Sean said.

George arched his brows. “Not at all. It’s not a coincidence, it is by design. Civilizations bring me their problems, and I find solutions. He has a problem, you are the solution to it, if you choose to be, and vice versa. That’s how the galaxy works.”

“And then both parties owe you a favor,” I said.

“Naturally.”

“Who is it and what does he want?” I asked.

He told us.