“I don't know how that happened,” she said.
“Possibly because the Sorcerer's Tree is not as good at navigating from one galaxy to the next, as is a Bubble,” Stephen said.
“Has Stephen told you about the Grid going down?” Paradeep asked.
“Yes. He also told me Blood has a sister?” Zofia said, astonished.
“Half-sister. And she is most dreadful,” he said, his brow furrowing deeply. “She, in fact, preceded her brother into Hamparzum's by several years.” He leaned forward and in a low voice, as if there might be other ears which could hear him, he said, “She stole babies and drank their blood, as well as other atrocities.”
Making a sound of disgust, Zofia cringed while a chill slid through her.
Paradeep rose. Turning to his fireplace he picked up a poker and stoked it gently and went on.
