( There's a game to this, the push and the pull, and the boy who watches him, hawkish. For a moment, Caladan Kreil appears tempted to stall his answer, to keep the young man to his guesses —

Then, at long last: )

Haven't you heard, little friend? What a ticket you've won. What a privilege. You are seeing Quicksilver Sam through his last voyage. He has vowed, after this, to retire.

( And now Caladan takes a moment, far too calculated, to wave the filled bowl and sweetly pour it out back in the pot, watching the thickened soup trickle down. )

And when he does, he has gifted me this ship.

( And what a beauty she is, Quicksilver Sam's Pariah. All men agree. )