"Ah… that."
Dax's tone shifted into a quieter one, as if the subject required a different kind of attention. He reached up, tugged the towel free from his neck, and let it drop onto the back of the chair beside the desk before straightening again.
"My mother's name is Sophia," he said. "And my grandfather, Asier, raised me."
Chris stilled, interest sharpening. "Asier the Unifier?"
"The same," Dax replied. "He lived past one hundred and twenty. Outlived three councils, two other kings he managed, and every one of his political enemies." A corner of his mouth lifted. "He used to say that spite was excellent for longevity."
"That explains you," Chris murmured.
Dax huffed. "He would have liked you."
