*****
Iya made as if to follow his daughter, but quickly backed away as Za’esha lashed out threateningly. Iya slumped down to the floor, with his back against the wall, as he felt his heart fail within him.
He could only wait now and, when he got tired of waiting, the answer to his solution lay coiled up on the floor, cutting off his only escape.
He shook his head regretfully; everything had been such a waste. No pleasure he had ever experienced in life could take away the sting of the knowledge of what came next. He had no more time to figure it out.
Za’esha hatefully watched the invader of her mistress’s domain and waited. She had nothing but time.