"Because back then I already had my suspicions." Menadion replied. "Not that he had discovered a Garden of Mogar, mind you, or I would have forced the truth out of him with any means necessary."
"Mom!"
"Solus!" Ripha mirrored her tone and intonation. "Now that we have established our identities, let me continue. As I was saying, I had my suspicions. Pharek was a talented mage, or I would never have taken him in as my apprentice, yet once I gifted him the Ears, he became good with them quickly.
"Too good and too quickly. He was a brilliant mage, but not that brilliant. He learned in weeks what had taken me years to grasp before I fused the Ears with the tower. He even taught me a couple of useful tricks."
"I'm sorry, but what's so special about this place?" Solus asked, and when meeting Menadion's disapproving gaze, rushed to add: "I mean, besides the obvious."
"Put on the Ears, dear, and you'll see it." Ripha offered Solus the artifact,t and she wore it.
