Artemis eased into the common room of Sandy Books retirement home. The soft tick of an old clock mixed with the scent of coffee and aging paper. Across from him, Robin Evergreen cradled a ceramic mug, steam curling up around his silver hair.
Robin looked up, surprise brightening his faded eyes. "I don't often get visitors," he said with a small smile. "It's good to see you, Artemis."
Artemis settled onto the green sofa beside him. "I wish it were under better circumstances. I can't reach Lolita about ending the Sangria conflict—she insists on fighting fire with fire."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Maybe if you talk to Lolita-"
"Artemis." Robin placed his coffee cup on the round table. "You're forgetting about Lolita's conflict with Richard Scott and Jacob Kennedy over interest payments. She believes the world map is mislabelled-that the ore mountains belongs' to Intermarium not to Ossory. That's why she feels she's refusing the copper taxes because she doesn't think she owes the debt."
Artemis sighed, "Why didn't you become Ruler? You were in line for it?"
"I never wanted to rule Intermarium. Too much responsibility for my taste. Besides, I didn't want to take away my younger brother's dream. So, James was appointed as ruler."
"Can't you take the position away from Lolita?"
"I can't because of the will. I wasn't named in the will, so that's why I'll never become ruler."
"Why didn't you discuss the will with your brother?"
Robin rolled his eyes. "I had no idea he was dying. James kept everything private; hardly anyone knew about his cancer diagnosis."
Artemis's cellphone rang from his black pants' pocket. "I'll better let you go; it looks like you got an important call to take." Artemis nodded as Robin rose from his chair and left.