‘Fully human ones, yes,’ answered Brettin, turning to the far end of the room, making sure Jana could hear every word. She spoke over her shoulder to her assistant, articulating each syllable with precision. ‘Come now, Esteri, you don’t want to breed from just anyone. Your mother Maya dedicated her whole life to keeping the strain pure. How often have her lectures boomed around the Temple: purity, purity, purity!’
Esteri Mayasson looked down. ‘Yes.’ He sighed. ‘But that was before the war. Now we have so few, so few. And the Assessed breed so rarely! Perhaps even Maya might change her attitude.’
‘Nonsense! That we are so few is all the more reason to be sure. All the more reason to maintain our standards. Well, let’s complete the Assessment, shall we? That should remove any doubts you—I
