"All my life," I answered. She was clearly prying me for information, but there wasn't much of a point in telling all lies. Throw her a few morsels of truth so the rest seems more believable. "I never got along with my family, unfortunately. Grandfather was a mean old bastard. Never said I kind word to me in his life."

I pour Marigay a drink. "It's a good year. Please, have a little." I take a sip of it first, but not much. No point in wasting my senses, even if the ceremony doesn't start until tomorrow afternoon. "So what makes you think you deserve this island?"