Wan's eyebrow shot up at that. As far as he knew, Gene had been speaking to people about the deal and specifically included preserving the Palace Gardens as part of it. Wan had insisted on both them and any areas that might still need to be spiritually cleansed being left alone.

"Actually," he started slowly, trying to keep his tone even and polite, "You're right. I have been squatting there. But I was told by those speaking with you and the others that it was understood the gardens were wanting to be claimed by one of us and that it was considered... uh, 'acceptable terms'. The gardens were my request. As was the sealing off of the places that are still spiritually dangerous to your people until they can be cleansed."

Wan put a hand on his hip and met Heojin's eyes, "I thought it would be acceptable because other kedan had already stripped it down and abandoned it long before any of us returned from our time in the Dreaming. There was no care put into preserving anything.

"I apologize for my presumption. If you, or anyone else, care to look into it, you'll find that I haven't interfered with any other part of the palace while staying there. I've left it alone. All I do is sleep in the gardens at the end of the day."