Glawen looked down at his travel-worn clothes.
"I don't think that I am suitably dressed."
"I mentioned as much, but a place has nevertheless been laid for you. Follow me, please."
Bodwyn Wook stood waiting in the hall. He gripped both of Glawen's arms.
"You have heard about Scharde?"
"It's true, then?"
"He set off in a flyer and never returned. That is all that is known for certain. He may be alive. More likely he is dead. Needless to say, I share your grief. Tell me, in three words, what have you learned?"
"From Spanchetta I learn that I am lucky to be a collateral.
Elsewhere I discovered that Floreste organized the Thurben Island parties. On Tassadero he arranged to have me killed.
I escaped, as you see. You will be interested in the full story. Is Floreste now at Araminta Station?"
"Indeed he is: home from tour and seething with grand new schemes."
"You must take him into custody at once, at this very moment, before he learns that I am back."
Bodwyn Wook laughed softly.
"Rest easy' Tonight Floreste is totally at our disposal! In fact, he sits at table not twenty yards from where we stand! He drinks our best wine with verve and charms the ladies as they never have been charmed before. You will be seated directly across the table. It is a delicious situation. What of Kirdy? He is vague and I can get nothing from him."
"Kirdy betrayed me. He cannot use mental disorder as an excuse. I don't know the full story, but in effect he sent me off to what would have been my death, had I not escaped.
I cannot feel kindly toward Kirdy."
Bodwyn Wook gave his head a sad shake.
"It is another tragedy. They pile one on the other, and never seem to stop.
Let us go to the table."
The two entered the dining room, and took their seats at the table. GIawen was placed next to Bodwyn Wook, with Ticia at his other side. Almost directly across the great round table sat Kirdy, with Floreste beside him. Each was caught up in conversation and for a few moments neither took note of GIawen.
Bodwyn Wook murmured in Glawen's ear.
"This is what Floreste himself might consider a moment of high drama. The tension builds as the two sit there all unknowing."
GIawen nodded. He studied Kirdy with care, revulsion twisting at his viscera. At the moment Kirdy seemed in full command of himself, without oppression of the spirits or the morose introversion of the Kirdy who had accompanied GIawen on his mission; to the contrary, he seemed to demonstrate the heartiness and boyish simplicity which, with his big pink face, china-blue eyes and easy grin, had in the old days made him reasonably popular.
GIawen watched him in fascination. This hardly seemed the same Kirdy he had last seen in Fexelburg. Now Kirdy bent to eat a morsel of poached fish, then, raising his head, patted his mouth with a napkin. His gaze fell upon GIawen and he became still. Slowly his shoulders sagged and he looked down at the table, the jocundity gone from his face.
Bodwyn Wook muttered in Glawen's ear: "There you see neither madness nor mistake. What is plain and evident is pure and unabashed guilt. I need no more to convince me. It is shameful. I must look into his pedigree."
"He has changed since I saw him last. Floreste's therapy has been remarkable. Look! He is now giving Floreste the news.
Another supper ruined."
At Kirdy's muttered remark, Floreste jerked up his handsome head and glanced as if casually around the table, sliding his gaze past GIawen. Then he swung half around in his seat and chatted vivaciously with Dame Doma Wook, who sat to his left.
Glawen waited for a pause, then called across the table.
"Master Floreste, I see you are back from your tour."
Floreste darted him a quick cold stare.
"Yes, as you see."
"It was a success?"
"About the ordinary. As always, we do our best, and hope for the best. Our creed is optimism."
"It seems that we have a mutual acquaintance on Tassadero."
"Really? That is no great surprise. I meet thousands of folk every week, or so it seems, and of course I remember none of them, save ha, ha! only the most charming."
"And you consider the Ordene Zaa charming?"
"Ordene Zaa? And who might that be? And who cares? At the moment I am interested only in this exquisite fish."
"In that case, I will say only that she sends her compliments. Her present circumstances are not at all happy.
Were you aware of her troubles?"
