Chapter Nine

Telia spent the entire afternoon slicing onions and went to bed early with a cold, wet towel on her face. The smells of half a spring lamb roasting filled the house under Cook's tender ministrations. Terefar brought up many bottles of wine from the cellars and drilled Wishbone on the labels and the order in which to serve them.

The Council-in-Exile was coming to dinner. It gathered often at Sir's house, because it was the one of the biggest available, and because consensus proclaimed his Cook the finest of all. By tradition, all business would be transacted before the meal so that the smells of food would curb the tongues of any who might otherwise be long-winded. While they talked, they would drink the finest imported wines. Wishbone would be serving the wine.

Apparently this was an important part of Sir's overall plan. Wishbone wasn't clear why, but he did know that his behavior would be under scrutiny that evening and was frankly terrified.

The other shih-aan arrived in ones and twos, in coaches like Sir's, on horseback, or on foot. Wenley gathered the visitors' mounts, coaches, and coachmen on the side of the house, where a fire was burning outside and meals were available for both horses and men.

The visitors took their seats in a half-circle of chairs, facing the fire. Wishbone watched Sir greet each one and matched the memorized identities to faces as he served the first bottle.

Diah Jojaan was the most distinctive....