now," Hector said. "The major will be leaving shortly."

Again the tight grin broke across Odal's face. The waiter bowed and
left.

"I have been thinking about our conversation of last night," Odal said
to Leoh.

"Yes?"

"You accused me of cheating in my duels."

Leoh's eyebrows arched. "I said someone was cheating, yes--"

"An accusation is an accusation."

Leoh said nothing.

"Do you withdraw your words, or do you still accuse me of deliberate
murder? I am willing to allow you to apologize and leave Acquatainia
in peace."

Hector cleared his throat noisily. "This is no place to have an
argument ... besides, here comes our dinner."

Odal ignored the Watchman. "You heard me, professor. Will you leave?
Or do you accuse me of murdering Massan this afternoon?"

"I--"

Hector banged his fist on the table and jerked up out of his
chair--just as the waiter arrived with a large tray of food. There was
a loud crash. A tureen of soup, two bowls of salad, glasses, assorted
rolls, vegetables, cheeses and other delicacies cascaded over Odal.

The Kerak major leaped to his feet, swearing violently in his native
tongue. He sputtered back into basic Terran: "You clumsy, stupid oaf!
You maggot-brained misbegotten peasant-faced--"

Hector calmly picked a salad leaf from the sleeve of his tunic. Odal
abruptly stopped his tirade.

"I am clumsy," Hector said, grinning. "As for being stupid, and the
rest of it, I resent that. I am highly insulted."

A flash of recognition lighted Odal's eyes. "I see. Of course. My
quarrel here is not with you. I apologize." He turned back to Leoh,
who was also standing now.

"Not good enough," Hector said. "I don't, uh, like the ... tone of
your apology."

Leoh raised a hand, as if to silence the younger man.

"I apologized; that is sufficient." Odal warned.

Hector took a step toward Odal. "I guess I could insult your glorious
leader, or something like that ... but this seems more direct." He
took the water pitcher from the table and poured it calmly and
carefully over Odal's head.

A wave of laughter swept the room. Odal went white. "You are
determined to die." He wiped the dripping water from his eyes. "I will
meet you before the week is out. And you have saved no one." He turned
on his heel and stalked out.

"Do you realize what you've done?" Leoh asked, aghast.

Hector shrugged. "He was going to challenge you--"

"He will still challenge me, after you're dead."

"Uu-