took up his food, the waiting company commenced reaching for
dishes. Konar turned toward Meinora with a slight smile.

_"Got 'em well trained, hasn't he?"_

_"That he has. Another note for our cultural information."_

_"When do you want me to talk to him?"_

_"After he's finished his main courses and got a few cups of wine in
him. Our boy'll be delayed for a while, you know. We've plenty of time
to let Orieano fill the Duke in before Bel Menstal arrives."_

Klion Meinora turned his attention to the trencher before him for a
moment, then looked toward his companion again.

_"Notice the girl sitting by the Baron?"_

_"You mean Orieano's daughter?"_

_"Precisely. Don't give her any cause for fear. Don't even make a
sudden move in her presence."_

_"You mean----?"_

_"I do. She could become Lady Death, if she got frightened."_

Konar looked toward the elevated table. The girl looked harmless enough.
She was slender, attractive, even delicate looking. But he remembered a
horror-distorted face, a mind-shattering scream, and a blinding flash of
light. He shuddered a little and turned his attention to his food.

[Illustration]

* * * * *

Florel Bel Menstal strode into the hall, looking toward the table head.
The Duke, he noted, was still at table, though he had finished his meal.
Now, he was engaged in earnest conversation with Orieano.

This, Bel Menstal thought, must be checked. Haughtily ignoring the rest
of the company, he paced to the head of the table, where he made
perfunctory obeisance.

"Your Excellency," he greeted. He straightened. "I offer my apologies
for my late appearance. My men had to clear a slide from the way." He
turned toward Orieano.

"You would do well to instruct your serfs in the art of road building.
Their work seems slack."

He faced the Duke again. The overlord set his cup down.

"Bel Menstal," he said gravely, "two nobles of your former land have
come to me to present serious accusations." He rose. "You will accompany
me to the chambers."

Bel Menstal hesitated. His men were outside the castle, of course. It
was against etiquette to bring them inside, especially when the Duke
was present. But there were plenty of them. Possibly he should fight his
way out of here now. Once in his hilltop castle, he would be
impregnable. And his raiding parties could keep the barony in supplies.
Or possibly it would be better to----

He forced his panic down