I came here with such high ideals and they all seem to have seeped away.”

It was Lady Khiyana’s turn to laugh. “You should just do what everybody else does and drink more.”

“Alas, Lady Khiyana, the wine does not agree with me. I find it makes me deathly ill.”

“I find that the conversation around here has a similar effect,” Lady Khiyana said. “Who is your handsome friend?”

Frater Ramon shrugged. “I’m afraid I did not catch your name, Guardian.”

“That is because I did not say it. Forgive my rudeness. My name is Kormak.”

“Well now that we are all introduced, perhaps we can get on with the drinking. Or perhaps I can corrupt you, Sir Kormak, since I seem to have singularly failed to corrupt our worthy priest here.”

“Alas I am afraid that I am like Frater Ramon—I cannot drink your local wine. It does strange things to my mind, and I need all of my wits about me.”

“I can see that you’re going to be boringly business-like like all of the men in Maial. It’s a pity because you have an interesting look about you. I notice also that you arrived with a large gang of soldiers—that is rarely a good sign.”

She was clearly curious as to what was going on. Kormak looked at her, but she would not meet his gaze. Her glance slipped off to one side as if she feared he would read something in her eyes. Her manner was at odds with her flirtatiousness and her confidence.

“I came in with Admiral Zamara. The marines belong to his ship’s company.”

Her eyes flicked back towards him, and then away when she saw he was still looking at her. Her fingers toyed nervously with her necklace. “So we have a new admiral already. So early in the season. Normally they don’t come out until the last days of autumn. This one must be very keen or very greedy.”

“I would say that Admiral Zamara is an idealist. He is also the cousin of the King-Emperor.”

“I suppose I had better keep my tongue in check then. Or maybe I should just go and talk to him. He appears to be a very good-looking man. Oh, don’t look at me like that Frater Ramon. You know full well that there is a shortage of interesting men.”

“And you’re always on the lookout to add a new one to your collection of admirers, aren’t you Lady Khiyana?”

“It’s been a pleasure talking to you Guardian. I wish I could say the same for you, Frater Ramon.” Laughing she made her departure. After she had taken three steps, she turned and looked hard at Kormak, as if trying to judge him, then she moved on towards Zamara and Rhiana.

“A very striking woman,” Kormak said.

“A very dangerous one,” Frater Ramon said. “Her husband is extremely jealous and a very good swordsman. She likes to keep him busy. Over the past year, she has been the cause of at least three duels.”

“I can believe that.”

“You’d best believe it unless you’re planning on fighting a few duels yourself.”

“There’s enough fighting in my life already.”

“Wise man.