I ate as I walked the space and figured measurements, and thought it might be possible to make a small addition onto the south side of Hurog and give us six extra rooms to put guests. Then I’d still have to share if the Council descended again, but any small group of noblemen—

“If you put an extra door in the side of the great hall, you could put a few of these on the south side without making the keep less secure,” said Oreg from the doorway as he munched on an apple.

“Reading minds now?” I said, licking grease off my fingers. “I thought you said that wasn’t one of your talents.”

He grinned. “I saw you pacing the room off. It wasn’t such a leap. I came by to congratulate you on your successful stalking of the warrior maiden.”

I laughed. “The only thing I succeeded in was making an idiot of myself.”

He smiled like a cat and shook his head. “I disagree. You convinced Tisala that you knew what you wanted, what you needed, and that she was it.”

“Do you think so?” I was skeptical. “I was more of the opinion that I sounded like a pitiful sad-story hero who languishes and dies in the final refrain, leaving everyone feeling sorry they hadn’t treated him better.”

“Trust me,” said Oreg lightly. “It wasn’t pity I saw on her face, it was revelation.”

I stared at him and saw that he was serious.

“If so,” I replied slowly, “then I don’t mind embarrassing myself in front of everyone. I’d suffer a lot worse than a little humiliation to win Tisala.”

Through the arrow-slit window in the side of the room I heard a commotion outside. It was probably only the arrival of one of the men Alizon and Haverness had summoned to Callis, but I started for the door anyway.

I had a moment of anxiety when I stepped into the corridor and realized I didn’t know which way to go.

“Which way to the great hall?” I asked Oreg.

“I haven’t the slightest idea,” he answered with a grin.

So I turned right and, with Oreg unhelpfully following, explored the twists and turns until I found a section of keep that looked familiar. Doubtless there were several paths I could have taken that were shorter, but we made it to the great hall before the new guests were welcomed.

Haverness was already in the room, seated by the fire where a scattering of chairs and benches made an impromptu conversational area. He was shaking his head as Alizon leaned forward and spoke with an earnest air. Garranon had draped himself against the wall, listening expressionlessly.