“Good morning, My Lord,” Giddon said. “We apologize for interrupting your breakfast. Do you know why we’re here?”

The lord seemed to struggle to find his voice. “I haven’t the slightest idea,” he said, his hand at his throat.

“No? Perhaps the Lady Katsa could help you bring it to mind,” Giddon said. “Lady?”

Katsa stepped forward.

“All right, all right.” The lord stood. His legs jarred the table, and a glass overturned. He was tall and broad shouldered, larger even than Giddon or Oll. Clumsy now with his fluttering hands, and his eyes that flitted around the room but always avoided Katsa. A bit of egg clung to his beard. So foolish, such a big man, so frightened. Katsa kept her face expressionless, so that none of them would know how much she hated this.

“Ah, you’ve remembered,” Giddon said, “have you? You’ve remembered why we’re here?”

“I believe I owe you money,” the lord said. “I imagine you’ve come to collect your debt.”

“Very good!” Giddon spoke as if to a child. “And why do you owe us money? The agreement was for how many acres of lumber? Remind me, Captain.”

“Twenty acres, My Lord,” Oll said.

“And how many acres did the lord remove, Captain?”

“Twenty-three acres, My Lord,” Oll said.

“Twenty-three acres!” Giddon said. “That’s rather a hefty difference, wouldn’t you agree?”

“A terrible mistake.” The lord’s attempt at a smile was pained. “We never realized we’d need so much. Of course, I’ll pay you immediately. Just name your price.”

“You’ve caused King Randa no small inconvenience,” Giddon said. “You’ve decimated three acres of his forest. The king’s forests are not limitless.”

“No. Of course not. Terrible mistake.”

“We’ve also had to travel for days to settle this matter,” Giddon said. “Our absence from court is a great nuisance to the king.”

“Of course,” the lord said. “Of course.”

“I imagine if you doubled your original payment, it would lessen the strain of inconvenience for the king.”

The lord licked his lips. “Double the original payment. Yes. That seems quite reasonable.”

Giddon smiled. “Very good. Perhaps your man will lead us to your countinghouse.”

“Certainly.” The lord gestured to the servant at his side. “Quickly, man. Quickly!”

“Lady Katsa,” Giddon said as he and Oll turned toward the door, “why don’t you stay here? Keep His Lordship company.”

The servant led Giddon and Oll from the room. The big doors swung shut behind them. Katsa and the lord were alone.

She stared at him. His breath was shallow, his face pale. He didn’t look at her. He seemed as if he were about to collapse.

“Sit down,” Katsa said. He fell into his chair and let out a small moan.

“Look at me,” she said. His eyes flicked to her face, and then slid to her hands. Randa’s victims always watched her hands, never her face. They couldn’t hold her eyes. And they expected a blow from her hands.

Katsa sighed.

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out but a croak.