“Randa decides where we sit at dinner.”

“Well, and Randa probably knows Giddon hopes to marry you,” Raffin said.

Katsa paced to the table again, clutching her hair. “Oh, this is dreadful. Whatever shall I do?”

“If he asks you to marry him, you’ll say no. You’ll tell him it’s nothing to do with him. You’ll tell him you’re determined not to marry, that you don’t wish children; whatever you need to say so he understands it’s nothing to do with him.”

“I wouldn’t marry Giddon to save my life,” Katsa said. “Not even to save yours.”

“Well.” Raffin’s eyes were full of laughter. “I’d leave that part out.”

Katsa sighed and walked again to the door.

“You’re not the most perceptive person I’ve ever known, Kat,” Raffin said, “if you don’t mind my saying so. Your capacity for missing the obvious is astonishing.”

She threw her arms into the air. She turned to go. She turned back to him suddenly, at a shocking thought. “You’re not in love with me, are you?”

He stared at her for a moment, speechless. Then he burst into laughter. Bann laughed, too, though he tried valiantly to hide it behind his hand. Katsa was too relieved to be offended.

“All right, all right,” she said, “I suppose I deserve that.”

“My dear Katsa,” Raffin said, “Giddon is so very handsome, are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

Raffin and Bann clutched their stomachs and guffawed. Katsa waved their nonsense away. They were hopeless. She turned to go.

“Council meeting tonight,” Raffin said to her back.

She raised her hand to show she’d heard. She closed the door on their laughter.

“THERE’S VERY LITTLE happening in the seven kingdoms,” Oll said. “We’ve called this meeting only because we have some information about Prince Tealiff we can’t make any sense of. We’re hoping you’ll have some ideas.”

Bann had joined them for this meeting, because the grandfather was well enough now to be left alone on occasion. Katsa had taken advantage of Bann’s broad chest and shoulders, and seated him between herself and Giddon. Giddon could not possibly see her; but just in case, she’d positioned Raffin between them as well. Oll and Po were across from her. Po sat back in his chair, his eyes glimmering in the corner of her vision no matter which way she looked.

“Lord Davit gave us true information,” Oll said. “Neither Nander nor Estill knows anything of the kidnapping. Neither was involved. But now we’re almost certain that King Birn of Wester is also innocent.”

“Could it be Murgon, then?” Giddon asked.

“But with what motive?” Katsa asked.

“He has no motive,” Raffin said. “But then, he has no less motive than anyone else. It’s what we keep coming up against. There is no motive for anyone to have done this. Even Po—Prince Greening—has been able to come up with none.”

Po nodded. “My grandfather’s only importance is to his family.”

“And if someone had it in mind to provoke the Lienid royal family,” Oll said, “wouldn’t they reveal themselves eventually? Otherwise, the power play becomes pointless.”