They munched in silence for a few minutes, Nolan casting about for something else to say. “I’m not sure what we’ll do to entertain ourselves,” was the best he could come up with. “Maybe Chay could be persuaded to bring us books. Do you think he’s got anything in bluetongue in his library?”

She rose to her feet and began opening doors to cabinets and shelving units. “There should be a monitor here somewhere. Chay has every electronic toy invented … Ah,” she said in satisfaction, as the door of a small bureau slid back to reveal a square green screen. “Let’s see what kind of programming we have today.”

She turned it on and began flipping through channels. Most of them appeared to be showing news events, much like the ones broadcast in the city, though Nolan saw no hard copy attachment. A few of the stations she came across offered music, and one of them sounded as if it might be a theatrical production.

“Any of that interest you?” she asked, her back still to him.

“Well,” he said, smiling, “I can’t understand a word.”

She turned to face him. “Of course. Perhaps I should teach you goldtongue.”

“Actually, if you have the patience, I would like that very well. Then perhaps I would at least be able to greet my host in his own language.”

“Your jailor,” she said.

Nolan shrugged. “I am in his hands. Either way.”

She watched him a moment, looking as if she wanted to say something dangerously important, but then she shrugged and forced herself to smile. “I like your new outfit,” she said lightly. “You should dress in colors more often.”

“I feel very dashing,” he said. “They’ve brought clothes for you, too. In that pile.”

“Good. I guess I’ll bathe and change.” She crossed the room and picked through the blouses and trousers. “Meanwhile, why don’t you look through the rest of these cabinets? You may find a few more diversions.”

So he searched while she showered, and he turned up a few prizes: a pack of unfamiliar playing cards, two board games he’d never seen before, and a box of choisin pieces. He laughed silently. Enough days in a prison cell with no other diversions, and he might yet become a champion at the game.

Kit, it turned out when she rejoined him, enjoyed choisin. “Though I can’t say I’m very good,” she added. “Jex is a ferocious player, and he would always beat me unless I had someone on my team. And not many guldmen will play a game like this with a woman.”

“How did you learn, then?” Nolan said, setting out the pieces.

She was silent a moment. “My father taught me,” she said. “And Chay would always let me play beside him.”

“Well, I’m lousy at it,” Nolan said cheerfully. “So I’m sure you’ll do a splendid job.”