“How unfortunate.” Storm’s own expression grew deeply sorrowful. “I got separated from the guard on the way to the latrine.”

Betaan’s eyebrows rose in a disbelieving arch. “Tolbar says you ran from her. Like a dirty little thief.” The last three words were spaced for emphasis.

Storm’s eyes narrowed. Betaan, she realised, didn’t much like her. She was vaguely surprised to find she didn’t care.

“Is Tolbar a liar?” asked Talon’s daughter.

Storm shrugged, attempting the world-weariness Betaan often cultivated. “I wanted to explore – on my own – without being constantly followed by guards. I suppose I should apologise.”

“You must never do it again!” Betaan pushed the monkey from her lap and rose to her feet. Scoundrel leapt up a bedpost and perched on top. Talon’s daughter held the tray out to Storm. “Here. I’ve brought you breakfast.”

“That’s kind of you.” Storm gave the other girl a genuine smile and took a biscuit. She was very hungry. The crunchy pastry tasted of nuts and cinnamon. She ate, and Betaan continued to scold: “Father was very upset indeed. I don’t like seeing him so distressed. It was unkind, after all we have done for you!”

Storm nodded, her mouth too full for speech.

“You must promise me never again to go into town without the guards!”

Storm popped the rest of the biscuit in her mouth and chewed slowly, choosing her words with care. “While I remain your guest, I will do everything I can not to worry you or your father. And do ask Mer to forgive me.”

“Mer will forgive you, of course.” Betaan had been successfully distracted. “But you cannot imagine her distress! At first, she thought you’d been taken ill. You must know, Mer dotes on you. And then, when the guard returned to say that you’d run off, she was convinced that you had been kidnapped and was distracted with worry!”

“I’m sorry.” Storm meant it this time. She doubted Mer had become ill over her, but she had never had a girl friend. Still, unless she stayed on Bellum Island, the possible friendship could never be more than a glimpse of something that might have been.

16

That evening Talon held a formal dinner. Storm sat opposite her host. Betaan sat beside her and kept up a stream of amusing chat in her right ear. The other guests were robed in dragonfly green, rich purple, melting amber. Painted faces smiled on every side; the air was heavy with perfume. Storm felt like she had wandered into a gathering of glittering ghosts.

Storm laughed obediently at one of Betaan’s jokes, doing her best to imitate Mer, sitting opposite, who always managed to look amused yet somehow apart.