ust as ; Alessan murmured, smiling. quot;iful t never rengto leave.”

    urned to t;You see orments me? Not a quarter of an hour in my home and he speaks of leaving. Am I well served in such a friend?”

    tion  ly to Devin.  o to tongue. ing rat tuous and the imbecilic.

    ine, Devin t desperately. ive glass of something.

    As if summoned by an art of timing more subtle ts in blue livery reappeared, eacray. trays, Devin sa  certainly Certandan.

    t of glasses was blue.

    Devin turned to Alessan. t Alienor  spoke to somete and s. For a moment ered: as if sant ticement. And Devin, a far more perceptive man t  of a sadness in her eyes.

    tain t . In some subtle  calmed , milder lighe room.

    quot;It is not a to forget,quot; sly to Alessan, gesturing tohe blue wine.

    quot;Nor I,quot; ;Since it began here.”

    S a moment, eyelids lo passed. Alienors eyes ;I ion of letters for you. But one is very recent,quot; she said.

    quot;Broug of Eanna ime he was

    even stay t t sunset. I s  have feared Id have his robe off if he lingered for a meal.”

    quot;And would you ; Alessan grinned.

    S;Unlikely. Eannas sort are seldom rouble. tty. Almost as pretty as Baerd, come to t.”

    Baerd, quite unperturbed, simply smiled. Alienors glance lingered flirtatiously on oo, Devin noted. An exc spoke to events and t young suddenly, and out of h.

    quot;; Alessan asked.

    Alienor ated. quot;est,quot;  of tion in her eyes.