Reunited at the Dining Table

"Thank you for your part in convincing your country's troops of their mistake, dearest," Reaibn said to Belinda. "That was very well done. But where are Fred and Astra? Don't they know that it's very rude to leave the dining table before the meal is over?" His good humour of a moment before had abruptly vanished, and he was scowling.

Looking into the Eye, he said: "Ah, I see them."

A moment later, Fred and Astra found themselves back in their chairs. "Belinda!" Astra said on seeing her sister. "We were worried for you. Are you all right?" The still mute Fred attempted to indicate that he too was relieved to see Belinda.

"I'm fine," Belinda said. "My fiancé and I have just paid a brief visit to our country's forces and persuaded them to withdraw. We explained that our marriage, and your's and Fred's, would cement our two nations' friendly relations."

"Oh, er good," Astra said, realising that her sister's words were for Reaibn's benefit. Fred realised that too, as while Reaibn had been gone Astra had had the opportunity to fill him in on Ruag's plan. He hadn't liked it any more than she had, but had been willing to go along with it.

Only when Astra attempted to shift her position in her chair did she realise that her ankles were shackled to the legs of her chair. "Hey, what's going on?" she said. "My legs are chained to the chair."

"So are Fred's," Reaibn said. "It's to teach the pair of you some manners. It was very rude of you to leave the table before the meal was over like that."

1. "But you did," Astra protested. "We only wanted to learn where you and my sister had got to." Immediately she regretted it, but she had said it now.
2. Astra wisely held her tongue.

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