The refectory was next to the kitchen, and was where the main three meals were served for those who didn't merit a tray in their rooms. Alyn hoped Lord Miervaldis wouldn't mind her absence, but she wasn't about to abandon a peer she'd just convinced to talk to her. She tailed Pyrrhus to the counter and back, sitting opposite him and acting as friendly and innocent as possible. Despite that, it still took the whole main course and most of dessert before he responded to one of her questions.

"Yes," he said, "I joined just last autumn."

"Same as me," Alyn said cheerfully, mixing her apple pie up into a mash. He looked surprised at what she was doing. "I'm sorry," she apologised. "I like it this way."

"Oh no, it's just that's exactly what my brother does," he said, all in a rush, then looked upset.

"You have a brother?"

"Yes..."

"Younger than you?"

"No, older."

"What's his name?" The question had been friendly, just following something Pyrrhus seemed happy to talk about, but now he hesitated and looked aside. Alyn felt frustrated, unable to understand what the stumbling blocks were. Eventually:

"Kadir," he said, and stared at his own pie.

"Just the one brother? I've got loads," Alyn burbled, trying to fill up the pause and keep the conversation going. She felt exhausted from the effort already. "And a sister, Illiana. My brothers are Byran, Davian, Simman, Olivet and Mikal. Byran's at the Eighth Star Court - have you met him?" But despite the innocence of the question, Pyrrhus paled, and went completely silent. Alyn carried the conversation for the rest of the awkward meal, trying desperately to make him feel at ease. At the end of the meal, when he left the hall in a different direction to the one she wanted to take, she let him go and wandered off, confused and a little hurt at his unfriendliness.

After the second lesson, she returned to the study room and spent a couple of hours cataloguing the papers. By the end, although she still hadn't finished, she had made a considerable dent in the large pile and felt satisfied with what she'd achieved. She made her way back to the rooms, hungry and wondering what Miervaldis had managed to do that day. Unsurprisingly, the room was empty again, but just as she turned to look for Ythilda, Miervaldis himself came up the corridor.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said. He was dressed normally, so presumably hadn't been to town; she was surprised how relieved that made her feel. "I've been talking to people... mainly the chamberlain. We'll have to wait for a day or two to see Lord Isidor, I'm afraid; he's visiting his family. His own family, not Lord Cassian's family, that is. He's expected back the day after tomorrow." He bent to unlock the door. "I meant to be back earlier, but I was talking to the stablemaster." The stablemaster? Alyn thought. Why on earth would he spend a long time talking to the stablemaster? She followed him into the room, still wondering, but he didn't say any more than that.

After they had eaten, Miervaldis filled his cup again with the pale clear wine and went to stand by the window.

"Tomorrow is a Holy day, of course," he said. "That means Jaquan's funeral will be after the service." Alyn had rather lost track of the days, and had forgotten a Holy day was due. He turned to look at her. "We will be going."

"Yes, my lord," she said obediently. He turned back to the window. "My lord, did you find out anything more about what Brenna said?"

"No, not really. Ythilda confirmed that Brenna had been on the late shift that night. That's all. What she said she saw seems quite plausible." He fell silent, staring out of the window. Alyn tidied the tray as best she could, and went to sit with her book by the fire, leaving him to his thoughts.