The factor had moved to the question of how to mark trees for felling when the thaw had progressed a little further, and the scarcity of ax-heads and saws in recent years.
Gabriel turned to Peter. “You have lived in Thendara; what do you know of the Terranan?”
Peter froze, saw Lady Rohana raise watchful eyes to her husband, but the question was obviously innocent, so he answered, “As much as any man in the street knows.”
“Can you verify a rumor for me? When they were here in the Hellers, back near Aldaran, I heard that they traded in metal from off-world; that the off-world metals were stronger than our native alloys, and would take a more durable edge. Is this true, or is it like the tales of men with wings for hands, and pots for breathing on their heads?”
“I have never seen any men with wings for hands, nor yet with pots for heads,” Peter said truthfully, “but I lived as a child in Caer Donn, and I have seen the off-world metal. It is good solid stuff, and can be traded in bars for forging, and as finished tools, and the tools are probably better than what your smiths can make.”
“Rohana, you sit in Council,” said the Ardais lord querulously. “Maybe you can tell me why that donkey Lorill has prohibited such trade?”
Rohana said soothingly that she was certain that the ban on trade was only a temporary thing, that the Hastur lord only wished the Council to examine the consequences of their world becoming dependent on resources not native to this planet.
Kyril interrupted. “May I speak now? I have a serious complaint to make, about a breach of hospitality-and decency! This man from nowhere, this nobody, has abused our hospitality-”
Rohana’s voice was sharp. “Kyril, I will not have your father worried with such trifles! If you have any-• thing to say, then you may-”
“I was not speaking to you, Mother,” said Kyril, staring angrily at her. “Let my father speak for himself; I am weary of hearing you reduce him to a nonentity in his own household! Father, do you rule this household, or does my mother?”
Dom Gabriel turned toward them, and his face was red with an anger that made Jaelle tremble. “I will hear what you have to say,” he said. “But I will not tolerate insolence to your mother, my son!”
Kyril said, thrusting out his chin, “My mother, too, has failed in her duty, since she has shown herself powerless-or unwilling-to keep order and decency beneath this roof! Or are you unaware that Jaelle has been seduced by this nobody who calls himself Piedro, and that she has shared his bed from midwinter-night?”
Jaelle tensed, clenching her fists with mingled rage and distress. She felt Magda’s hand close gently over hers, and sensed the mingling of fright and dread in her friend, as dom Gabriel’s flushed face, red with rage, turned toward Jaelle. His eyes were squinted close, his mouth contorted.
He shouted, “Is this true? Jaelle, what have you to say for yourself, my girl?”
She opened her mouth angrily. “Uncle, I am not your ward-” she began, and Rohana said in a low voice, almost agonized, “Jaelle, please-”
The desperate dread in Rohana’s voice somehow got through to Jaelle; she said, more gently than she had intended, “All I can say to you is that I am very sorry to give you offense, sir. I would not willingly have done it.” She bit her lip and looked down at the plate in front of her, her hands shaking as she buttered her bread, struggling not to say any more. Rohana’s quick, grateful look was reward enough, but it could not calm dom Gabriel now.
He bellowed, “Is this true? Have you made a scandal here in my house, with your love affairs?”
She swallowed hard and raised her eyes to meet his. She said clearly, “There will be no scandal, Uncle, unless you make it!”
Gabriel swung on Rohana, rising from his seat, turning angrily between Jaelle and Rohana. “What of this, my Lady? Did you know of this and say nothing? Did you permit your shameless ward to play the whore while she is under your care? What have you to say to this, Lady? Answer me! Answer me, Rohana,” he bellowed.