I waited for him to turn back into the Nyden I knew and laugh, but he did not.
Gio looked impressed. ‘I am not here to hurt anybody, I swear.’
‘You had better stick with us,’ said Meriall.
Gio smiled gratefully at her.
‘That way we can keep an eye on you.’
The smile faded. Gio sighed and bowed his head. ‘I am yours to command, of course.’
This declaration appealed to Meri, for her smile turned impish and she said, ‘Excellent,’ in a tone of voice that bordered upon sinister.
I decided not to enquire as to the source of her satisfaction.
I don’t know what Gio said next, if anything, for I was distracted by the sound of whispering. I thought that Ny and Pense must be holding some kind of private consultation, but it soon occurred to me that this made little sense. If they wished to sp
