'Yup. I let him have it.'
'And you challenged him to a duel.'
'No. Actually, it was he who challenged me.'
'I see.'
'It was later, and he was drunk. He told me that no man could strike him and live.'
'Is it not true that you answered with words to the effect that sexual assault was a crime punishable by death in any civilized world?'
Trent eyed Tyrene at the level. 'Yeah, I said it.'
Thaxton was sitting at the table eating a slice of blancmange.
'That any good?' Trent asked, turning his head.
'If you like blancmange,' Thaxton said. 'Pity to let all this food go to waste.'
'It is getting close to supper time,' Dalton said.
Trent asked Tyrene, 'My brother's still out?'
'Yes, last word I had. He didn't tell anyone where he was going, which means he doesn't want to be reached.'
'He must have had pressing business. Or maybe he didn't care for Oren either, though I don't think the two ever associated much.'
'In any event,' Tyrene said, 'his declining to make an appearance is putting me in a spot. I have explicit orders to bar anyone from going back to his home aspect until the king commands otherwise.'
'What are you going to do?' Trent asked. 'Pitch tents?'
'Oh, they'd never stand for it. No, Peele Castle is where we'll spend the night.'
Dalton said, 'Peele Castle?'
Trent said, 'It's an old fortress about, oh, five miles from here, down by the shore. Sits on a cliff over the sea. Very picturesque. My brothers and I used to play there when we were kids. Talk about a long time ago.'
Tyrene said, 'It'll be a hardship, but we'll make do. I've already given orders to get horses up here, as some of the ladies are not up to walking.'
'Is the place habitable?' Thaxton asked.
'Oh, yes,' Tyrene replied. 'It's been refurbished over the years. It's still sometimes used as a weekend resort. Completely furnished. But we'll have to haul supplies.'
'And the ladies' toiletries and night-things will have to be fetched,' Trent said.
'Gods, yes. I have fifty servants fanning out to gather all the necessary stuff.'
Thaxton wiped his mouth with a satin napkin and stood. He drank off a glass of champagne. 'That should hold me till dinner.'
'You're presuming,' Dalton said. 'Tyrene, there's no need for the two of us to come along, is there?'
Tyrene said, 'I wish you would. Mr. Thaxton, here, has a sharp eye. Besides, His Majesty's orders cover anyone connected with this affair.'
Thaxton said, 'After all, we could have killed him.'
Trent laughed. 'Two homicidal maniac golfers, in knickerbockers yet.'
'Oh, yes, you can bash a head in good with a niblick.'
'Sure, and I suppose you stabbed him with a tee.'
'Y.R.H., if I might reintroduce a note of sobriety,' Tyrene broke in.
'Sorry. Yes, by all means.'
'You say you have no specific memory of passing by the viscount and Lady Rilma at the moment, or shortly before the moment, that the viscount got up and left?'
'Well, no, not really. I mean, I must have walked by that spot once or twice, but I didn't see the viscount leave. Wasn't aware of him at all, really. And I certainly ?'
Trent looked off for a moment. 'Wait a minute. Now I remember. I did walk by there, and the reason that I recall it is that something flew by my head.'
'Flew by your head?'
'Yes. Something swished past. Don't know what it was. I thought it was a bird buzzing me. Didn't see anything.'
'What sort of sound did it make?'
'Not very identifiable. Just a fluttering. Or maybe it wasn't that, just a hiss or aswish. Maybe it was an insect. There're usually dragonflies around the pond over there. It wasn't very obtrusive at all, and I really didn't take any notice of it.'
'Very interesting indeed,' Tyrene said. 'Where were you exactly when this occurred?'
Trent got up and walked a few paces out from the table, looked around, then sidestepped out a few paces more.
'About here,' he said.
Tyrene walked to him and looked back toward the table. 'So you were almost directly behind the viscount at the moment that this thing came past.'
'Almost. A little past him. Yeah, it seems so. I could be off a couple of paces, but this is more or less where I was at that exact moment. I'm pretty sure that the thing whizzed by the back of my head.'
'And you have no idea what the thing was.'
'Well, now. Since I've recalled this, several possibilities have come to mind.'
'Such as?'
'The obvious.'
Tyrene nodded. 'A thrown knife, perhaps?'
'Yes. Even though a stiletto isn't a good throwing knife, the thought did occur to me, yes.'
'A stiletto is not a good throwing knife at all. But I suppose we must consider the possibility that it was thrown. Did you see anyone in a position to throw it?'
Trent looked to his right. 'That hedge is man-high. Someone could have stepped out from behind there and done it.'
Tyrene looked. 'Yes. Possibly.'
'Well, there you are. That's what happened.'
Tyrene looked doubtful. 'Why would the murderer take such a risk?'
'Unless he were an exceptional knife thrower.'
'Ah. And do you have such a person in mind?'
'Tyrene, I'm rather hesitant about casting suspicions on anyone. Besides, I think you know who I'm thinking of.'
'My apologies, Y.R.H. I just wanted to hear someone else vocalize it. Yes, I have someone in mind. But I have a problem. Why would the murderer choose to throw while you were in the way?'
'I may have been the target,' Trent said.
'I suppose we cannot rule that out.'
'Or he simply might not have seen me. I may have walked into his blind spot.'
'Also possible. But if it was this certain person I have in mind, only the second reason would apply, since the man is an old friend of yours.'
'Damik,' Trent said. 'Yes, he and I go way back. Damn it, Tyrene, I said I didn't want to compromise anyone.'
'I have no reason at the moment for believing that the count was the culprit. His being an excellent bladesman does not instantly bring him under suspicion. There are many such among the inhabitants of Perilous and its environs.'
'I'm glad you realize that, because Damik's no murderer.'
'There is no reason in all the universes to imagine that he is. In fact, I believe he was a friend to the viscount as well.'
'No accounting for taste.'
Tyrene looked at the trampled grass. 'Yes. Well. I'm very grateful to you for this interview, sir.'
'Only too glad to help.'
Tyrene looked back toward the portal. 'Here be the horses.' He heaved a sigh. 'And now, it devolves to me to
