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disapproving line. “He could never quite make up his mind … He had friends here and there, naturally.”
    Again Glinnes sensed unspoken words, knowledge which his mother did not care to communicate. He began to feel a few small inklings of resentment, and carefully put them aside. It would not do to start out his new life on such a footing. Marucha asked in a bright, rather brittle voice, “But where is your uniform? I so wanted to see you as a captain in the Whelm.”
    “I resigned my commission. I decided to come home.”
    “Oh.” Marucha’s voice was flat. “Of course we’re glad to have you home, but are you sure it’s wise giving up your career?”
    “I’ve already given it up.” In spite of his resolve, Glinnes voice had taken on an edge. “I’m needed here more than in the Whelm. The old place is falling apart. Doesn’t Glay do anything whatever?”
    “He’s been most busy with-well, his activities. In his own way, he’s quite an important person now.“
    “That shouldn’t prevent him from fixing the steps. They’re literally rotting away. I saw smoke from Ambal Isle. Is Glay living over there?”
    “No. We’ve sold Ambal Isle, to one of Glay’s friends.”
    Glinnes started, thunderstruck. “You’ve sold Ambal Isle? What possible reason . . He gathered his thoughts. “Shira sold Ambal Isle?”
    “No,” said Marucha to a cool voice. “Glay and I decided to let it go.” “But…” Glinnes halted and chose his words deliberately. “I certainly don’t want to part with Ambal Isle, nor any other part of our land.”
    “I’m afraid that the sale has been effected. We assumed That you were making a career in the Whelm and wouldn’t be home. Naturally we would have considered your feelings had we known.”
    Glinnes spoke politely. “I most definitely feel that we should void the contract. We certainly don’t want to give up Ambal.”
    “But my dear Glinnes, it’s already given up.”
    “Not after we return the money. Where is it?”
    “You’ll have to ask Glay.”
    Glinnes reflected upon the sardonic Glay of ten years before, who always had stayed aloof from the affairs of Rabendary. That Glay should make large decisions seemed altogether inappropriate and more, insulting to the memory of his father Jut, who loved each square inch of his land. Glinnes asked, “How much did you take for Ambal?”
    “Twelve thousand ozols.”
    Glinnes’ voice cracked with angry astonishment. “That’s giving it away! For a beauty spot like Ambal Isle, with a manor house in good condition? Someone’s insane!” Marucha’s black eyes sparkled. “Surely it’s not your place to protest. You weren’t there when we needed you, and it isn’t proper for you to cavil now.”
    “I’m doing more than cavil; I’m going to void the contract. If Shira is dead, I’m Squire of Rabendary, and no one else has authority to sell.”
    “But we don’t know that Shira is dead,” Marucha pointed out, sweetly reasonable. “He may only have gone off to visit friends.”
    Glinnes asked politely, “Do you know of any such ‘friends’?”
    Marucha gave her shoulder a disdainful jerk. “Not really. But you remember Shira. He has never changed.”
    “After two months he’d surely be home from his visit.”
    “Naturally we hope that he is alive. In fact we can’t presume him dead for four years, which is the law*.”
    “But by then the contract will be firm! Why should we part with any of our wonderful land?”
    “We needed the money. Isn’t that reason enough?”
    “You needed money for what?”
    “You’ll have to ask that question of Glay.”
    “I’ll do so. Where is he?”
By Trill law, a contract for land sale is considered provisional for a period of a year, for the protection of both parties.
    “I really don’t know. He’ll probably be home before too long.”
    “Another matter: are those Trevanyi tents down by the forest?”
    Marucha nodded. By now, neither was making any pretense of