"Oh, really?" Marcello looked delighted. "Please may I hear them?" Then he frowned. "And Dierdre? What about her?"

"You're an insecure misogynist tallfolk gold-digger who's taking financial and sexual advantage of a vulnerable sheltered young woman," she said, almost gleefully. "Also he thinks you're lying about your age." She paused. "I don't know about Dierdre."

"Well, that's about what I assume a lot of the people around here think of me," Marcello answered cheerfully. "I don't really know what there is to do about that. Why don't you know about Dierdre?" he asked. "He certainly spends enough time with her."

"Ah . . . remember the thing I just said about having trouble keeping track of his loyalties?" she said. "That. Honestly? The thing that scares me? I think he's having a ball with this. I think it's a game for him."

Marcello grimaced. "So we need to get Dierdre out?" he asked. "I mean, away from him?"

"That would be a problem with extracting Dierdre," she said wryly. "Hell, I say keep everyone away from him. Pets too. But I think if anyone tells Dierdre what's going down, she'll solve all his problems for him."

Marcello nodded, hesitantly. "I don't know her well enough to say," he replied. "But she killed the king. I wouldn't put much past her after that."

The woman frowned along with him. "Right now, that girl's on edge. It's not going to go over well at any time but right now, she'd be totally mental. So if you have to tell her, I'd be prepared to wrap her in some thick blankets and tie her down."

"I can't tell her," Marcello replied. "She has no reason to believe me. It's going to have to be Niabheara, and I need proof first."

"Oh my yes, let's let Niabheara do it. That won't be at all painfully awkward." She pressed her fingertips to her temple as if the migraine had already begun. "Sprog's afraid that Dierdre's going to hate her," she said more bluntly. "She has every right to be afraid of this. Personally? I don't give a shit. I'll just take stock in headache powders."