- Good afternoon.

Hearing the greeting uttered in a pleasant, soft voice, Ader looked towards the door to the small hall. He had not seen the girl he had saved for several days. It was not up to her now. He had had enough of the daily reports about her condition and that the leia was on the mend. Therefore, now the young man walked around Give an attentive look. She, in turn, looked around with curiosity, calmly looked into his eyes, not even thinking to be embarrassed by the unexpected attention to herself.

Surprisingly, despite the whole situation in which she found herself, the girl was quite confident. And even on the first day when she regained consciousness, there was neither fear nor panic in her eyes, except perhaps confusion and bewilderment. And now, after some time, the lier did not notice this in her either. But Odarita is still almost a child. At the same time, Ok'Tharner was sure that most of the leys and lers he knew would cry and hysteria all the time in her position. And this one only carefully examines everything around, demanding nothing and not complaining. What is it, a lack of understanding of what is happening due to memory loss, stupidity or an innate character trait?

Standing up, he greeted the girl with a slight nod of his head.

- Good afternoon, Leah, how are you feeling?

- OK, thank you.

Answering, Odarita walked to the only empty chair at the table set for three. The servant standing near the wall immediately rushed forward to help her sit up.

Hearing the answer, Ader gave Leia a closer look, assessing her real condition. Well, the bruises under her eyes are gone, which means she really got better. Yes, and the girl walked with a confident, firm gait. True, the general pallor has not gone away. She was especially accentuated by neatly styled dark hair and an ill-fitting light yellow flowered dress that his mother had once worn. Ok'Tharner remembered that his mother was fond of pastels, as they set off the slight brownness of her skin very well. In them, she seemed young, airy, vulnerable and romantic. But what looked so wonderful on the long-dead mistress of Durchars did not suit Odarita at all. In a dress not very well fitted to her thin and unsightly figure, she looked faded, a little sickly and boring. And yes the long-outdated style did not suit the girl at all. But then again, this did not reflect in any way on the confidence with which this young lady held herself, on her posture and slight smile.

Regarding the unsuccessful style and faded appearance of Odarita, Ader and Justine agreed. As soon as the young widow saw the girl who entered, her concern and nervousness immediately left her eyes. Ok'Tharner himself admitted that, next to his brother's widow, Odarita looked like a gray mouse. At the same time, the banneret would still prefer to have lunch, or rather, talk with their guest in private. But according to the rules of etiquette, an unmarried lei cannot be in the same room with a man without being accompanied by an older lady. And yes, servants don't count. So Ader had to invite Justine to dinner as well.

Observing how the girl carefully examines everything on the table, for the general maintenance of the conversation, the owner of Durshars politely offered her to taste one of the dishes.

- Lea, I would advise you to try the rack of lamb in sweet and sour berry sauce. Today the chef did it especially well.

- Thank you.

Thanking the lier, Odarita nodded to the maid standing near her to immediately serve what her master had said. And to it at the same time stewed vegetables. In truth, Banneret didn't expect the girl to follow his advice. And not because he was sorry for the food. It's just that young lei, as a rule, preferred not to eat at the common table. Well, unless they torment a couple of lettuce leaves or bite a few baked vegetables. The last one was Justine. Ader himself preferred a good piece of steak or ham to everything else. And judging by the appetite with which she began to absorb the tender meat of Odarita's lamb, she supported him in this passion. Which immediately made the man smile approvingly. It is difficult to survive in the harsh conditions of the Sintari Mountains, keeping yourself on a half-starved ration.

But that wasn't all the banneret noticed. He was also struck by how quickly and accurately Leia cuts the juicy square into small pieces, after which she puts them in her mouth, never getting dirty in the sauce. The girl acted deftly and skillfully. Apparently, she was very hungry. And then the question arises, why would it? Did she not have breakfast? Or is it due to the recent use of magical powers, the reserve of which has not had time to recover anyway?

- They say that you are so strong that yesterday you were already able to take a short walk?

Ok'Tharner did not put aside the question that interested him, as well as beat around the bush, immediately moving on to the topic for which he started this joint lunch.

- Yes, - before answering, the guest of Durchars put the fork and knife aside and looked inquiringly at the owner of the castle. - Could I go out?

- Certainly. Yes, and Guida said that short walks will do you good, as well as help you recover faster. Just be careful and don't go too far from the castle. So we seem to have caught all the wolves in the district, but it's better not to risk it.

Upon hearing the answer, Leia gazed into the eyes of her interlocutor for several seconds, as if looking for something in them, but she nevertheless nodded in confirmation that she had heard the warning.

- Fine.

Odarita's complaisance pleased Ok'Tarner, so he hoped that he would be able to get answers to his other questions as well.

- And today all the servants admired the flowers you planted.

Adler deliberately did not utter the last phrase as a question, but rather as a statement of fact, deciding to see how the girl would react to it. But she suddenly shook her head.

- It's not my merit, but Kirsty's. A girl a few days ago broke a small flower bed, after which she looked after her. I only helped her restore the flowers after the dog rummaged there.

- What kind of flowers and who is Kirsty?

And Justine intervened in the conversation. The young woman did not like at all that Ader did not pay any attention to her. But she, unlike the girl, sits on the right side next to him, and before the girl came, they communicated well with the banneret.

- Kirsty is the little daughter of a korytnik. When the dog destroyed the first alisum sprouts, she wept very bitterly. So I helped her restore the flower bed. Yet the child tried so hard and put so much effort into making the flowers grow.

Yes, banneret heard exactly this version from the girl, but this was not enough for him. And just as he was about to clarify the details, Justine unexpectedly covered his palm with hers, in an attempt to switch all attention to herself.

- Lier, I do not dare to give you advice, but still it seems to me that we urgently need to give a few books on etiquette. I don’t even want to think what the girl’s parents will say when they arrive here and find out that their daughter, like some kind of peasant woman, was busy in the ground. And yes, they can charge you for it. Yet the loss of memory does not exempt the young lei from following the rules of decency adopted in high society.

Hearing the remark, Ok'Tarner looked at the young woman next to him in bewilderment, then turned his sarcastic gaze to the small hand covering his arm. The man was somewhat surprised by such an open display of attention. Previously, a young widow did not allow herself such a thing. Yes, when they were alone, it was acceptable, but not in the presence of a stranger. The subtle hint was immediately understood. And now Justine is already straightening a strand that has come out of her hair, although her hair looked perfectly styled, and a second later she takes a glass of wine, pretending that nothing unusual has happened and brings it to her lips, thereby trying to attract the attention of the interlocutor to them. But Ader had already taken his eyes off the widow, deciding to continue the conversation about books that had begun so successfully.

“And I also wanted to ask you, Leia Odarita, if you managed to remember anything?” Perhaps you came across a familiar name or locality in one of the books sent to you? Or do you have any questions?

- No, - shaking her head negatively, the girl looked down at her plate, but before that she openly looked at her interlocutor. And what does it mean? That she feels guilty about not being able to remember anything? Or does he think he's burdening Ok'Tarner? Or is he trying to hide something? Thinking over the answers to unexpected questions, Ader began to closely monitor Odarita, but he did not notice anything strange or unusual in her behavior. Thanks for letting me read them. But I did not come across a single familiar name or title. Admittedly, I haven't fully reviewed them yet. Do you mind if they stay with me for a few more days?

- No.

With a short answer, the owner of the castle returned all his attention to food, considering how to return to the conversation about flowers again, without alerting the girl. And then Justine spoke again.

“Is it possible for me to know what kind of books you, Lier Ader, have given her?”

Repeated intervention in the widow's conversation raised a wave of irritation in Ok'Tharner's mind. Somehow, before, he had not noticed in her a tendency to interfere in his affairs. Usually Justine tried never to disturb him and did not ask unnecessary questions. And then, suddenly, in the last few days, she woke up activity. Or is he just picking on her because she's tired of so many problems piled up at the same time? Be that as it may, the banneret still preferred to keep his emotions in check, especially in dealing with the opposite sex, so even now he did not openly show his displeasure, calmly answering.

- On the history of our kingdom.

- Stories? - Hearing the answer, the young woman raised one eyebrow in surprise. - Oh no, I think you made a mistake in your choice. Dear lier Ader, - referring to the banneret, Justine, as if by chance, ran her fingertips along the lapel of his frock coat to the wrist of the man sitting next to her, but remembering the recent hint, she nevertheless removed her hand, continuing as if nothing had happened, - do not forget that this girl, judging by the clothes in which she was brought to the castle, most likely was brought up in a boarding house at the temple. And this means that books about the deeds of the omniscient Reistars, as well as his merciful wife Aielika, will be closer to her than stories about battles and great military battles of our rulers.

Realizing that there was some truth in the words of his brother's widow, Ok'Tarner pursed his lips in displeasure. Indeed, the chances that the novices were taught geography and history in the temple are rather small. Rather, they were taught to embroider and pray, as well as how a high-born lei and lera should behave. Somehow he didn't think about it. Although, of course, one should not cast aside the possibility that among the names of the generals and advisers close to the king, a name familiar to the girl would flash through.

Deciding what exactly he should do next, Ader looked again at the ley sitting opposite him. At the same time, he suddenly caught her mocking glance. Not understanding what had amused Odarita so much, he was about to clarify this moment, when the girl, putting the cutlery aside and dabbing her lips with a napkin, got up from the table.

- Thanks for the invitation. The dinner was very tasty, and the rack of lamb was delicious. Also thanks for helping me. But still, I have to admit that I still do not feel as good as I would like. In this connection, with your permission, I will leave you and return to my place.

- Oh, honey, of course, of course. - As soon as Odari told her that she was leaving, Justine instantly perked up and even smiled at the girl. - Do not overwork yourself and try to rest as much as possible. And so that you do not get bored, I will come to you today after dinner and bring the holy scripture. I am sure that when you read this book, you will remember everything.

- I'll be grateful to you.

Despite the polite words, Ok'Tharner could see that the girl, looking at the young widow, could hardly contain her laughter. She even lowered her gaze so that the fun that flashed there was not noticeable. Not understanding what was happening here, the lier looked at the young woman sitting next to him, but did not notice anything funny. As always, Justine looked very good. Why, she looked amazing, especially against the backdrop of a faded Odarita. But for some reason, the last moment did not bother me at all. Moreover, the girl behaved as if she did not care at all. But leys of her age are usually shy and shy. They constantly blush, then turn pale when communicating with men, not daring to look at them. And there is no need to talk openly in the eyes. And then the question arises, why does this girl behave differently?

Frowning, the banneret watched as Odarita left the small hall. And there was no weakness in her gait. Moreover, before the servant closed the door, he saw how she confidently nodded her head to the servant to follow her, after which she hastily hurried to the stairs leading up. The fact that weakness was only a pretext, Ader immediately guessed, and now he was also convinced of this. But he never talked to the girl about what interests him most now. At the last thought, a wave of irritation rose again in my soul. And when Justine, affectionately touching his elbow, quietly asked in a gentle voice if he would like to take a walk after dinner, he almost lost his temper. And only military restraint helped him to resist, so as not to shout at the widow.

- I have a lot to do.

No matter how hard Ok'Tarner tried to hide his condition, the young woman nevertheless noticed that something was wrong and prudently kept silent, without insisting. Lier, having risen so that the chair, scratching the wooden floor, abruptly slid back with an unpleasant sound, and quickly walked towards the door. While contemplating what Justine had just suggested. But she gave a good idea.

As soon as the banneret returned to the office, he immediately ordered his servant to come in and gave him a short order.