"Not at all. I remembered how he resembled the lanee-assistant. Elanane became lanee later, remember. This man before you, Members of the Council, is the man who promised never to tell of Ertene. He was willing to violate his initial oath to Terra and keep us from exposure. This is the man who spoke openly on Terra, violating his oath to us. This is the man who is now violating his oath to us by being here—he promised never to return."
"Get Charalas," said Harabond. A courier left silently, scowling that his absence would deprive him of some interesting scenes.
"Now," said Harabond, "if this is whom you say, prove it here and now!"
"Have I no time to gather evidence?" asked Thomakein cynically.
"His charge against you was first. This matter of counter-charges complexes the proceedings. Must we hold our lanee in trial to prove his right to charge another with treason?"
"I need no time," said Thomakein. "I can prove that he is not Elanane."
"Perhaps I can disprove you," smiled Guy.
"He thinks to baffle us all," laughed Thomakein. "Harabond, so great is his deceit that he thinks to fool us all."
"You may answer his charge," said Harabond to Guy.