Asinar and Grippas sat on their horses and said: "Uh . . . well . . . that is—"
Padway spurred up front and asked: "Who are you, my dear sir?"
"If it's any of your business, I'm Unilas Wiljarith's son, general of our lord Wittigis, King of the Goths and Italians. Now who are you?"
Padway grinned and replied smoothly: "I'm delighted to know you, General Unilas. I'm Martin Paduei, quaestor to old lord Thiudahad, King of the Goths and Italians. Now that we know each other—"
"But, you fool, there isn't any King Thiudahad! He was deposed! We've got a new king! Or hadn't you heard about it?"
"Oh, I've heard lots of things. But, my excellent Unilas, before you make any more rude remarks, consider that we—that is to say King Thiudahad—have over sixty thousand troops in Ravenna, whereas you have about twelve thousand. You don't want any unnecessary unpleasantness, do you?"
"Why, you impudent . . . you . . . uh . . . did you say sixty thousand?"
"Maybe seventy; I haven't counted them."
"Oh. That's different."
"I thought you'd see it that way."