"I wish," fumed her father, "that you would not throw in irrelevances! I sent him to bring this Hoddan here this afternoon, not to massacre my neighbors' retainers—or rather, not to not massacre them. A little blood-letting would have done no harm, but stun-pistols—"
"He was protecting somebody he was told to protect," said Fani. "And this other man, this—"
"Hoddan. Bron Hoddan," said her father irritably. "Yes. He was protecting himself! Doubtless he thought he did me a service in doing that! But if he'd only let himself get killed quietly the whole affair would be simplified!"
The Lady Fani said with quiet dignity:
"By the same reasoning, Father, it would simplify things greatly if I let the Lord Ghek kidnap me."
"It's not the same thing at all—"
"At least," said Fani, "I wouldn't have a pack of spearmen following me about like puppies everywhere I go!"
"It's not the same—"
"Their breaths smelling of wine except when they smell of beer, and they breathe very noisily and—"
"It's not—"