They gave her a plate of leafy greens, chopped carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers in a vinaigrette dressing. Melissa took it and ate with silent enthusiasm. The salad was quite delicious, but every time she started to relax, something reminded her that she was sitting across from the Prime Council. Her general policy of “if you don"t know what to say, say nothing at all,” seemed prudent.
This dining room on the upper floors of a hotel in downtown Arinas was decorated with round, stained-glass windows in shades of pink. A simple, white table – just a long rectangle with ten chairs – was cluttered with the empty plates left behind by the Prime Council"s aides. Humanoid serving bods moved throughout the room, retrieving dishes and flatware.
Sarona Vason sat at the head of that table, picking a
