Huw muttered under his breath, “He will be punished, all right.”
Arkady continued. “I want each of the young people to speak to me, one at a time. There are to be no interruptions. Do I make myself clear on that point, Huw? We will begin with Poppy.”
Poppy took a deep breath, as her Patre gripped her hand tightly. In a trembling voice, she told of Lut’s appearance at her window, the attack in the birch grove and her spirited defense. Arkady asked few questions of her. When she had finished he asked, “Are you sure that it was Lut Strong Arm who came to your window?”
“Yes,” said Poppy uncertainly. Lut’s head sank even lower, and he put his hands over his face. Poppy gave an unhappy cry when she saw that his wrists were bound with cord. “I mean, no. I don’t know!” she wailed finally, and b
