Sextus looked at Aricia. Her face was unreadable. Whatever she had planned for him would be revealed in due time. For now he wasn't going to worry about it. He was going to enjoy the meal they were about to be served. He hadn't eaten much all day and was very hungry. The first course consisted of hard boiled eggs, a tasty asparagus salad and salted dormice. Conversation was trivial and polite. He and Aricia talked about people and events that they had shared in their past. Every now and then she would ask Idris a question. Where did he come from? What did he do for a living? She steered clear of any questions pertaining to his relationship with her husband. Sextus would occasionally steal a glance at him and could tell that his friend was being polite for polite's sake. When the main course arrived Sextus thought Idris was going to be ill after he saw the offering. Peacock brains and fattened snails! The Silure graciously declined. Everything had been washed down with the best of wine which even Idris had to admit was the best he had ever tasted. He watched as Sextus drank more than he probably should have in order to keep a sharp mind. It was a good thing that he himself had only sipped the wine, one of them had to remain alert. He knew that whatever evil Aricia planned to unleash upon them would be arriving shortly.