Louis wished Kay's boss a good day as well and told the secretary exactly what he needed. That done, he left as soon as possible, Gwenn following. Once outside, he let out a sigh. "I'll take care of the rest, don't worry. Now...Why don't we have something to eat? You must be hungry..."
Gwenn hesitated. He didn't want to have to spend even more of his money, especially since he could eat at the barracks, but he was taught that one did not turn down hospitality. "I have had enou' to eat, Mestru Couvillon, an' can eat more in the barracks, but I would gladly tip a cup wi' ye while we discuss your payment." Gwenn wasn't going to turn over his responsibility to Louis without making some sort of arrangement....
Louis had to suppress an urge to laugh. Gwenn was, after all, concerned about Kay and honorable. He waited a few seconds, then looked back at Gwenn. "Come with me".
Louis turned and walked away. They walked through long corridors, some full of people, some not that much, until they were out again.
Gwenn followed Louis through many long corridors. He was confused. He knew that they had walked outside to get to the building they had been in, and, try as he might, he just couldn't imagine that this building was this large; it certainly didn't _look_ this large from the outside. Maybe the Terranan had secret underground labyrinths. The corridors looked so similar, he could easily get lost without a guide. He made sure to keep close to Louis, but it was difficult with all the people around--they all looked the same, except the ones with odd coloring!
The whole time, Louis kept turning back a couple of times to check if the younger man was following him. He need not have worried so much. Gwenn carefully followed Louis out of the Base and into Thendara, where Louis led them to a restaurant.
He walked past the Trade City until he reached a small restaurant on the edge of Thendara. He sat down and gestured for Gwenn to do the same. Gwenn breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't going to have to pick some strange drink with a name he couldn't pronounce or understand. A young woman who obviously knew Louis ran up to take their order.
"Louis!", she greeted him happily. The Terranan doctor smiled. "Hi there, Kyra. How have you been?". "Oh, fine...You know, nothing unusual happening, unfortunately...", came the reply. "Or _fortunately_", Louis said.
At Kyra's curious look, though, he shut up. "Will you bring us...Some juice. Hum...I think apple juice will be fine. For two, please. And...some bread and butter. That's all for now, ok?". Kyra nodded and left quickly.
Louis turned his attention back to Gwenn. "Sorry for the long walk, but I didn't want to talk about this...there. And since we had to eat - or, at least, _I_ had to eat - I thought we could visit this place. Kyra, that beautiful lady that came to attend us, is a friend of mine. She dances here at night, but during the day she just attends the clients".
Gwenn was mildly shocked and confused. The inflection Louis had used for 'friend' could imply that she was a lover of his, but Louis had said that he had almost wed Kay. And Gwenn didn't recognize the inflection that Louis used for 'dancer'.... It was so puzzling that Gwenn almost missed the fact that Louis had ordered apple-juice -- a rare treat, since it was too cold for apple trees at Mon Fiern.
"Now...first of all, let me tell you _don't_ need to pay me", the older man said, looking straight into Gwenn's eyes and relaxing a bit in the wooden chair. "It's not a big deal, anyway. Just a few papers to sign...Oh, and don't worry about the meal either, I do have Darkovan money. By the way, you can ask for some real food when Kyra comes back with our order..."
He paused, then inquired, "Now...Is there anything you want to ask me?"
Gwenn said, "Dinna' let me keep ye from food, Mestru Couvillon. But honor demands that I _do_ pay ye for yer help, that is, unless...."
Louis shook his head again. "I'm her friend as well, you don't need to pay for doing her a favor. Actually, it would make me feel really bad if I had to."
Gwenn took a deep breath. He hadn't wanted to do this -- to ask a stranger about Kay's relationships, but Kay wasn't available right now, and Louis _did_ ask.
"Forgive me m'bluntness, mestru, an' I only ask as closest kinsman (the inflection Gwenn used implied guardianship over Kay), but exactly what happened betwixt Kay and ye? Were ye betrothed? And if so, who consented to't? An' why did ye nae wed?" Gwenn regarded Louis, his bewilderment plain on his face.
Louis raised his eyebrows and prepared an answer, when he sensed a familiar presence nearby ...