During the fourth course Tab sat at the same table as Verris and Captain Kel. Fontagu slipped into the seat next to her. ‘Don't forget to eat all your purples.’ He grinned at her.

‘You have fungus in your teeth,’ she observed.

Fontagu blanched and spent the rest of the course trying to lever out the offending fragment with a fingernail.

Every time Tab tried to take a mouthful, Verris peppered her with questions about what she had planned for the next day. Eventually Verris turned his attention to Captain Kel.

‘Those small sky-vessels you have look excellent for shipping goods or people. Tell me, how do you power them?’

Kel grinned. ‘That would be telling, wouldn't it?’

‘Yes, it would,’ Verris replied bluntly.

The little captain shook his head. ‘You haven't earned enough credit for information like that.’

Verris tried a new tack. ‘You mentioned something about an animal that heals the sick. I'm curious about it and wonder, have we earned enough credit to purchase one, or perhaps a breeding pair?’

‘You speak of the equens,’ Captain Kel replied. ‘Wondrous creatures. We'd be happy to send you two, but sadly they don't breed in pairs. They have a hive structure, like bees or ants. We'll send over two in the morning, and you can have a closer look.’ Captain Kel wiped his mouth with the hem of the tablecloth.

Fontagu arched an eyebrow at Tab.

‘What?’ she whispered.

‘Nothing!’ he replied. ‘Nothing at all.’

By the end of the fifth course Tab was surprised to find she was full – a sensation she hadn't had an opportunity to enjoy all that often.

‘My sides may burst,’ she confessed to Amelia as they sat down at the sixth and final table. Luckily the final serving was a single ball of cheese that was soft and slightly melted on the outside. It was soaked with the flavours from the previous courses. Tab was delighted to find that it was both delicious and small.