"Yes..." Orien looks away, not wanting to think about tomorrow. "Among Taan Erkhan's guests are Lektor Khian and his family." "Lektor Khian?" Orien looks up, surprised. "I believe he is a colleague of your Knawan Ysenna." "Yes!" She had not expected to find solace in her uncle's words. "His daughter is a scholar too, I believe," he goes on, "and his son works in the governor's office. Either of them could be a suitable contact for you, maybe even a partner in future." "I... suppose," Orien manages as her uncle walks away. Had that been an attempt at encouragement? But the idea of talking to Lektor Khian - and maybe his scholar daughter - is attractive enough to compensate for the tedium of a polite dinner.