"Themain reason?" Thrawn asked.

The other's lip twitched. "There are others."

"I see," Thrawn said. "But we'll speak of them later. If you'll come this way, Admiral?"

For the most part, the trip around the side of the asteroid was made in silence. Thrawn occasionally mentioned something technical in the pirate ship's design as they approached, but neither the admiral nor Mitth'ras'safis seemed interested enough to respond with anything more than grunted monosyllabic comments or an occasional question. The admiral's escort, as befit proper warriors, said nothing at all.

Once or twice along the way Car'das noticed Mitth'ras'safis frowning at him and Maris, as if wondering why Thrawn had brought non-Chiss along for the ride. But he never asked for an explanation, and Thrawn never offered one.

The alien bodies had long since been removed from the ship, but there were many other details and deductions that Thrawn was able to point out as the group passed down the corridors, everything from the probable physical characteristics of no fewer than three different species of Vagaari slaves all the way to the equipment their masters had probably permitted them to use.

Car'das hadn't heard any of this analysis, and listened in fascination to the commander's monologue. Again, Ar'alani and Mitth'ras'safis absorbed the information in silence.

Until, that is, they reached the treasure room.

"Ah-there you are," Qennto's deep voice boomed from one of the back corners, waving with one hand as he clutched what looked like an ancient decorated battle shield with the other.

"What's this alien doing here?" Ar'alani demanded.

"He's helping catalog the items for me," Thrawn replied. "Some of the systems plundered by the Vagaari are in Republic territory, and he has some knowledge of their origin and value."

"What did he say?" Qennto called, looking at Maris.

She looked questioningly at Thrawn. "In Sy Bisti, if you please," the commander said, switching to that language. "We don't want to leave the admiral and syndic out of the conversation."

"Yes, Commander." She turned back to Qennto and translated Thrawn's last comment.

"Oh, I'm helping catalog, all right," Qennto said, eyeing the newcomers suspiciously. "I'm also picking out the items I'll be taking home with me."

"What items are these?" Ar'alani asked in Cheunh, her glowing eyes narrowing. "Commander?"

"In Sy Bisti, if you please, Admiral," Thrawn reminded her.

"This is not an interspecies conversation circle," Ar'alani countered tartly, ignoring the request. "What exactly have you promised these aliens?"

"They're merchants and traders," Thrawn reminded her, his own voice going a little stiff. "I've offered them some of the items as compensation for their weeks of service."

"What service?" Ar'alani demanded, shifting her glare to Car'das and Maris and then to Qennto. "You've provided them with food and living quarters, taught them Cheunh-and for thisthey deserve compensation?"

"We're also teaching the commander our language," Maris offered.

"You will not speak to an admiral of the Chiss unless first spoken to," Ar'alani told her brusquely.

Maris reddened. "My apologies."

"There's plenty here for both our visitors and the Ascendancy," Thrawn said. "If you'll come this way, there are some details of the engine room I'd like to show you." He took a step toward the door

"A moment," Ar'alani said, her eves back on Qennto and the shield he was still defiantly gripping. "Who will decide which items your humans will be permitted to take?"

"My intent was to leave that decision largely to Captain Qennto," Thrawn said. "He's been working on this inventory for some weeks now and has an extensive knowledge of the contents. I can provide you with a copy of the complete listing before you leave."

"A listing of what's in here now?" Ar'alani asked. "Or a listing of what was herebefore he removed his chosen items?"

"Both lists will be available," Thrawn assured her, taking another step toward the door. "And my spot checks have shown the lists and descriptions are accurate enough. At any rate, you'll have time on the voyage home to examine both the lists and the treasures themselves."

"Or I could examine them right now," Ar'alani said, gesturing to one of her two warriors. "You-get the listing. I think, Commander, that I'd prefer to take my own inventory."

"As you wish, Admiral," Thrawn said. "Unfortunately, I'll be unable to assist you in that task. There are administrative matters that require my attention."

"I can make do without your assistance," Ar'alani said. From the tone of her voice, Car'das had the feeling that she would just as soonnot have him looking over her shoulder. "Make sure I have a shuttle with which to return to my ship when I'm finished." Her eyes flicked to Thrawn's brother. "And I think it would be wise if Syndic Mitth'ras'safis remained with me. With the syndic's permission, of course."

"I have no objections," Mitth'ras'safis assured her. To Car'das's eye, his face looked a bit troubled.

"Then I'll look forward to conversing again with you at your convenience," Thrawn said. Catching Car'das's eye, he nodded toward the door.

They were twenty meters down the corridor before Car'das dared to speak. "You don't really have any administrative work to deal with, do you?" he asked Thrawn, keeping his voice low. "You just wanted to get away from the admiral for a while."

"A harsh accusation," Thrawn said mildly. "You'll tarnish Ferasi's high opinion of me."

Ferasi's-? Car'das looked behind him, to discover that Maris had indeed followed them out of the treasure room. "Oh. Hi," he said lamely.

"I think you missed the point, Jorj," she said. "Commander Thrawn didn't duck out on the admiral. He maneuvered her into deciding on her own to stay behind."

"What leads you to that conclusion?" Thrawn asked.

"The fact that this is the first I've heard about Rak spending weeks taking inventory of the treasure," she said. "He would certainly have mentioned something like that to me."

"Yet he didn't deny it," Thrawn pointed out.

"Because that part of the conversation was in Cheunh," Car'das said, finally catching on. "Which he doesn't understand."

"Excellent," Thrawn said, nodding. "Both of you."

"So what exactly is going on?" Maris asked.