After sitting all alone in the throne hall for more than an hour, Mintaka went back to his bedchamber. Even though he was fretting inside about the way Eltanin humiliated him in the court, he knew it was the right time to back down.
When he reached his bedchamber, he was expecting to see his wife, sleeping or sobbing or angry, instead he saw her pacing the room. He took his cape out and ignored her. This wasn't the time for argument. So he went to bed and lie down on his back with his hand on his eyes in order to get some sleep.
Alina watched him as he went to bed with disgust. She came storming to him and said, "Don't you have a kernel of respect for your own respect? You allowed that wretched man to insult you in your own court, in front of your own courtiers!"
Without removing his arm, Mintaka gritted his teeth. "Shut up, Alina. I don't have time for all this nonsense. Tabit has gone with gifts to Lerna and the matter will end."
