Less-than-stimulating dinner conversation with Baron Febdash -- particularly the part where he expresses his hatred for land people -- results in Lafiel losing her appetite, and she leaves her rude host to eat in solitude.
For Lafiel, it's too much of a coincidence that Jinto -- a land person -- was absent from dinner, and she tries to contact him after retreating to her room. His communicator is suspiciously unavailable, however, and subsequent efforts to reach him using Febdash's onboard computers are also futile. However, she does learn a valuable piece of information: The baron's vassals are the key to finding her companion.
Baron Febdash wasn't being untruthful when he told Lafiel over dinner that his father was entertaining Jinto, but he failed to mention that he kept his father confined, and that Jinto was his prisoner now as well.
Why would he risk the wrath of the Abh Empire by interfering with a vital mission undertaken by one of its princesses? Lafiel isn't quite sure, but s
