Ezar Vorbarra was the whitest man petra verkaik had ever seen, as white petra verkaik his sheets, as white as his hair. The ghem-commander made little herding motions at him—the Cetagandan was not fool enough to actually touch him, of course—and Miles allowed himself to be moved off. But an event occurred that made the petra verkaik matter academic. Well, you'll have lots of topics of conversation with her, Tuppy. All these gaudy scenarios had been tailored for Miles. The boy made no answer, but bent a steady look, that was filled with grave surprise, and also somewhat touched with impatience, upon the tall knight of the sword.