'And you walked in, just like that?'
'Well, the pie helped.'
'We have met before, you know,' said her ladyship.
She stared at Glenda and Glenda stared back, and she finally managed, 'Yes, I know, and I'm not frightened and I'm not sorry.'
The battle of the stares went on for a year too long and then Lady Margolotta turned her head away sharply and said, 'Well, you have got one of them right, but I am sure I shall enjoy the pie and also the match.'
'Yes, yes,' said Vetinari. 'Thank you both for calling, but if you will excuse us we do have matters of state to discuss.'
'Well!' said Lady Margolotta as the door shut behind them. 'What type of people are you incubating in this city of yours, Havelock?'
'I imagine some of the very best,' said Vetinari.
'Two common people can barge in on you without so much as an appointment?'
'But with a pie,' said Vetinari quickly.
'You were expecting them?'
'Let us just say that I was not unduly surprised,' said Vetinari. 'I certainly know about the make-up of Ankh-Morpork United. So does the Watch.'
'And you are going to let them into an arena with a bunch of old wizards who have promised not to do magic?'
'A bunch of old wizards and Mister Nutt,' said Vetinari cheerfully. 'Apparently he's very good at tactical planning.'
'I can't allow that.'
'This is my city, Margolotta. There are no slaves in Ankh-Morpork.'
'He is my ward. I expect you will ignore that, though.'
'I have every intention of doing so. After all, it's only a game.'
'But a game is not about games. And what sort of game do you think you will get tomorrow?'
'A war,' said Vetinari. 'And the thing about war is that it's about war.'
Lady Margolotta shot out her long sleeve and a fine steel dagger was suddenly in her hand.
'I suggest you cut it in half,' said Vetinari, indicating the pie, 'and I will choose which half to pick up.'
'But what if one half has more pickled onions than the other?'
'Then I think that will be open to negotiation. Would you like some more... wine?'
'Did you see that she tried to stare me down?' said Margolotta.
'Yes,' said Vetinari. 'I saw that she succeeded.'
When Glenda and Trev got back to the Hippo, Nutt looked at them expectantly. 'He hardly listened,' said Trev.
'Quite so,' said Nutt. 'I am confident of our success on the morrow. I am quite certain that we will be tactically supreme.'
'I'm just glad I won't be playin', that's all,' said Trev.
'Yes, Mister Trev, that really is a great shame.'