It was the king who replied. "If we could tell you, we would. I gain nothing from these games and would end them if only to—" He cut himself off, frowning.

Weber pinched the bridge of my nose. "Oh, my liege. You really must stop making such promises."

"I promised nothing."

"But you wanted to, I've no doubt. And I don't think that's true. You call me a liar, but you just lied to me. Remember, they have records here of everything."

The king folded his arms, clearly not pleased with the sudden direction of the conversation. "It was true when I said it."

"And yet you didn't spare her from her tears." And then the liar stopped. "I can see three moves ahead and I don't like where this round is going. End it?"

"Agreed," said the king. As one, both hosts returned attention to the Doctor. "These fights are our obligation, not our profit."