"The Witch King wiped out the Dunadan in Rhudaur after the Dunlendings conquered it," says Gorlim. "I can't see anyone expecting any different now."
"All that as may be," says Arvedui, "the facts speak for themselves; information that was only ever discussed in Council has been used now in three seperate attacks; the attack on my daughter, Mallachiel, last year, the attack on the Fortress of Baranar, and the destruction of Amon Los. Whatveer the mysteriousness of motive, I would now require active proof that there is NOT a traitor before I look for other reasons. So either way, the matter bears investigation."
"In any case," sayd Arvedui, "Gorlim can provide you with some advice on the list of suspects on the Council. In case you are wondering, Gorlim himself is exempt because he couldn't have done it- he journeyed to Baranar with you people and had no knowledge of the issues that led to the destruction of Amon Los; nor would he have tried to ambush himself if he is a traitor. By the same token we can rule out Farael- as the leader of Mallachiel's escort who nearly died saving her, it is unlikely he would have organised the attack on her, and furthermore he would not have been in a position, again, to betray her position because he was busy being with her; the traitor would have to be at court. And, once more, he was leading an army to Baranar at the point of the issues that led to Amon Los being betrayed."
"Indeed," says Gorlim. "Unless it's both of us, ha ha!"
The King looks at him oddly.
"Well... I just meant... if it was both of us, we could always organise it that one of us had an alibi for everything and then it would never look like one of us was the common link... but it's not both of us. Of course. Ha... ha?"