At least the food was good, but Handy only took the smallest amounts from the side tables so as to not appear rude. He eyed the coconut on the table with longing but let it be. He'd go hungry tonight if he had to, in order to avoid getting caught in conversation. He knew he was being watched. More importantly, he knew people were following his eyes to see who he was watching. That was a level of thinking you needed at these sorts of things depending on who you were and how much attention you drew. Inference could lead to an avalanche of rumour as Handy well knew, so he made it a point once in a while to land his eyes on this or that griffon on the far side of the hall whose names and faces he didn't know, just to throw people off.