Iorich Read Free Page A

risk. “I don’t choose to give it,” I said. “I want public information on the case of Aliera e’Kieron, whose name has been entered under Imperial Articles of Indictment for Felonious Conduct.” I paused. “Of course, if you wish, I can ask at the House of the Dragon, and explain that the House of the Iorich wasn’t willing to—”
    I stopped because she was glaring and writing; continuing the battle after you’ve won just wastes energy. She handed me a piece of paper; I didn’t bother looking at it, because I don’t know the symbols the House of the Iorich uses instead of the perfectly reasonable writing the rest of us get by with.
    “Room of the Dolphin, see the clerk. He will answer your questions. Good day.”
    I walked down the hall. She hadn’t even addressed me as my lord. Once. My feelings were hurt.
    I’d been in the Halls of the Iorich often enough to believe I could find my way around, but not often enough to actually do so. I saw a few Iorich as I walked—clerks, men-at-arms, and perhaps one was a magistrate—but I didn’t feel like risking a snub to ask any of them for directions. Nevertheless, after most of an hour, I managed to find the correct stairway to the correct hallway to the correct room. The man behind the desk inside—very young, an apprentice of some sort, no doubt—glanced up as I came in, smiled, frowned, then looked puzzled about just what sort of attitude he was supposed to adopt.
    Before he could decide I gave him the paper. He glanced at it, and said, “Of course,” stood up, and vanished through a door on the far end of the room. He returned before I had timeto decide if I should sit down at the chair opposite his desk. He had a fairly large sheaf of papers in his hand. The papers all had two holes on the top with pieces of white yarn running through them.
    “Sit down, my lord,” he said, and I did. “Aliera e’Kieron,” he said.
    I nodded.
    “Arrested on the ninth day of the month of the Hawk of this year, charged with violation of Imperial Edict Folio ninety-one part thirty paragraphs one and two. Intent to Indict filed with Her Imperial Majesty the tenth day of the month of the Hawk of this year. Writ of felony placed before the Circle of Magistrates on—”
    “Pardon me.”
    He looked like a draft horse pulled to a stop just short of the barn door, but he managed, “Yes, my lord?”
    “Would you mind telling me what Folio ninety-one. . . that is, what the charges are? I mean, in plain speech?”
    “Oh. Use of Elder Sorcery.”
    “Barlen’s crack,” I muttered. “Nice work, Aliera.”
    “Your pardon, my lord?”
    “Nothing, nothing. I was talking to myself. Who accused her?”
    “Her Majesty.”
    “Heh. Anything on how Her Majesty learned of the crime?”
    “I’m not permitted to say, my lord.”
    “All right. Go on, please.”
    He did, but there was nothing useful in it, except that, yeah, she had been bound for judgment on a crime. A capital crime.
    “Does she have an advocate?”
    “She refused, my lord.”
    I nodded. “Of course she did. Any friends of the defendant presented themselves yet?”
    “I’m not permitted to say, my lord.”
    I sighed. “Well, you may as well add me. Szurke, Count.”
    “House?”
    “Imperial.” I dug out the ring and showed it to him. He was very impressed and so on.
    He made some notations, and pressed some seals onto a document, then said, “It is done, my lord. You wish to see the prisoner?”
    “Yes.”
    “If the prisoner should agree, where can you be reached?”
    “Castle Black,” I said, hoping that was sufficient.
    It was; he made a notation.
    “Has she received any visitors so far?”
    “I’m not permitted . . .” Then he shrugged and consulted another paper and said, “No.” I guess that one doesn’t matter so much.
    I thanked him, and that concluded my business in the House of the Iorich.
    And, having acquired the bare minimum of information—enough to know what I was dealing