The morning of Noria’s hearing dawned bright and cold, hinting at the coming fall. I stood on my veranda, sipping coffee while I watched the sun rise, and prayed to Magorah and Resinah and the Creator and whoever the hell else was listening, to make Noria wake up with a clear head rather than anger in her heart.

I knew now that if I’d shown up at the Palace for my own hearing with a reasonable attitude, things might have gone easier for me. I was lucky Iannis had shown me compassion despite his stony exterior, and also that he was presiding over Noria’s case. With any luck, he would show her similar compassion, and she would have the sense to take whatever deal he offered her.

I bathed and dressed, then made my way down to the audience chamber, where Iannis and Fenris already waited. This was the room where Iannis heard complaints and conducted hearings, where I had experienced my first encounter with the fearsome and mysterious Chief Mage. I stepped into the spacious chamber, which was more like a hall than a room. A long blue-and-gold carpet carved a path through the center of the parquet floor, and tall, gleaming mahogany columns held up the soaring ceiling as I walked up the path. The walls were pale pink granite, as was the huge desk Iannis and Fenris stood behind. A thick, leather-bound logbook stood open on the desk, as well as a file, and there were legal texts on hand as well, should they prove to be necessary.

“Good morning,” I murmured, twining my fingers briefly with Iannis’s as I took my place to his right. We hadn’t slept together last night, and I strongly suspected Iannis hadn’t slept at all, though he looked the same as ever.

“Good morning.” He squeezed my hand briefly, then let it go as the double doors opened. My heart skipped a beat as Annia and two guards brought Noria in. They were both wearing conservative dresses, Annia’s a pale green and Noria’s a dark red—probably their mother’s idea, as I doubted Noria would have dressed up for the occasion. I was glad her mother, a rather difficult woman, had elected to stay away from the hearing. Perhaps Annia had persuaded her to stay behind. Noria held her head high as she was escorted down the aisle to stand before the Chief Mage with Annia at her side.

Comenius and Elnos were also there, trailing behind the guards—they had agreed to come as character witnesses and to provide moral support. Comenius gave me a small smile as he and Elnos stood off to the side, and I nodded. I was glad they were here, not just for Noria, but for me as well, selfish though that was.

“Good morning, Lord Iannis,” Annia said, bowing. Everyone but Noria did the same. “We are ready for the hearing.”