Kordas had to take a moment to take that in. He was in the presence of the single entity in this entire Palace that literally knew everything that had gone on within its walls for the last—what?

“How old are you?” he asked.

“Thirty years,” the Record Keeper said. It gestured at the seals in the front of its desk. “These are copies of all of the Imperial Seals, from the ones for simple orders, to the next-to-last highest, the one only the Emperor wears on his hand. Twenty years ago, when Dolls were first created solely for the work in this chamber, and had taken the place of all of the filing and copying clerks, there were only the Imperial Secretaries here. Eighteen years ago, the Secretaries realized they existed only to stamp documents with the appropriate seal, file a copy, and send the original on its way. So they . . . created documents making themselves all Lords, appointing themselves manors and pensions, and left, leaving this one in charge. Since the work all continued at the same pace, no one noticed—or if they did, no one complained. Perhaps they thought it superior. After all, the Dolls can only do what they are instructed to do, which possibly makes this system superior to the previous one, at least in the eyes of those who were in charge. There is no chance that a Doll with a grudge will delay or ‘lose’ a document, since a Doll cannot hold a grudge.”

It was hard to tell, but Kordas thought there might be an ironic edge to the Record Keeper’s voice.

“Why did you bring me here?” he asked, finally.

The Record Keeper placed both hands flat on the top of the desk. “You are agitated by what you have seen. You have made promises to the Dolls. You have obligations to your humans, and a great Plan that has been generations in the making.”

Dolls brought two chairs, a small table, hot tea, and digestive biscuits. Beltran sat down almost before his chair was in place. Kordas got the hint, settled back, and accepted a teacup. The tea was a superb blend of gut-calming and mind-soothing ingredients, strong and just on the kinder side of medicinal. It struck him as particularly thoughtful of his hosts.

The Record Keeper resumed once the two men were settled in. “Humans are impulsive. This one has brought you here to enable you to cool your temper and share your Plan, and this one will tell you the resources the Dolls have that can be brought to bear to make everything work together. And,” it finished, “to ensure that your spouse does not hire assassins to slay you.”

At this display of actual humor, Kordas had to stifle a laugh. And already he felt his temper cooling.

“Now,” the Record Keeper said. “Tell this one of your Plan.”