Almost anything can, but tampering with Imperial Records requires upper level intervention or permission. Or turning a blind eye at a very specific time.

Or the Emperor’s direct command?

The question surprised Severn, but it also amused him. Or that, yes. Is that what you suspect?

I don’t suspect anything yet. But...I don’t believe that Azoria is dead. Her family, maybe. I think it would be hard to hide an entire family line if most of it hadn’t been wiped out. But Larrantin implied that the father—An’Berranin—had no real interest in Azoria’s studies; he encouraged her and supported her.

Teela cleared her throat. Loudly. Kaylin reddened. “Sorry. Is there any land grant recorded? Any transfer from the former owner of the lot?”

“As you no doubt suspect, no. The land itself was transferred in its entirety to Mrs. Erickson’s parents, the Swindons, and upon their deaths to the Ericksons.”

“From who?”

“From the Imperial office. A government stamped transfer.”

“A transfer’s an interaction between two parties. It goes to the senior Swindons, but it has to come from somewhere.”

“Indeed. It comes from the Imperial Palace; it is a land grant.”

“But the taxation Records...”

Teela nodded again. “Those were not altered. There does not seem to be a codicil to the ownership. The record—the one that mentions house fourteen and its owner—appears to be a Records artifact. It has no bearing on the Records related to property, ownership, and the laws created to cover them.

“There is no legal reason that a Barrani—lord or no—could not own property in the city of Elantra should they have the money to legally purchase a property. It is not done, of course—to live as a mortal among mortals would be considered a social disgrace.”

“Tain does.”

Teela’s smile was cool. “Indeed. But Lord Tain was considered a disgrace when he declined to take the Test of Name, and in truth, I admired his conviction. He joined the Hawks when I did; he joined, I believe, because I did. His adoption of what you consider a ‘normal’ abode was his way of making clear—to anyone who might question him—that he served me and my interests, no matter where they might lead.

“Most Barrani would be far more willing to commit murder than to lose public face. Tain, however, is not most Barrani.”

“But Azoria—a woman whose name strikes dread in powerful Barrani Lords—was perfectly willing to buy a merely mortal dwelling.”

“Be careful,” Teela said, voice soft, eyes dark. She meant that as a warning; it wasn’t a threat, but a request.

“I’m always careful.”

Mandoran choked on what he was drinking, causing a spray of liquid—and coughing—that did not amuse Sedarias. It did amuse Terrano, but he was outside of the spray radius.