She felt a thrill. Once she would have done anything to please this woman. Once? “It’s good to see you, too,” she said. “You remember Abelard?”

“Of course. You have come up in the world, Technician. Congratulations.”

He bowed his head, too nervous for the formality to take. “Thank you.”

“You’re on a case?” Tara said.

“As ever. The Shining Empire this time. A member of their Divine Guard has died. I’m charged to resurrect her without disturbing the giant monster whose consort she is. An interesting problem. What can I do for you?”

“I don’t suppose you can tag out of your current case for a few days? We have a situation here.”

“Kos is in trouble,” Abelard said. “And Seril.”

“In three days,” Tara explained, “our creditors and shareholders will challenge Kos’s by attacking Seril. I have to focus on a long shot that might save us, and I need—we need,” she corrected with a glance to Abelard, “to stall the enemies at the gates.” She produced a folded document: a copy of Ramp’s challenge.

“Who’s the opposing counsel?”

“Madeline Ramp, with Daphne Mains assisting.”

“Ramp. Interesting.”

“You’ve worked with her?”

“A practicing theorist—the most dangerous kind.” Ms. Kevarian flipped through the document. She nodded at various points. “Ramp was involved—you’re aware of the Alt Selene outbreak, in the eighties?”

“I know she lives in Alt Selene. I didn’t realize—”

“She waded into the singularity and killed it before the city died. She wrestled omnipotence into submission. I’m sure she has a raft of interesting stories.” Ms. Kevarian shrugged. “Also a prominent contributor to the Forum on the Will and Its Transformations, the misguided knitting circle Alexander passed off as a journal. She’s competent. I wish I could help.”

“You can’t?”

“The Shining Empire case is consuming the overenthusiastic murderball coach’s proverbial one hundred ten percent of my time. In a week, I could assist. But you do not have that week.”

“This is a formal request from the Church of Kos,” Tara said. “There’s budget behind it. We’re not asking for a favor.”

Abelard stepped forward. “Technical Cardinal Nestor and Cardinal Evangelist Bede sent me to retain your services.” He seemed proud he’d said the whole line without stumbling. Strange he should be so daunted by a pro forma request, yet able to deliver that speech in front of the tribunal. Tara always found heart-baring stuff harder. “Ma’am.”