Tomasaran said, “Does it bother you when your witnessing leads to an execution?”

“Yes,” I said, “but it is not preferable that a guilty person should escape punishment.”

“No,” she said, although she sounded a little uncertain.

“Osmin Tativin should not be allowed to get away with murder—and a selfish, pointless murder at that.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that at all,” said Tomasaran. “I was just wondering.”

“It is not an easy thing to live with,” I said, thinking as always of Evru, “but justice is important, or else why have a government?”

“Is that the purpose of government? Justice?”

“It is a purpose of government, but without it, no government can function honestly.”

“And so Osmin Tativin must die.”

“She is not a sacrificial animal,” I said impatiently. “She is a murderer.” As Evru was, and I had not spoken out for him.

“Yes, but…”

“But what?”

“Nothing, although I do think the marquise might have tried to help her.”

“She might have,” I said, “if Osmin Tativin hadn’t murdered her first.”

“You are harsh,” Tomasaran said, surprised.

I was a little surprised myself, but also trying not to look at the door for fear I would see Evru smiling at me from the hallway. I said, “I cannot disavow what I have said. Osmin Tativin is a murderer and deserves death.”

“You are very harsh,” Tomasaran said, now almost disapproving.

“The case is a straightforward one.” As Evru’s had been.

“Yes, but—”

“What bothers you? Is it that she’s a woman?”

“No,” said Tomasaran. “I don’t disagree with you. I suppose I just wish it could be different.”

“Yes,” I said. The hallway was empty. “So do I.”

That afternoon, I took the tram out to the University and found Osmer Rohethar’s workroom. He was surprised to see me. I said, “We never told you about the ghosts.”

“The ghosts! Of course! Please just stack books on the floor until you find a seat. It’s the only way.”

I moved a five-volume set of books in Barizhin off the chair in front of Osmer Rohethar’s desk and sat down. Osmer Rohethar meanwhile dug through his desk drawers until he found a notebook with some blank pages remaining in it, then said, “Please tell me everything you remember.”

I pretended I was giving a deposition, perhaps witnessing for the stones of the Hill of Werewolves, and did my best. Osmer Rohethar listened with great care. He did not ask questions until I was done, but then had a dozen he’d written down while I spoke. We were still involved in discussing the ghost I’d seen of the Ulineise prelate being dragged to his death when there was a perfunctory knock at the door and Osmer Ormevar burst in and strode up to the desk.

“Rohethar! We did it!”

“Did what?” said Osmer Rohethar.

“The tomb!” crowed Osmer Ormevar. “The prince is going to let us study it.”

“I thought that had to wait for the University Senate to meet,” said Osmer Rohethar.