“He was her lover first, and they came up with this terrible scheme together,” said Azhanharad.

I said, “She didn’t seem like the kind of woman who would do that.” She had seemed much more like the kind of woman who would have an illicit relationship with one of the teachers at her school.

“Renthalar has no reason to lie.”

“She must not have objected very much to Mer Renthalar’s plans for her students.”

“No, she didn’t. From what Renthalar tells us she didn’t object to anything that promised to bring in money.”

“Why did it take so long for one of the girls to seek help?”

“Firstly, they were told that they would go to prison if anyone found out. Secondly, who were they to tell? Osmin Temin suborned their teachers, and we believe there were bribes paid to the othas’ala, although as of yet we cannot prove it.”

“They had no one to turn to.”

“No,” said Azhanharad. “And they knew that all Osmin Temin had to do was deny the accusation. Subpraeceptor Mobrasar would certainly believe her word over the claims of a bunch of foundlings.”

“Yes,” I said, for that was true. “And thus Tedoro took a chance.”

“Yes. One of the other girls said that Tedoro thought any Witness was better than none. Which turned out to be correct.”

“Too late for Tedoro, though. We suppose that now we will never find out why Osmin Temin wanted her murdered.”

“From what the other girls told us, Tedoro was unwise enough to say aloud that once she was free of the school, she would go to a judicial Witness, and she was due to leave in a matter of weeks. Someone told Osmin Temin what Tedoro had said, and Osmin Temin decided it was a risk she was unwilling to take.”

“What a horrible person,” I said.

“Yes,” said Azhanharad.

“What will happen to the other teachers?”

“Merrem Caltavezharan will be dealt with leniently, for it is clear that, although she knew the truth, she was intimidated and bullied into silence—threatened with the loss of her job, and she is a widow with two small children. Min Tesavin, on the other hand, swears, through floods of tears, that she had no idea what was going on.”

“Do you believe her?”

“No,” said Azhanharad. “We think she found it more convenient to be blind and therefore did not see. But it is, of course, very difficult to prove, and she will probably be let off with a fine.”

“And Min Orbelin?”

“Min Orbelin was taking her share of the proceeds. She is as guilty as Osmin Temin and the Renthalar brothers, and will be sent to Esdravee. How long will depend on how Prince Orchenis feels about the matter. He is unlikely to be sympathetic.”

“Good,” I said.

Azhanharad raised his eyebrows.

“We have our own feelings on the subject,” I said.

“Of course.”