“I need a place to stay,” Han said, and added, “please,” when she still stood frozen. “I swear by the Maker, I’m not here to hurt anybody.” He swayed a bit, and she draped an arm around his waist and helped him to a stone bench in the entryway.

She drew back quickly, brushing at her robes. “You stink,” she said, making a face.

“Sorry. I fell in the river,” he said, closing his eyes as a wave of dizziness swept over him.

“What’s wrong with your arm?” she asked.

He ignored the question. “Could you wake Speaker Jemson, please? It’s important.”

“Well, I don’t know as he’d like bein’ waked at this time of night,” she said. “Can I give him a message in the morning?”

Han kept his eyes closed and said nothing. Eventually he heard her pad away down the corridor. He was nearly asleep when he heard the rumble of Jemson’s voice drawing nearer.

“How badly is he hurt, Dori? You’re sure he’s not one of our students?”

“I don’t know as I’d recognize him, even if I knew him, Master Jemson. He’s right mangled, he is.”

Han opened his eyes to see Jemson looking down at him, tall and severe.

“Master Alister. Thank the Maker you’re alive. I feared the worst.”

“Where’s Mari?” Han asked.

“She’s sleeping, safe in the dormitory. The dedicates have taken charge of her. I sent word to your mother so she wouldn’t worry.”

Han struggled to sit up one-armed. “You got to get her out of Southbridge and back to Ragmarket,” he said. “Nobody can know where I live or that I even have a sister.”

Jemson looked over at Dori, who was listening with great interest. “That will be all, Dori,” he said. “Go on to bed. I’ll manage from here.”

Dori shuffled out reluctantly, with many backward looks.

The speaker knelt in a whisper of fabric so he could look Han directly in the eyes. “Tell me, Hanson, did you have anything to do with those killings?” he asked sternly. “I need to know the truth.”

“No, sir,” Han whispered. “I swear it.”

“Any idea of who might have done it? Or why?” Jemson asked.

Han shook his head. “No. But I’m being blamed. The Queen’s Guard is hunting me.” He looked down at his shoes. “I’m sorry to get you mucked up in this, and I’ll leave if you want me to. It’s just…I got to get off the street and I have nowhere to go. If I can make it up to Marisa Pines, I can stay out of sight up there for a while, but first, I got some business here.”