Judge turned ever so slowly to regard him through narrowed eyes. “For what, Citizen Orso?”

“If she won’t make denouncements, I will!” A swell of whispers went up, in spite of Judge’s threats. “I’ll denounce anyone! I’ll denounce everyone! I’ll give you the best damn denouncing you ever heard!”

Judge stared at him for a long, tense moment, while a bead of sweat tickled ever so slowly down his scalp. Then she gave vent to a delighted chuckle. “Oh, this we have to hear. Corporal Halder, let His Excuse for a Fucking Majesty address the court.”

Halder strode to the cage’s door and unlocked it as the eager babble spread around the hall.

“What are you doing?” hissed Hildi as Orso stepped from captivity.

“Buying time.” He was no mighty warrior. He was no learned sage. But when it came to talking rubbish he acknowledged no equal.

“Representatives!” he thundered, advancing across the tiled floor where he had once sentenced Lord Wetterlant to death. “Ex-lords and ladies, ex-subjects of myself and my father, good Citizens and Citizenesses of the Union! I, Orso the First, King of Angland, Starikland and Midderland, Protector of Westport and High King of the Union, lately resident in a freezing cellar beneath the palace, come before you now in this sweltering ruin to make denouncements!”

“Do it, then,” said Judge.

“I will, Citizeness, I will.” Orso cleared his throat, gave the court an apologetic smile, dragged out the expectant silence. “I fear I cannot divulge to you the hiding place of Old Sticks. Not by any means because I refuse to do so! Because I do not know. Honestly, what kind of fool would trust me with important information? Would you trust me? I’m not sure I would!” He shook his head as a few chuckles echoed from the galleries. “I’m not sure I would.” He was happy to be their clown, if it bought Savine a few moments. “But I’ll happily denounce the bastard! He was Arch Lector of the Inquisition, for the Fates’ sakes—he more or less denounces himself!” Hearty shouts of agreement. “He was the rotten heart of the Closed Council for thirty years! A hoarder of power. A prolific torturer. An implacable enemy to noblemen and common men alike. Worst of all, he has let his daughter…” He looked over at Savine, who was staring at him from the dock, hands gripping its rail. “His adopted daughter, pay for his crimes in his absence. What a withered shit! What a crippled coward! What a two-bit tyrant!”

Cheers and laughter at each insult, and Orso glanced at Tunny, just in passing. The ex-standard-bearer had the ghost of a smile, still turning that one finger around and around. Drag it out. Drag it out. Orso took a huge breath.

“Yes, good Citizens and Citizenesses, His Eminence Arch Lector Glokta was a specimen as morally as he was physically repugnant. But he did not ruin the Union alone! He did not bring us to the dire pass in which we now find ourselves without a willing patsy to warm the throne while he worked. Pray allow me to make an introduction to my noble father, King Jezal the First!”