Page 16 of The Tainted Cup

“I do wish to ask, ma’am,” I said.

“Yes, Din?”

“Well…previously all our cases were about pay fraud.”

“So?”

“So…should I expect anything different here?”

A flippant shrug. “Generally I find the main difference with murder cases is how loud they are. All the screaming, you see. But you should be prepared. There is a very high chance one of those three people you’re going to bring here participated in a murder. People under that sort of stress do all kinds of dumb shit. So you’ll want to be armed—bring your sword.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have a sword, ma’am,” I said.

“Youdon’t?” she said. “Why not?”

“I’m still in my apprenticeship to you.”

A stupefied pause. “Youare?”

“Yes? I’ve only been working for you for four months, ma’am. I don’t get imperial-issued arms until my apprenticeship is up.”

“Well…hell, I don’t know, bring a big fucking stick or something! Do I have to think of everything?”

“I can bring a practice sword, ma’am,” I said. “There’s no policy against that, and I’m quite familiar with the—”

“Yes, yes, yes,” she said, flapping her hand at me. “First in your class at dueling, you wouldn’t shut up about that when I interviewed you. Dothat,then. And search them before they come in. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” She returned to plucking at her wire contraption. “Good evening, then, Din.”

I stood at her doorway, still standing at attention.

“I saidgood evening,Din. But you appear to still be here.”

“It’s the thirtieth of Skalasi, ma’am,” I said. “End of the month.”

“Oh.” With a sigh, she stood. “Right. Yourdispensation.Where’s the form…” She ripped open a drawer, pulled out a piece of parchment, and hurriedly scribbled on it. “There. Another month’s good work noted. Dance off to the banks, then, and collect your pay.”

I bowed as I took it. “Thank you, ma’am.”

She returned to her contraption. “When the hell do I get to stop bothering with those damned forms, Din?”

“When I am no longer your apprentice and become your official assistant.”

“Oh, yes.” She laughed dully. “When yougraduate.As if climbing the Daretana bureaucracy was somehow special.”

I stood up straight, glaring ahead. She seemed to taste the change in my demeanor: she glanced at me, then sighed.

“Ohh, what is it?” she said. “What have I said now?”

“Itisspecial,” I said, “to me, ma’am.” I looked at her. “And to most of us here in this canton, who have joined the Iyalets to better our position.”

She paused. For once there was no hint of a grin playing at her lips.

“Ahh,” she said. “Well. Shit. In that case, Din, I…” Her jaw flexed, like she had to silently practice the word before saying it; and when she did, she said it grudgingly, like pulling a sour tooth. “Iapologize.”

“Understood, ma’am,” I said. “For what it’s worth, I do appreciate your being willingt—”