Page 86 of Bonded To The Arena Master

Beatrix turns one page.

"For eleven months, Korgath's household received sealed loads from off-world smugglers using the eastern platforms. The loads entered under temporary marks belonging to three minor houses. None appears in the public trade registry. All appear in the quartermaster's duplicate tallies."

She points to a sequence of symbols.

"This mark belongs to an off-world trader who sells unregistered metals and restricted Soz'garoth casting crystal. This one belongs to the intermediary who transfers payment beyond Galmoleth. The final mark records receipt inside Korgath's spire."

A Soz'garoth Matron leans toward the ledger.

"Restricted crystal?" she asks.

"Nine sealed measures," Beatrix says. "Purchased outside approved summoning channels and concealed beneath declared metallic seed stock."

"You cannot prove the contents of a sealed load," Korgath says.

Beatrix lifts a narrow piece of metal from the ledger pocket.

"The eastern receiving workers use these impression strips beneath loaded crates. Weight and residue press into the metal. A crystal broker compared this strip with registered casting crystal from the same trader. His seal is here."

She indicates the final mark without handing the evidence to Korgath.

The nearest attendant carries it to the Matrons.

I remain beside Beatrix.

Every instinct trained in the arena urges me to press the opening, name Korgath an honorless cheat, and force him to defend himself before the court. This is Beatrix's attack. My strength serves it by holding position.

Korgath's red eye turns toward me.

I grant him no rescue from her questions.

Beatrix opens the second section.

"Smuggling protected his declining house from debts it could not pay publicly," she says. "It also supplied the funds for his purity campaign."

Three account strips lie across the page.

"These belong to minor lords who supported Korgath's demand for a hearing. Each carried debt through the neutral market. All three debts were settled within six days of Korgath receiving an unregistered off-world load."

One Volvath rises in the lower gallery.

"My accounts are private."

"Your creditor disagreed after receiving two ducats and a promise of vespid remedy," Beatrix says.

Laughter breaks from the Trolvor tiers.

The lord bares his teeth. "A human bought my records?"

"A merchant sold proof that you sold your judgment."

The laughter ends in a harsher sound of approval.

Beatrix turns another page.

"The first payment was entered as bridge repair. No bridge was repaired. The second was called guard provision, though the receiving house reported no new supplies. The third passed through a Soz'garoth broker and returned as cleared market debt."

She traces each route with one sturdy finger.