Lord Cassian's rooms were familiar, of course, although they got lost twice on the way and ended up being guided by a surly servant who clearly thought his errand much more important than helping a strange lord. Miervaldis knocked twice at the left-hand door, the door to the personal suite of rooms, and it was opened immediately by a skinny maidservant. She stared at the floor and bobbed a curtsey.

"We're here to see Lord Cassian," Miervaldis told her, and she nodded and scurried away. They waited by the door.

"Oh, come in already!" came a loud, irritable voice. The maidservant came scuttling back and bobbed frantically, motioning them inside while still staring fixedly at the floor. "It's only the Emperor's trained dog come to check up on my doings last night." His voice echoed across the hallway, and through the open door behind them Alyn saw several heads turning to watch them go in. She winced. Miervaldis' back was rigid with what she thought was distaste. The room around them was rich, like the rest of Fifth Star Court, filled with plump sofas and chairs where a lazy lord might lie to watch the world go by through his windows - although at the moment the windows were hidden by velvet curtains. A tray lay on a small table, with crumbs on the plates. Had it been a late breakfast?

The maid led them on to a second room, much like the first but a bit smaller. Lord Cassian sat on a comfortable chair by a table, with a bottle and a glass by his hand. He was a tall, thin man with a deeply lined face and dark eyes, wearing clothes almost too rich for him. They made him look pasty and unhealthy, although perhaps, she thought, that was just him. He looked down his not-inconsiderable nose at them.

"Lord Merfaldis, right?" He went on without waiting for correction. "And you're here from the Emperor to clear my name? Or to accuse me, is that it?" He laughed rustily, then gestured to the little maidservant by the door. "Get out, Milly, this is none of your business." The maid bobbed hastily and withdrew, shutting the door behind her. Miervaldis moved slightly to position himself in front of Alyn.

"Lord Cassian," he said, and his voice was measured and quiet, in contrast to the bullying spite of the other man's, "I'm Lord Miervaldis of the Fourth Star Court, and I have come here at the behest of the Sun Court, concerning the death of your scribe, Jaquan. I'd like to ask you some questions, if I may."

"And if I say no?"

"Then I will withdraw, of course," said Miervaldis. He left unsaid what that would mean for Cassian. There was a pause, then Cassian made a loud, grumpy noise.

"Ask your questions, man, but be quick," he said, and took a long drink from the glass, then refilled it. He offered neither drink nor seat to Alyn's lord.

"What was the first you knew of the crime?"

"I was told about it by one of the maids. Screaming fit to burst, she was." He sneered.

"One of your maids, or one of the maids serving the Court?"

"Does it matter? One of mine, I think."

"And what time was this?"

"Early morning. Too early. I was hardly awake, and a damn fool girl came yelling than Jaquan had been murdered. Set them all off, it did."

"What did you do then?"

"I told them all to shut up, of course. But it was too late. I went to see, and there he was, with his head stove in and blood all over my desk and papers. I saw him as that little physicker was examining him."

"Did you know Jaquan well?"

"No. Why would I? He did his work, that's what matters. I don't care about the rest of it, that's his business."

"And where were you the night he was murdered?"

"That's none of your business," Cassian began, then hesitated. "Well, if you must know, I was in town. Then I came back and went to bed."

"What time did you return?"

"Midnight. Maybe. I went straight to bed, I didn't look next door. Slept until the screaming began."

"And with whom were you in town?"

"That's for me to know," Cassian snapped. "None of your business. I was out, and I didn't do it."

Lord Miervaldis regarded the unpleasant lord for a time, then nodded. "Thank you for your answers," he said. "I may have some more questions later."

"I may answer them," Cassian said, then he leered. "Send your pretty page to ask me, and I'll definitely answer."

Miervaldis turned, and Alyn saw on his face an expression of anger and revulsion. He pushed her towards the door and she went. Cassian's laughter followed them out.

Back in their own rooms, which they found without help but with some wandering, Miervaldis relaxed into a chair.

"Goodness, what an unpleasant man! I'm sorry to have pushed you out so suddenly, Alyn. I was a bit worried what might happen if we didn't get out of there."

"You thought he might have done something?"

"Not quite," but he didn't elaborate. Instead, he asked her about the gossip she'd overheard.

"Oh well, it wasn't much, really. Just, Bensen, you know, the cook's assistant, he reckoned it was something Lord Cassian might have done." It sounded pretty thin now she said it, but Miervaldis nodded, his expression thoughtful.

"Good," he said. "Tell me if you hear any more. We'll see the other scribes soon, and we should probably talk to the Court mage too. After that, well, we'll see. And you'll be at lessons." He grinned at her, and she pulled a grumpy face. Remembering Lord Cassian's manners, she was abruptly very glad of her easygoing lord. It could, she knew, have been much, much worse.