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I saw Avila’s back stiffen and Temar shifted in his seat. Camarl laid a silencing hand on his arm.
The redheaded man nodded to the first advocate. “You may proceed.” The others all took seats at the tables with their respective teams of clerks and the justiciar disappeared below us.
“May Raeponin hold me to my oath.” The hook-nosed advocate took a calm breath. “I’m here to present the arguments of Den Ra
He turned with a smile to the next advocate who stepped up to his lectern, one hand smoothing his close-trimmed beard. “May Raeponin hold me to my oath. I argue for Tor Priminale in the Name of Den Fellaemion, now subsumed into that House. Messire Haffrein Den Fellaemion was first discoverer of Kellarin, in voyages backed by Nemith the Seafarer. He was the instigator of the colony, its leader and guide, and at the last died in its defence. The House of Tor Priminale begs leave to claim its rights and complete the work of so illustrious an ancestor in opening up this new land and making best use of its resources, in open cooperation with Den Ra
The Sieur and Camarl exchanged a look of mild interest at the revelation that Den Ra
The next advocate was on his feet almost before Tor Priminale’s man had stopped speaking. “May Raeponin hold me to my oath.” He straightened the fronts of his gown nervously. “I speak for Den Muret, by reason of the great number of tenants of that House who travelled to the Kellarin colony. Their work and the rights due Den Muret in consequence should be recognised.”
He sat down quickly, taking the next man by surprise. I tried to see Camarl’s face out of the corner of my eye, but Temar was in the way. Everyone was sitting motionless, all attention fixed on the court, the gallery silent as a shrine at midnight. I looked at Den Muret’s man and recalled Mistal saying they wouldn’t bring suit until they knew Tor Priminale was successful. Now Den Domesin had a man on his feet, arguing for rights in Kellarin by virtue of ancient investment. What reason did they have to be confident?
Temar was shifting in his seat again, his indignation plain to see. As I glanced sideways, I saw the Demoiselle Den Murivance watching him with speculative hazel eyes above the fan hiding her mouth as she whispered to her companion.
“May Raeponin hold me to my oath.” Down in the court a tall advocate with hair and face as greyly neutral as his robes spoke briskly to the impassive screen. “I argue for Tor Alder that ancestral rights over inherited properties be respected. Those properties were conveyed to that House by bequest from the last Sieur D’Alse
So they weren’t going to argue D’Alse
“May Raeponin hold me to my oath.” A stout lawyer with an unhealthily high colour was stepping forward, leaning on his lectern with the air of a man settling in for a long stay. “I am here as a friend of the court.” Even Messire couldn’t restrain a start at that and a hiss of surprise ran round the gallery.
“What does that mean?” Temar whispered urgently.
“It means we don’t know who’s behind him,” I answered softly. Camarl leaned forward, face a mask to hide his anger.
“I am here as a friend of the court,” the advocate repeated as the noise subsided into expectant silence. “I am here to argue that the House of D’Olbriot has acted with grievous bad faith ill befitting such an ancient and illustrious Name. When scholars of the House realised the fabled colony of Nemith the Last was reality rather than myth, the Name did not share the opportunities becoming apparent. D’Olbriot has sought to keep all to itself, to its sole advantage and enrichment. Rather than seek help from the other Houses of the Empire in crossing the ocean, D’Olbriot turned to the wizards of Hadrumal. D’Olbriot has further invited them into the counsels of the House, even giving one house room.” The advocate paused to accommodate a hint of amusement from the gallery at his little sally. “Rumour has it that marriage with a wizard is even now being contemplated by someone within D’Olbriot walls, though not, at least, by someone of the D’Olbriot Name.
“But let us not speak of rumour,” he continued smoothly after pausing just long enough for everyone to look at Temar, who was plainly outraged. “This court is only concerned with facts. It is a fact that now that the remnants of Kellarin’s colony have been unearthed D’Olbriot continues to be the only link across the ocean. Whatever information is so vital to making such a voyage remains locked behind D’Olbriot lips. Just as the only living claimant to D’Alse
The advocate turned his back on the dais momentarily to glance up at the rearmost gallery, where the merchants were listening with interest.
“Even if Kellarin has only a fifth the riches of tradition, it is most assuredly a wealthy land. We don’t even know how far it extends, what resources might be found over its distant horizons. Small wonder that the House of D’Olbriot covets it all. But all the wealth of Kellarin pales into insignificance when we consider other advantages that might accrue to D’Olbriot as a result of this exclusive association with D’Alse
“Esquire D’Alse