Prince Ruvan entered the Hall of Lanterns with six lawyers at his back and a tragic smile.
Nobles packed the benches shoulder to shoulder, fans snapping like startled birds as the lawyers filed past in grey robes. Didi stood at the foot of the dais in court silk, her gloved palm throbbing in time with her pulse.
'Do not look at the glove. Do not look at him.'
He walked the aisle at a leisurely pace, nodding to nobles like a host greeting guests. Along the way Didi edged toward the Baron, close enough to speak without moving her lips.
She spoke from the corner of her mouth, "You should not have brought her here, they will tear her apart."
"She would have been alone in a strange house on her second night," Hajin murmured, "I wasn't doing that."
"Then at least keep her hood up... and your own head down."
"She picked the hood herself, I just hold the cloak."
His eyes dropped to her gloved hand, then rose again to her face, a silent question.
"How's the hand?" he asked.
