He opened his mouth.
Something thudded outside the office, followed by the sound of raised voices.
“Just one question before we begin,” I said. “Am I charged with a crime?”
He unhinged his jaws. “Not yet.”
The commotion got louder and closer.
“Am I being detained?”
“Not exactly.”
“If not, am I free to leave?”
Welcome to twenty-first-century police-encounter protocol.
“Just a moment.” He turned toward the door.
“If I am being detained, I request the services of a law scribe.”
“Hold that thought.” Jehan rose, stepped outside, and shut the door behind him.
Behind me Clover snickered.
A deep male voice roared something in the distance. I couldn’t quite make it out, but it might have been “Where?” Whoever he was, he sounded pissed. Rhythmic thuds drew closer. Somebody was coming down the hallway in heavy boots.
The door flew open, and Lord Bellen marched into the room, enormous in full Defender armor, with a huge sword on his hip and a white Defender cloak billowing behind him. His helmet was off, and his blond hair looked slightly tousled.
Bellen saw me. His blue eyes lit up.
“Lady Maggie! There you are.”
“Lord Bellen! Did they drag you in here, too?”
“Not at all.”
Behind Bellen, two more Defender Knights in full armor shouldered their way into Jehan’s office, one dark haired with olive skin, and the other with ash-blond hair and the kind of complexion that guaranteed a sunburn in thirty seconds. The Knight Captain was the last one through the door.
“What is the meaning of this?” Bellen roared at him.
Jehan raised his chin, clearly not willing to be intimidated in his own office. “We received a report that this woman—”
Bellen glared at him.
“—this noblewoman is conducting business without a permit.”
Bellen glanced at me.
“Is this about the soap?” I did my best to sound shocked.
“What soap, my lady?” Bellen asked.
“I make perfumed soap for my family, and an acquaintance asked me to sell her some.”
Bellen flicked his fingers. The dark-haired knight took a step forward. “I am Sir Owyn, Baron Ragvart, Senior Law Scribe of the Defender Order. Am I to understand, Knight Captain, that you sent guards to a noblewoman’s home, removed her from her abode, brought her, under guard, here, to your office, detained her, and questioned her without cause because she didn’t file for a trader permit? Is that correct?”
Oh wow. Bellen had brought lawyer support.
