cellency."

"I'm new to Royal circles, Matthew--is it usual for members of His
Majesty's Household to have households of their own?"

"No, Excellency." Brady paused, looking uncomfortable. "With all due
respect to the Inquisitor-Colonel, she is the only one whose position
makes it desirable. The rest live in the Palace itself."

Cortin had gotten used to an Inquisitor's normal isolation, but she
hadn't expected it to be this extreme. It was fine with her, though;
she'd rather have her own place. "I gather I won't be expected to do
much entertaining or go to many parties, then."

"No, Excellency, though you will of course receive all the usual
invitations. The only functions you will actually be expected to
appear at will be ones hosted by His Majesty, and you are free to miss
those if you are in the midst of an interrogation. He has instructed
me to inform you that your work is to take priority over anything else,
and that you are to contact him personally at any time if you believe
you have obtained valuable information."

"I'm not to report to him, then?" Cortin was both relieved and a
little disappointed at that.

"Not immediately, Excellency; as I said, your work is to take priority,
and there are four prisoners in the holding cells awaiting the
attentions of the High King's Inquisitor."

Cortin smiled, changing her plans for the evening's entertainment. "In
that case, I'll pass on the rest of the tour for now. Captain Odeon,
would you do me a favor?"

Odeon nodded, grinning. "Call Major Illyanov and tell him no guests
tonight, right?"

"Right, then join me downstairs." She thought for a moment, then asked
Brady, "What shape are they in?"

"Untouched, to the best of my knowledge, Excellency."

Four, and none softened up. Cortin nodded to herself, pleased, then
asked, "What's the setup like down there? Colonel Bradford said one
state-of-the-art suite, other conventional ones."

"Yes, Excellency. There are five complete interrogation suites, though
only Suite Alpha--yours, of course--has the highly sophisticated
equipment."

"Thank you." Cortin turned to Chang. "Lieutenant, would you ask
Lieutenant Bain to join me after supper?" When she agreed, Cortin
turned back to Brady. "Let's go."

Someone with a sense of humor she appreciated had posted signs in the
prisoners' passage showing the way to the dungeon, and one over its
door quoting the ancient poet Dante: "Abandon hope, all ye w