and he took them. They stood for a moment in formal family greeting.
“You have strayed from harmony, brother. The law is not pleased.”
He nodded. “I know it. I must say that my behaviour in here has not been particularly admirable.”
“Not everyone has fine moments. I wish that I could take you home with me now, but there is too much to be dealt with. Sadly, your relapse has done some damage to your reputation. I will see what I can do for the Librin family name. Stay here, and I will return when I can.”
The entire conversation occurred with her holding his hands. What neither he nor the guards noticed was the invisible mist climbing up his arms and wrapping around him like a transparent glove.
She inclined her head and smiled. “Be well, and take care of your wardrobe. It is the only one you will have in here. Neat matters.”
“Yes, sister. I will follow your direction in this. I know you have my best interests at heart.”
“I truly do. Now, take care of yourself.” She squeezed his hands and left him, stepping across the barrier a moment before the cell wall returned.
She thanked the guard and returned the way she had come.
Mistress Librin stopped next to Master Rimka. “I have visited with him, and he is unkempt but intact.”
“That is comforting news.” He rose to his feet with lazy elegance. “What will we do now?”
“I will speak with the clerk and determine our options.”
He was at her side as they walked through the archway and returned to the clerk’s desk.
Mistress Librin began the world’s most polite negotiation that eventually got her in touch with the prosecutor.
Master Rimka remained at her side, silent and protective. When she spoke to the prosecutor about her brother’s past, he checked the file. “Excuse me. No one mentioned that he had occasional flares of instability.”
Mistress Librin inclined her head. “He was trapped in a cave-in when we were children, and the healers and psychics were unable to completely supress the flashes of emotion.”
“Pardon me for my rudeness, but why was this file sealed until now?”
She didn’t know how a Kremall blushed, so she simply ducked her head. “It was a matter of embarrassment for my parents. As soon as I knew that there was an issue, I released the file.”
The prosecutor nodded sympathetically. “Your actions might save his life.”
She inclined her head. “So I was led to believe. Thank you for hearing me.”
“It was not difficult to listen to you, Mistress Librin. Your voice is like the cascade of music.”
Master Rimka made a small noise and the prosecutor blinked in surprise.
“And that was insensitive of me. Pardon me, mistress, master. I will be in contact with you as swiftly as I am able.”
Master Rimka handed him the contact card, and they took their leave in a painfully formal way.
When they finally made it to the open air, she took a deep breath and exhaled. It was the only stress outlet that she had.
“Mistress, where shall we go for lunch?”
They slowly walked the streets near the legal centre, and when they found a shop that did not require reservations, they went inside.
Seated across from each other, they went through three courses before Rimka excused himself and exited the restaurant.
In a few minutes, he returned. “The prosecutor is going to hand him over to you at the close of business today. The paperwork is being processed.”
She had to keep to her character. “That is very kind of him.”
“The historical files had a great impact on the judge. He will allow you to take him home for additional therapy.”
She smiled slightly and inclined her head. “It is wonderful to hear.”
“The best news I have heard all day.”
They ate the rest of their meal in companionable silence. Five hours of walking around the town and looking into shops later, they were back at the law building, and she was signing Master Librin into her custody.
As if he was indeed a traumatized
Tamara Thorne, Alistair Cross