Iorich Read Online Free PDF Page A

was lower and the lighting not so good. Here, unlike in the rest of the House, there were names over the doors. I wondered if somehow having your name over the door meant you were less important. In any case, it helped me find the right one.
    I clapped and waited. After a while, I clapped again. I still heard nothing, but the door opened a little and a pair of odd violet eyes were peering at me, then at Loiosh and Rocza, then at me.
    “Yes?” he said, or rather squeaked. His voice was high-pitched and small; I couldn’t imagine him arguing before the Court. I mean, do you want the Justicer laughing at your advocate? Well, I don’t know, maybe that would help.
    “May I come in?”
    He opened the door a bit more. He was only a little taller than Aliera, who was only a little taller than me. His shoulders were broad, and for a Dragaeran he’d have been called stocky. His dress was casual, to the point where the laces on his doublet were only loosely tied and his gloves were unevenly hanging on his belt. For an Iorich, that’s casual, okay? He said, “An Easterner. If you’re here on your own behalf, or one of your countrymen, I’ve never done anything with the Separation Laws, though I’ve looked through them of course.”
    The office behind him was tiny and square, mostly taken up by a wooden desk that looked old and well-used; it had grooves and scratches here and there, and it just barely left room for a couple of chairs that were ugly and metal. There were white spaces on the wall where some pictures or something had once hung, and there was some sort of framed official document hanging prominently above and behind his chair. I said, “You were recommended to me by Lady Ardwena. My name is Vladimir Taltos. I’m here on behalf of Aliera e’Kieron.”
    “Oh. Come in, then.” He stepped out of my way. He looked at Loiosh and Rocza again. “Interesting pets you have.”
    “Thank him for me, Boss. I always love hearing my pets complimented.”
    I ignored Loiosh and stepped inside. “New office for you?” I said.
    He nodded. “Just recently permitted into the House from an outside office.” Then he stopped halfway into his chair. “How did you know that?”
    He sat behind the desk. I sat in one of the chairs. It was ugly, but at least it was uncomfortable. “Aliera,” I prompted.
    “Lady Ardwena for Aliera e’Kieron,” he repeated. “That’s an interesting juxtaposition. But then, I think I’ve heard of you.”
    I made a sort of noise that could mean anything and let him talk. All the advocates I’ve ever met are perfectly willing to talk from Homeday to Northport. The best of them are willing to listen, too.
    He nodded as if to some inner voice. “You have paperwork?”
    “None,” I said.
    “Oh. Are you registered as a friend?”
    “Yes, but not confirmed.”
    “Hmmm,” he said. “She doesn’t want to see her friends, and doesn’t want an advocate.”
    “Well, you know Dragonlords.”
    “Not many, not well. I’ve never had one as a client.”
    “Dragonlords think there are two ways to solve any problem, and the first is killing somebody.”
    He nodded. “The second?”
    “Most of them never need to come up with one.”
    He folded his arms and sat back. “Tough situation,” he said. “Do you have money?”
    “Yes.”
    He named a figure that was a substantial percentage of what I used to charge to kill someone. I borrowed his pen and ink and blotter and I wrote out a draft on my bank and passed it over. He studied it carefully, blew on it, then set it aside and nodded.
    “Where can you be reached?”
    “Castle Black.”
    “I know the place,” he said. He steepled his fingers andstared at nothing for a bit. “Am I correct that you don’t know why she refuses an advocate or to see anyone?”
    “I can speculate,” I said, “knowing Aliera.”
    “She’s outraged, offended, and more full of pride than her father was before he destroyed the world?”
    “Oh, you know