That’s me,’ said the man at the back, with the splinters in his forehead. ‘We were talking when the savage burst in. I tried to remonstrate, but he grabbed me and sent me flying into the shutters. I went straight through. Luckily there was a canopy under the window, which broke my fall.’ He sighed. ‘Bet he didn’t know about the canopy,’ he said. ‘Strong canvas, luckily. Well made. Didn’t even tear.’
‘It is not even remotely possible that I could care less about the canopy,’ said Oranus, leaning forward and pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘Did you know the tribesman?’ he asked the whore.
‘He enjoyed my company some time earlier,’ she said coyly.
‘Which is when she stole my pouch of gold,’ said the prisoner, in passably good Turgon.
‘What a liar he is,’ said the woman, her voice full of outrage. ‘Has it come to this, that a businesswoman can be maligned in the office of the Law?’ She smiled sweetly at Oranus. ‘I could help you with that headache, sir.’
‘That’s just what I need,’ snapped Oranus. ‘A headache – and a dose of pox. You!’ He pointed to the pimp, Nestar, a thickset man, with short, greasy black hair. His nose was swollen and bloody, his right eye almost closed. ‘How did you come into this?’
‘I was downstairs and I heard Roxy cry out. I took up my cudgel and ran up the stairs. When I stepped into the doorway he came at me, and butted me. I fell back down the stairs. That’s when he robbed Roxy of our savings,’ he said, casting a murderous glance at the whore. ‘He came down the stairs and I yelled out to my men to stop him. I say “my men”, but they’re not any more, sir. A more useless pair would be hard to find. He swatted them like they were flies and walked out into the street. I mean, to look at them you’d think they were tough. Big hands, strapping shoulders. Fooled me, though. He treated them like the farm boys they are.’
‘That’s not fair,’ said one of the men. ‘He took us by surprise.’
‘You’re paid not to be surprised, donkey-brain!’
Oranus slammed the flat of his hand on to the table, the noise making them jump. He lifted his hand, holding his index finger a hair’s breadth from his thumb. ‘I am this close to locking you all in for the rest of the day and for tonight,’ he said. ‘Now will you continue with your story, and hopefully finish it before year’s end?’
Nestar nodded. ‘I’m sorry, sir. Anyway, after swatting these imbeciles he ran out into the street, where happily several soldiers of the Watch were on hand. They grabbed him. I think you’ll find he lashed out at them, too, sir. That’s what comes of allowing these barbarians into a civilized township, if you don’t mind me saying.’
‘I do mind you saying,’ said Oranus. He rose from his chair and swung to the prisoner, who was sitting on a cot bed within the cell. Oranus looked into the man’s eyes, and felt suddenly cold. Memories of the past almost overwhelmed him, and his hands began to tremble. Fighting for control he took a deep breath. ‘What have you to say?’ he asked the prisoner. The man stood and stared through the wooden bars at the assembled group.
‘The woman says I stole her money. Then I ran from the building and was grabbed by your soldiers. Is this correct?’
‘That would seem to be their evidence,’ said Oranus. ‘Your point is . . . ?’
‘Ask her how much was in the pouch.’
‘You heard him,’ said Oranus. ‘How much was there?’
‘Oh, around twenty-five gold coins,’ she said. ‘Maybe thirty. I don’t recall exactly.’
‘There are thirty-two gold coins, three half silvers and five copper,’ said the prisoner coolly. ‘And doesn’t it seem remarkable that I had time to count them all, while running down the stairs and into the street?’
‘Aye, remarkable,’ said Oranus, turning a cold stare to the whore. ‘So you stole his pouch. That’s a flogging offence, Roxy. Fifty lashes.’
‘You going to take his word over that of a tax-paying businesswoman?’ she shouted, her eyes fearful.