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He looked severe "Mysire Rechtor to me you must say, mysire, each time you speak"

"Excuse it, please, Mysire Rechtor I aed citizen, Mysire Rechtor? Or does this law you describe apply to everyone?"

"The protection of all it is, hter, my son, and myself, Mysire Rechtor? Are we protected, too? Or does your law protect only your own citizens?"

"All it protects This I say, mysire, and this so is"

"Then I protest on behalf ofheld by your order, and she had nothing to with restraining Nat-e soon released, by the way"

"By the law held she is, mysire The law, the law cannot break" He addressed the troopers "Mysire Horn's daughter, Meren Jahlee Why not toher you are?"

One ca she is, Mysire Rechtor"

"Her you wake"

There was a whispered consultation; I took advantage of the tiuns I took to be legerh their unifore Haen, and h no wealthy man in the Viron I knew as a boy would have been impressed by it Its floors of waxed as se's desk not quite conte on the crudely paneled walls; heavy chairs and glass-fronted cabinets containing rusted knives and swords, and split and polished stones, cos

"Mysire Horn!" Hahter presently we see Likewise Mysire Hide, who stands accused with you"

"Unjustly He is my son and merely did what I told him"

"This he and you later must say How you plead I must know, and not how Mysire Hide will, or this Meren Jahlee whose sleep brave men dare not disturb Our laws you do not know,you must answer"

"No, Mysire Rechtor I do not"

"Such criminals as you, Mysire Horn, three choices have Innocent you may plead If this you say, your innocence by your own speech and your witnesses you must to me prove"

"I would be free to speak then, Mysire Rechtor?"

"This I have said, uilty you plead, alht sentence you argue"

"I believe I understand, Mysire Rechtor"

"Not pleading also you may choose If so you choose, a friend for you I shall appoint Then your guilt we must show, and he our witnesses may question For children and those who cannot speak this is done"

"You said that you would have to prove e"

"Your judge I a you are?"

I looked to Beroep for a hint, but he would not meet my eye I said, "I won't plead until my trial, Mysire Rechtor"

"Now plead you ain

"To htened, but I thought of Silk in the inn in Lih he had known that at the conclusion of any such trial he would be convicted and sentenced to die Gathering what courage I have, I said, "You are e, and I will speak to hie I aht to prosecute me in accordance with your laws, the laws of Dorp, about which I know nothing I claiht to defend myself by the only law I know, the law of reason Reason deiven the advice of someone who knows your law" I wanted to s and tried to, as I recall vividly "Someone friendly to my cause"

Silence descended on the sellaria, save for the shuffling of the leg- ermen's boots

"Is that all you have to say, Mysire Horn?"

I nodded my head

"To me aloud speak!"

I shook it and waited for the blow from behind I expected

"Mysire Beroep!"

He stepped forward and said, "Yes, Mysire Rechtor," with a slight tre how ers twitch as he endeavored to count on the so I said, "For eight days, Judge Ha you are"

"No, Haermen, who positioned himself behind me with his hand over my ht it is?"

Beroep cleared his throat "Only six counting I am, Mysire Rechtor"

There was an interruption as Hide was hustled in, followed by Vadsig and a e Haerman's hand down and said as loudly as I could, "No!"

"What this is you saying are, erman had his hand over my mouth and an arm around my neck; I could not speak

"Mysire," Hamer pointed to Hide, "your name we must have"

"My name is Hoof," Hide told hiain you answer"

"Yes, Mysire Rechtor"

Hamer's eyes rolled upward; I felt sure that like ods "To this court your naed man said, "Hide it is, Mysire Rechtor In -"

Ha I am, mysire!"

Hide said, "My name is Hoof"

"Hide not it is?"

I saw Hide's eyes steal toward e Ha rather shrilly, "Hide ale calling him are, Mysire Rechtor"

Her husband snapped, "Silent you be, Versregal!"

"To your house confined he is, Mysire Strik?"

Hide said, "I am, but my brother isn't"

"Mysire Hide your brother is?"

Hide nodded, and one of the troopers stepped up behind hie Hamer loudly youstepped forward, eyes blazing "Not knowing he is! No crime he does! Why him you abuse? What justice this is?" And much more of the same-too much for me to record here even if I recalled it When Haen's house, he had her gagged and tied to a chair

"Mysire Hide This Mysire Horn's son you are?"

"My name isn't Hide," Hide explained "My naed places We used to do it all the time ere smaller to fool our father He couldn't tell us apart"

"Mysire-"