"There is a rare spell, Valia Wain, that grants a man faculty in a language, including in reading it, even if he cannot read. I have arranged to have it cast on you, now, so that you can read, and sign, the confession that we have prepared for you."

"I thought you were going to negotiate that with my lawyer."

"We are discussing with your lawyer the situation of your co-conspirators. Accepting responsibility for your crimes will help them."

"I don't believe you."

"If you believe that you have been treated unfairly, or unlawfully, you can now write - and I will convey - your complaint directly to the Queen. But I think, Valia Wain, that you have been treated very fairly, and very lawfully; that you called on the people of this city to take up arms against Evildoers, and hundreds of them died for it, and that you have been asked only to assume responsibility for what you did, and offered only that if you accept responsibility we will deal more leniently with your co-conspirators, mindful of your primary guilt. We write that in the confession, too, so the state cannot later retreat on any assurances it has made you, and so that no one can say you were tortured, or falsely promised mercy - they'll say that anyway. But the document will be the truth of the matter, for people who know the workings of a Lawful Good state. We can put it down in writing right now, that you have accepted full responsibility for the riots in the hope that the Queen will deal more leniently with every other party to them." She starts to write.

Valia is confused, and scared, and angry. "Can I ask anyone for advice, in this? Friends of mine who can read?"

A scornful glare. "It is not the custom of Her Majesty's government that all criminals be surrounded for interrogation by their friends who can encourage them in obstinacy or in treason, no. We will give you a copy of your confession, so you can review it with them afterwards if you'd like."

"I see."

"I understand that it is a difficult and frightening thing, to admit one's guilt. It speaks well of you, that what has moved you when we spoke is your loyalty to the Queen and to the people who mistakenly relied on you. I have seen many such cases, and I hope it brings you some small comfort - they usually feel better, when the confession is done. By repentance we free our soul of our sins; you are a murderer, but you won't go before the Judge as one."

"I, uh, still can't read this."

She's not lying, either. She takes a second to focus on Wain's thoughts, and then - "Huh. Iset, can you get the prisoner some eyeglasses?"