The guards check her name and let her in, and a woman with a strong family resemblance to Jilia walks in to greet her.

"Barrister Cornellà, welcome. The Archduchess isn't quite back yet, but she will be soon. Please, come in and have a seat. Can I get you anything while you wait?"

"Water is always Welcome, and my Thanks; am I Incorrectly Presumptuous in guessing that you are Lady Sofia?"

"Indeed I am; I manage many of my cousin's affairs when she is as terribly busy as this week. It was a pleasure to receive your letter."

This is pleasing to Lluïsa, who writes those letters in the vain hope they'll be read.

"I hope Kintargo fares well. Being absent even with Good Cause seems as though it must be Quite Trying."

"We have good people to delegate to; an advantage most of the new high nobility seem to unfortunately lack. But yes, it's trying; my lady Archduchess intends to visit on Sundays to stabilize it, I believe. Have you had other responsibilities you had to set aside for the convention?"

"It is not at all trivial to place my Individual Practice in the Balance against Convention Work. On the whole I feel largely Optimism that Diligent Effort will carry the Year for Both, but it may not necessarily carry each Individual Day."

Having slightly better personal finances does make work a lot easier, it turns out.

"Well, I hope that balance continues to be reachable in your favor." She cocks an ear. "Ah, I think I hear another arrival; that will be Her Grace."

There's a bustle of several people in the front hallway, speaking in low but rapid voices.

The strange thing about worrying about the outsider you left back at the office is that it makes it easy to be relaxed here. She'll stand to greet whoever enters, presumably the Archduchess.

And indeed, the archduchess appears. She's still handing her coat to an aide.

"Ah, Barrister, good to see you. I apologize for the delay, but self-appointed work is never done. If you'll allow me a moment?" She barely pauses. "Sofia, here's my notes from the streets; handle initial planning, please. Anything so urgent I need to delay this conversation?" A perceptive person may notice that's not the real question she's asking.

"None, Your Grace. I'll see it done. A pleasure, Barrister."

"Likewise, Lady Sofia." Nod.

A lawyer who has cobbled together some perceptiveness out of cognitive spare parts is pleased to not be screened out before the meeting even begins.

That's only about half-right but she's up against an expert here.

Someone brings in a chilled pitcher of water and one of small beer. Jilia offers a handshake.

"So, how did you come to represent Select Wain?"

Pleased handshake.

"I sought it... rather, I did not seek out the Representation precisely. I offered in a Letter to Select Wain that I, thinking her Speech within the bounds of such Law as is in Force, would not see her go Undefended. Though at the Time of Writing I had assumed a Lawyer of her Church, or of Lastwall, would be given the Task. I feel, though I have not Confirmed the Basis of such feeling, that I have labored under some Misapprehensions as to the workings of Iomedae's Church and Her Country. For instance no Iomedaean has sought me out for Coordination in Common Interest."

"I understand them to be badly understrength for the duties they are undertaking; the Worldwound is closed but not yet solved and they now hold it alone, Tar-Baphon is at elevated risk of release, they're supporting an attack on Razmiran, and many of Lastwall's people retired to join the Glorious Reclamation for the war and have not returned. And very few new Select have been empowered in the last year, which is why we had only two attending the convention."

"The going Rumor is that Iomedae spent much power in Slaying the Prince of Hell, though I expect I would have heard from a Reliable Source rather than Rumor, were this truly the Case. Though I have not Asked Directly and now, thinking of it, I shall when I return to my Office; my Consultant on Select Wain's case is of Heaven and would know surely."

"I've heard the same rumors. I suppose there's probably some grains of truth in it somewhere, but I certainly don't know what or which. I hope your... consultant - is helpful. And that I can be as well."

"I do so Believe. I would first wish to hear your own Personal Impressions from the Floor that day, as Select Wain gave her speech."

"Hmm. So, it was clear to me very quickly that what she was saying was going to cause unrest. I didn't expect it nearly so soon or so severely, but it was clearly going to inflame many people who knew little about what Iomedae wanted of them and thought of Her as having all the authority given to Asmodeus in the old regime. And it was also clear that she didn't understand that; that she was expecting Pezzack again, where the enemies were obvious and there was, as I understand it, comparatively little freelance vengeance. And so I spoke to divert the momentum of her speech, in the first way I could think of."

"I confess that I felt Ill at Ease as well. It did not seem that your Answer was the right Lever to move Select Wain but still I am glad it was made. Had the Circumstances not moved so rapidly towards Disaster you might be Heartened to hear that others shortly thereafter Counselled her Efficaciously and had said Disaster not already been in Motion it would have been Averted there."

"However Ill-Considered that Speech, however, as a matter of Law it was not Unlawful to give. I noted no Objection on those grounds in your own Reply; nor from the President who I might have supposed had the Duty to raise such. Being a Lord Mayor and well Attuned to the Peace of a City you noted its Inflammatory Tendencies, but did you contemplate its Compliance with the Queen's Law?"

"It wasn't my first thought, particularly as the Queen's law is fairly limited in extent as of yet. I also am more accustomed to arguing with revolutionaries who are decidedly Chaotic and would not consider 'that's illegal' a strong argument. But I agree, it did not violate Her Majesty's decrees, and it did seem to be avoiding breaking the letter by a quite reasonable margin and the spirit by a narrower one. If you listened to what she was saying and assumed she meant only what she said."

"Such is the Crux of my Case. You are I presume familiar with the so-named 'Friend of the True People'? I know not his Source for the Plagiarism of Select Wain's Speech; at any rate she did not Direct its Publication outside the Hall. I do mean to pursue at least a Finding of Law that his actions are Defamation; I have no desire to Impoverish any Heirs or Assigns he may leave but if there are any Profits of Publication to be seized I may pursue those Alone. Though all such can do to bolster this Case is that I may Truthfully say I intend to pursue it."

"Bernat Vidal-Espinoza, yes. That sound like an accurate charge to me, though I can't say I know what the standards for defamation are at present. He certainly multiplied the damage manyfold and sped it to the point where those like myself couldn't get out ahead and calm people down. Had it not been for him... it doesn't matter. It's done." May his soul find more rest than he earned.

"Perhaps Iomedae would have such a Case as well, or her Church. Though they have Reputations older and broader and less Damaged by a Single Instance. I apologize, I have Strayed from the Topic."

"My Narrative of Events is in brief the Following; that Select Wain composed a Speech all the while giving Attention to the Royal Decrees in order that it remain within the Law; that many were Alarmed and sought to Caution her, not as pertains to Law but simply in Prudence; that Select Wain lacking any Guilty Mind with desire to Incite Riots was attentive to such Concerns; that, Entirely Unknown to her, Other Forces caused her Words to be brought outside the Hall and made subject to Vile Plagiarism by a true Inciter; that ignorant of such Schemes, Select Wain when she at last Departed the Hall found a City in Violence and set to use of Healing Magic.

"I have need of Bolstering Evidence for each point; you who sought wisely to Give Caution but did not note Lawbreaking are able to provide Affidavit or Testimony regarding such and it is that which I would ask of you."

"That sounds reasonable and I would be pleased to attest to it in writing."

"Then I would likewise be Pleased to Witness such an Affidavit as you see fit to Write."

"Very well."

I believed at the time of Select Wain's speech to the floor, and still do, that what she said was unwise and dangerous, but I did not believe and still do not that it was malicious, criminal, or treasonous, or intended to incite criminality, unlawfulness, or treason. In my estimation as one familiar with riots and revolutionaries, she was dangerously inexperienced but acted to comply with the letter and spirit of Her Majesty's decrees, in a way that would likely have been sufficient in situations more similar to her past experience.

And therefore I challenged her speech on the floor myself but did not in any way accuse her of unlawful conduct, because that would have been a baseless accusation.

Jilia Bainilus, Lord Mayor of Kintargo and Archduchess of Ravounel

Is she really a Caydenite, as she alluded to on the floor? The beer is right there as evidence so she may well in fact be one, which is worth some serious reconsideration of that god and his domains. Lluïsa ponders this as she goes through the formalities of taking the oath and notarizing the statement, ending with an arcane mark.

"This is truly a Vast Help to the building of my Case, and I believe it will help along Justice. You certainly have my Great Thanks."

Riding the high of not having been killed by a wrathful archon (never mind that it can't fight while not fully called; outsiders have their ways), it's easy to do the next part.

"Though it risk Presumptuousness, I would ask a Professional Favor while I have your Ear, one which a Lord Mayor is best suited to Provide."

"I won't promise to grant it, but I will certainly consider it."

"I wish your Advice, and Letter of Introduction if you are willing, as to meeting with Lord Mayor Santcliment as regards the Obligations of my Firm. For although the Collection of Taxes has been Neglected somewhat this past Year I do not expect this to Continue, but this will plainly not obtain Forever; I would dislike to see my Firm shuttered due to Delinquency in the midst of Important Work, and would make Settlement of Taxes, renewal of Licenses, and the like a high Priority. But the Administration is quite Busy and I know not where to turn to see this Done Efficiently. As you are a Lord Mayor you would know well the Desires from that side of the Matter, of which I am Ignorant though I may speculate a little. In particular it is Irregular because the Center of the Profession is destroyed and may not serve as Intermediary."

"As you may have heard, he's postponing most inessential duties for the time being - just about everything except keeping order and rebuilding the city. But I'll speak to him when he's better recovered."

There's some scheme here, and Lluïsa wasn't the elected delegate for Westcrown, so Jilia doubts she's one of the principal partners of the firm. This is probably a takeover of some kind. But heck, if she does a decent job for Valia, that probably wouldn't be a terrible thing.

"I have heard various Rumors that he was Killed or Nearly Killed in the Unrest which cannot be a help to his Workload."

She lowers her voice a little, mostly to emphasize her words by speaking less harshly.

"In truth it is good that the Legal Profession of Westcrown lies shattered and if you have heard that it was Rife with the most Literal Devilry you have heard correctly. Since the fall of the Thrunes I have dealt only with Archons of Heaven and intend to continue in this Manner though I would not refrain from contemplating dealings with Axis, and a prospective Apprentice of mine has dealt with an Azata of Elysium though I am skeptical such is typically a useful Legal Worker; it was for the purpose of Personal Advice by my understanding. When I permit myself to feel Ambition beyond the work of the Convention it is that my Profession may come to have as strong an association with Heaven as it lately has with Hell. If you worry that I scheme my own Personal Advancement, there it is plain, but I hope you may be at Ease that I do not mean to Launder Evil through your name."

Being precomposed, this speech comes through more earnestly. It's a risk to bring up but a calculated one; of the two precomposed speeches this is the more convincing due to its honesty and clear through-line, meant for use if the Archduchess seems reasonably-or-less wary. (The other one, for use if the Archduchess is unreasonably wary, still contains no falsehoods but is meant to redirect away from herself back to the general topic of cities in disrepair.)

"He was nearly killed, yes, and he's a fine businessman for leading reconstruction but no adventurer, to be used to that kind of danger. And yes, that is roughly what I assumed, since the lawyers in Kintargo were almost without exception Mephistopheleans who regularly bound devils as advisors. If you want to rebuild your firm as an exemplar of Lawful Good jurisprudence, then I certainly wish you well in the endeavor, and axiomites will likely do you all good as well." If there is an 'all' in that 'you', but that's an easy white lie to cover apparent corruption. "I will recommend it to the Lord Mayor, when he has time to receive me." Or his successor, if he doesn't actually come back from Andoran, poor man.

"The 'aid' of Devils comes invariably with Greater Harm," she paraphrases something an archon said to her not long ago. "They are Well Repudiated. Thank you, Archduchess."

"Thank you, Barrister. I assume you need no escort home before the rains?"

"The Thought is Appreciated but I am as you Surmise quite Accustomed to traversing the City at All Hours. Moreover I carry an Umbrella against Rain."

She'll offer a handshake, which is presumptuous but might be the sort of presumptuous that is appreciated; it's a fairly low-stakes experiment.

She'll return it.

"Then I'll see you for the trial. Gods smile on you."

"And on you Likewise."

She'll show herself out, or allow herself to be shown out if any staff appear to do so; her mind is on the case for now.