Stuart left to handle the sale of the Keeps items. Thorburn, Ailene and the guard who had found Màiri went looking for the Magistrate. He was an unctuous little man who made them wait for several minutes before seeing them.

"What are you here for?" he demanded when all three of them trooped into his office.

"We're reporting a crime, torture and murder," Thorburn replied. "Of a wee slip of a girl maid who used to be in our employ but was let go for thieving."

"If she was a thief, why do you care what happened to her?" The magistrate asked.

"Because no woman should have to go through...