The nine names were read before any amount of money.
Iven stood with his hands loose at his sides and listened to them in the order the families had chosen. Leda Pell came fourth. A clerk turned a page after the last name, but nobody in the room moved until the chair asked them to sit.
Day three hundred and ninety had arrived without becoming something he could prepare for by working harder the night before.
He had slept. He had eaten. He had brought the statements he had been asked to bring.
There was nothing useful left to do to his coat.
Magistrate Eres sat between the claims assessor and a registrar appointed to keep the families’ separate directions. The findings from the earlier inquiry lay on the table, closed. No witness had been summoned to prove the signature again. The room already knew what he had signed.
Marit sat on the other side with the direction for her own claim folded beneath one hand. Asa was two seats farther along. Her mother’s chosen representative sat beside her, carrying a written instruction that did not include permission for a meeting with Iven.
Col had sent his directions through the registrar.
