"Save your defense for the hearing," the mare said, gesturing to the bailiff.

The bailiff grabbed my upper arm in a grip that would no doubt leave bruises. Above my head, the cloud began to form.

"Your grace, please, we ask that you recognize the extenuating circumstances of this situation, and grant leniency." Theo sent the mare another sultry smile.

I'd really appreciate if you could stop doing that.

Saving your life, you mean?

No, sending her those wicked smiles.

Are you jealous?

Not in the least.

There was a pregnant pause during which Theo laughed into my head.

Oh, all right, perhaps a little, but it's justified. I know you're trying to get us out of this situation, but it…oh, never mind. Just get it over with.

"On what grounds do you ask for leniency?" the mare asked, thawing just a bit more under the influence of his smile.

The air grew thick, but not with static. I fought to control my anger, aware that it was triggering the ministorms around me. Once I got my emotions under control, everything would be fine.

I noticed the mare kept her eyes on Theo, not paying me much attention. It irritated me that he was using his masculine wiles to sway her almost as much as it irritated me that I was bothered by that in the first place.

The analytical part of my brain pointed out that I'd only known Theo a few days, and been intimate with him only one day, all of which hardly added up to deep insight into his nature. Oh, sure, we were talking about following the steps to a formal binding, but so far, that was just talk—we hadn't taken the last couple of steps. What if he never intended us to? What if we did, and I found out he was really a jerk? Perhaps he was one of those men who felt it acceptable to flirt with every female. Perhaps he was nothing more than a tomcat, on the prowl for the next conquest. Perhaps he didn't believe in things like fidelity and honor.

Perhaps I needed to stop worrying about Theo's intentions toward me, and cope instead with more important issues, like keeping myself out of heavenly prison.

What if he didn't love me?

The air grew cold around us.

"I ask that leniency be shown to Portia due to her inexperience with Court matters."

"Ignorance is not suitable grounds for clemency," the mare said, her voice turning icy as she looked at me.

"I am not ignorant," I answered, trying to tone down the indignation in my voice.

Tiny little pitter-patter sounds followed a shower of minute hailstones.

Portia, you are not helping the situation.

I'm not doing it on purpose!

The mare looked up at my cloud, then at me, with a look that spoke volumes.

"I'm sorry. I don't seem to have very good control of this whole weather business yet," I said stiffly, trying to dissipate the cloud. "As for the other, I am simply inexperienced in the ways of the Court. I did not ask to become a virtue, but I have decided, after much thought, that I am willing to take on the job. Since no one bothered to explain to me the rules and regulations governing virtues, I'm pretty much feeling my way blindly here, and would appreciate it if you could recognize that fact."

Sweetling, you must temper your tone. It is borderline hostile. And stop the hail! It's spreading to the mare's desk.

I'm sorry about that, but I will not stand by while you prostitute yourself in order to get this woman to understand I haven't done anything wrong!

He sighed into my head. My using a bit of charm on the mare in order that she might understand our point of view has nothing to do with our relationship. You have no reason to feel threatened by other women.

The mare lifted her chin and looked down her nose at me. The hail was growing in size and scope, until the rug in the entire room was covered in a white blanket of ice the size of small marbles. The bailiff looked questioningly at the mare. The latter looked angry.

Portia, stop the dramatics!

I can't! I'm trying to make the cloud go away, but it won't!

I can assure you that the sovereign takes very dim views of people who treat officers of the Court with such antipathy!

The hail came down even harder.

The mare suddenly picked up a book and slammed it down onto her desk. "Cease this display!" she bellowed.

"I can't! I don't know how!" I yelled back, waving my hands desperately as if that would help disperse the cloud over my head.

"Such insolence!" the bailiff said, jerking me back when I moved forward to brush the hail off the mare's desk. "This will not be tolerated."

"Your grace, please—" Theo started to say, but the mare interrupted him.

She pointed at me, her voice loud enough to rattle the windows in the room, looking like some sort of Nordic goddess as the hail swirled around her. "You are out of control and a danger to others, as well as yourself. For that reason, and that reason alone, I will bypass the justice calendar and commit you to an immediate hearing concerning the charge of murder that has been leveled against you. You will report to Petitioner's Park at Nones. You will not leave the Court without permission. You will not discuss your case with anyone but the appropriate authorities. You will not utilize your Gift without permission. Do you understand what I have said?"

I blinked a couple of times, surprised that she didn't order me clamped into irons and thrown into the nearest dungeon, to be left to rot for a few years before someone remembered me. "I…yes. Thank you."

The mare took a deep breath. "Now get out of here!"

Reluctantly, the bailiff released my arm.

What just happened? I asked Theo.

I believe she realized the truth in what we were saying about you not having any experience with the powers of a virtue.

Just because I couldn't control the hail?

Yes. Anyone who intended to become a virtue would have a basic understanding of the role, and better control over those elements in her domain. This may actually be a good thing. "Thank you for your generosity, your grace."

The look she gave Theo as he made another bow was enough to raise my hackles, but I gritted my teeth and reminded myself of what Theo had said.

The cloud disappeared as I left the room.

"We really do need to get you through the rest of the trials so you can take control of your Gift," Theo said in a low voice as he hustled me out of the library.

"You're telling me. When is Nones?"

Theo glanced at the sky. "Another hour. Time enough for us to get some answers…and food. You are hungry."

"So are you," I said, aware of the hot need that growled inside him.

"Yes. We will seek the dapifer. This way."

A dapifer, it turned out, was some sort of steward responsible for caring for visitors to the Court. Or so Theo explained as we met with a small bespectacled man who wrung his hands when we asked for a room and food.

"We don't normally allow nephilim in the apartments, but if her grace said it was all right…"

I bit back the desire to state the obvious about such a ridiculous policy.

"I don't suppose there are any phones here?" I asked instead as the dapifer showed us to a room in the keep that housed the noble apartments. It was furnished in an odd mixture of old and new, with a huge, canopied bed, candles in sconces on the wall, and an armoire that contained a TV, DVD player, and popular video game machine. A small, modern bathroom led off the main room. It was comfortable, though, and I certainly wasn't in any position to comment about the eccentric decorating schemes of the sovereign.

"Gracious me, no, no telephones are allowed! Contact with the outside is strictly prohibited in the Court," he told me, looking horrified at the very thought. He gave us both a curt little bow. "I will have a meal delivered to you immediately."