"At worst, it can't hurt." Cortin stood, addressing her team. "Take the rest to … hmm. The small guest suite, I think. Captain Odeon, Lieutenant Chang—let's talk to Miss Conley in the common-room of our floor."
As soon as the team and other prisoners left, Cortin signalled Odeon to remove Conley's handcuffs. When that was done, she smiled at the younger woman. "Since you're willing to cooperate, I see no reason to treat you as other than a guest. Would you care for anything to eat or drink?"
"Uh … do you have coffee?"
"Certainly. Sis, would you ask Matthew to serve us coffee in the common-room?"
"Of course. I'll meet you there."
"Thanks. Mike, Miss Conley—shall we go?"
As they left the office and went upstairs, the young Imperial said, "Excuse me, Excellency … may I ask you something?"
Cortin was amused at the not-quite-apprehension in her voice. "Go ahead."
"The ones who captured us called you the High King's Inquisitor. What does that mean?"
Cortin chuckled. "Exactly what it says. St. Thomas—this world—is the foremost planet of the Kingdom Systems, ruled by High King Mark. I'm the best Inquisitor in the Systems, so when the Sovereign's Inquisitor positions were established, I was persuaded—" bribed, she thought, would have been more accurate, "to take the position. So I'm the Systems' chief Inquisitor, though we all hold the same rank of Colonel. That's why the first captured Imperials were brought to me for questioning."