“Ahh, the impatient pathos of youth,” said Thomas Rede the Elder to the four young men who shared warm bread and frothy sweet mead with him at the front table.  Thomas Rede always sat in the most prominent position possible in any establishment, especially at The Spotted Cock, always with an eye on the door to reel in business.  Lawyering, he oft told his namesake son and apprentice, is firstly a commerce.  We provide a service, and for that are paid handsomely.

The Younger was only fifteen but already had two visits to the continent to his credit, trips with his father to do business with their most important client, the Wessex family in exile.  This was all kept as discreet as possible.  Other clients included nobles close to the southern Earls, and even Harold Go...

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