Gulbadani

Of the forty-one letters that came in today, thirty-nine were lies. It's the other two that trouble me more.

• NargisIf those two happen to be ones I copied, please warn me ahead of time!
  GulbadaniIf you'd copied them, they wouldn't have been caught at all.
• Shehzada IskandarYou enjoy this, don't you, being the only one who knows while I'm left out?
  GulbadaniSounds like you're the one enjoying it. That's your third comment already.

My hand stops at the third key. I like that the ink on my fingertips is more honest than people are.

• Mah BibiStand at that door so long and even the water channel starts staring.
  GulbadaniI was standing there to be stared at, old woman.
• Tulpan AghaThe sound of you counting keys carried clear past the wall. I'll pretend I didn't hear it.

Not one seal has ever come out of this room scratched. The scratches always land on the person instead.

• Raihana BegumThis isn't a room that sets a price. It's a room that knows one.
  GulbadaniIf you put it that way, my lady, I'll have to raise the rent on the room.
• Afzal KhanDoes that mean the vizier's own documents pass through that room as well?
  GulbadaniThe vizier's documents, I seal with especial care.