The Testimony of Mute Things: A Penric & Desdemona novella by Lois McMaster Bujold

This fantasy novella is set fourth chronologically, after Penric’s Fox and before Masquerade in Lodi, which I am now rereading. Desdemona is Penric’s demon, who retains the memories of ten women, along with their languages and medical knowledge. Penric is secretary, translator and personal physician to Princess-Archdivine Llewen, and is several decades her junior. They have just travelled by mule over mountains to attend a several day temple conclave in Carpagamo.  Two areas both claim the border town of Occo, and three archdivines will decide the matter.

Penric turns detective when an accountant dies in her boarding house before an appointment with Llewen and he tracks her account books to an orphanage. This is a very nice blend of fantasy and mystery with a teenaged orphan thief added in. Penric and Llewen’s working relationship is greatly developed here, and we learn more about Desdemona, and her former host, Ruchia. The first novella is Penric’s Demon, which is also in a collection called Penric’s Progress. Bujold has won multiple Nebula and Hugo awards.

Brenda