"An exchange," says Helstone. "My good sir, I should give you some law-books to take home. No. If Ariane Carnath-Emory was truly out for the good of the province, would she not allow the information to -- hmm. Be leaked? Offer it, in exchange for what protection we can offer -- no, and no, sir, a pardon is not *protection*, unless you consider it *protection* from the likes of you and me. Think about it."
More drumming on the table, as he thinks, and thinks, and thinks.
"They're available from the Brotherhood, especially to one such as yourself. Apparently, one of the soldiers -- she knows Miss Carnath-Emory, I think -- tried to take him in, and Ariane stopped her. Mr. Renne is already on a list of persons of interest, I suppose."
He eyes Cinnabar, then. "In Collingford, I was a criminal lawyer, Mr. Calomel. Defense, mostly. If you are sure your client is guilty, but still are hired to prove him innocent, there are a number of paths you can take. One of the most popular, and most effective, is to protect him or her from the largest penalty incurred by law using methods such as this: pardons, bargaining. *Exchanges*."
He punctuates that by taking a drink of tea.