'Somebody help, he called with his voice and longtalk. It drew a few interested looks from the gondoliers out on the canal. But no one even asked what he wanted.

A chorus of jeering carried over the water. Thirty yards away, the criminals were leaning over the gunnels to wave and gesture. Edeard stared at his tormentors with a rage that chilled his blood. He smiled back savagely. Some hint of his fury must have flashed out. Macsen and Kanseen swayed back. The jeering stopped.

Edeard reached out with his third hand and plucked the box from the man holding it. Hands grasped empty air in futility as lie lifted it ten feet above the gondola. The thieves exerted their own third hands, trying to prise it back. 'Is that the best you can do? Edeard taunted. They never even managed to unsettle his grip.

People on nearby gondolas watched in silence as the box drifted sedately through the air. Edeard's smile turned malicious as it landed softly at his feet. He crossed his arms and gloated. 'Don't come back to our district, he longtalked to the departing gondola. 'Not ever.

'You're fucking dead, you little shit, came the answer.

Edeard pressed his third hand down against the bow of the gondola, causing it to rock alarmingly. But it was too far away now for him to capsize. And the six of them hurriedly erected a strong enough shield to deflect him.

Macsen started laughing. His hand came down hard on Kdeard's shoulder. 'Oh Lady, you are the greatest, Edeard, the absolute greatest. Did you see their faces?

'Yeah, Edeard admitted with a malign grin.

'They won't forget today, Kanseen said. 'Heavens Edeard, you must have frightened the life out of them.

'Let's hope, eh. He smiled at his friends, very content with the way they'd bonded that little bit more from the shared event. A frilly parasol hit the side of his arm. 'Ow!

It belonged to the old woman they'd pushed past. 'In future, young man, you will display the correct courtesy due to your elders and betters, she snapped at him. 'You could have knocked me over the way you were charging about with complete disregard for anyone else. At my age, too; I would never have got up again.

'Er, yes, madam. Sorry.

'Mistress Florell! she said, her wavery voice rising an octave with indignation. 'Don't you pretend you don't know who I am.

Edeard could hear Macsen chortling behind him, it was muffled as if a hand was over his mouth. 'Yes, Mistress Florell.

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Edeard thought she looked at least as old as Master Solarin. 'I shall be reporting you to my nephew, she said. 'There was a time in this city when the constabulary had decent people in its ranks. That time is clearly over. Now get out of my way.

He wasn't actually in her way, but he took a step back anyway. She brushed past with a swirl of her tent-like skirt to descend the steps to the mooring platform. Her entourage followed with immaculately shielded minds. A couple of the handmaids flashed him amused grins. They all settled in the gondola.

'See, Macsen said, sliding his arm round Edeard's shoulders. 'That's our true reward, the respect of a grateful populace.

'Who is that? Edeard whined.

Which set Macsen off laughing again.

'You really don't know, do you? Kanseen said incredulously.

'No.

'Among other family connections, Mistress Florell is the Mayor's aunt.

'Oh. I suppose that's not good, then?

'No. Every Mayor for the last century is some relative or other to her. She basically decides who the Grand Council will elect.

Edeard shook his head and checked the gondola below. Mistress Florell had vanished under the awning. The gondolier gave him a wink, and cast off.

'Let's get back, Edeard said.

A cheerful Macsen bent over to pick up the box. He shot Edeard another look as he felt the weight. 'I can sense a whole load of necklace chains in here. Must be gold.

'I hope he's all right, Edeard said.

'Chae? Kanseen asked. She sounded slightly nervous.

'No. The stall holder.

'Oh yeah. Right.

High above the Grand Major Canal, the ge-eagle soared lazily on a thermal, keeping the shabby gondola in sight as it hastened towards Sampalok.

Most of the crowd had gone when Edeard and his companions returned to the scene of the crime. Several stall holders in their distinctive dark-green aprons were fussing round the stalls they'd righted, restoring the display of goods. Boyd and Dinlay were helping fix the awning directly overhead which had ripped free when the stalls were shoved over.

The wounded stall holder was still on the ground. A woman was tending to him, a doctor's satchel open at her feet as she knelt beside her patient. Two young apprentices were aiding her. Between them they'd bandaged the stall holder's chest, now the doctor was holding herself perfectly still, eyes closed, her hands pressed gently on the bandages as her telekinesis operated on the torn flesh underneath, manipulating blood vessels and tissue. Her distinguished face was puckered with intense concentration. Every now and then she would murmur some instruction to her apprentices, who would apply their telekinesis as she directed.

Edeard watched intently, trying to sense with his farsight as well. Old Doc Seneo had never used her third hand to operate with; though Fahin had always said the technique was in the Doctor's Guild tuition books.

'You three okay? Boyd's longtalk asked.

'Of course, Macsen retorted.

Boyd glanced over to where Sergeant Chae was talking to a group of stall holders. 'Careful, he mouthed.

Chae marched over, his face set in a furious mask. Edeard thought his boots were going to leave imprints in the grey-brown market pavement he was stamping them down so heavily. By some process Edeard didn't quite understand, he was now standing ahead of Macsen and Kanseen.

'I believe I gave you a direct order, Chae said in a menacingly level tone.

All Edeard's good humour at recovering the box faded away. He'd never thought Chae would be quite this angry. For once the sergeant was making no attempt to shield his feelings. 'But Sergeant—

'Did I or did I not tell you to stop?

'Well… yes. But—

'So you heard me?

Edeard hung his head. 'Yes, Sergeant.

'So you disobeyed me. Not only that but you put the safety of yourself and your colleagues in danger. Those men were gang members, and armed. Suppose they had pistols?

'We got it, Macsen announced defiantly.

'What?

'We got it back from the bastards, Macsen said loudly. He turned slightly so he was facing the gaggle of stall holders, and held up the box.

The burst of amazement emanating from the market folk surprised Edeard. It also silenced Sergeant Chae, though he continued to glare at the constables. Macsen walked over to the people closest to the wounded man. 'Here, he said, and proffered the box. One of the younger men in a green apron stepped forward. 'I am Monrol; Kavine is my uncle. This is what they stole from him. He turned the lock dial with several precise twists, and the lid popped open. 'It's all here, he said with a smile. He showed the open box to the market. 'All of it. They brought it back. The constables brought it back.

Someone started clapping. They were soon joined by the onlookers. Whistles of approval split the air, then the three constables were abruptly surrounded by the men and woman in green aprons. Their hands were shaken, their backs were pummelled. A beaming Monrol gave Macsen a hug, then moved on to Kanseen. Edeard, too, was swept up in his embrace. 'Thank you, thank you.

'Sergeant Chae, a deep voice boomed.

The stall holders fell quiet as Setersis came forward. Edeard had seen him a couple of times before, normally when he was complaining to Chae about the infrequency of constable patrols through the market. Setersis was the head of the Silvarum stall holders association, and through that had a seat on the city traders council; as such had almost as much political influence as,i Guild Council Master.