'Why is that, Constable? she asked.

'To see if all the girls there are as beautiful as yourself.

She laughed. Edeard groaned, glaring in warning at Macsen.

'The invitation to Rakas is of course extended to the friends of my squadmates, Novice.

'The friends accept with thanks, she said primly. 'But only if you stop calling me Novice.

'It will be my delight, Salrana. And I will also beg you tell of Edeard's early life. It would seem he's been keeping secrets from us. Those who entrust our lives to him, no less.

'Shocking, she agreed. 'I will entertain such a request if correctly made.

'Salrana! a horrified Edeard exclaimed.

'Excellent, Macsen said. 'I'll arrange another gondola for our party. Now Edeard, where is Kanseen?

Edeard glowered at his so-called friend.

'Edeard? Salrana prompted with a jab to his ribs.

'Over there. Edeard said it without having to concentrate; through his farsight he was automatically aware of all his squadmates — a trait Chae was always trying to emphasize. He pointed to where Kanseen was chatting to a heavily pregnant woman and a man in a smart tunic with the crest of the Shipwright's Guild. 'Her sister came to the ceremony. They're catching up.

'No sign of her mother, then, poor thing, Macsen said sadly. 'Ah well, I'll go and ask her.

'Boyd's family are all here, Edeard said.

'And we'll yet sink under the weight of Dinlay's relatives, Macsen concluded. 'So it's just us precious few left. See you at the Outer Circle Canal mooring in ten minutes.

'What did you say that for? Edeard asked as Macsen walked over to Kanseen.

Salrana cocked her head to one side and gave him a very haughty look. 'It was a gesture of honest friendship. Why should I not accept?

'He was flirting with you.

She grinned. 'Wasn't he just.

'You're a Novice!

'We are not professional virgins, Edeard. I seem to remember us kissing. And more, wasn't there a discussion about my age and when you would be ready to bed me?

Edeard turned bright red. His farsight tried to sense sparks of interest in those standing closest — either they could shield too well, or they hadn't overheard. One thing was sure, she wouldn't back down. She never has. Her voice would only grow louder if he persisted. 'I don't wish to recall that day too closely if you don't mind. However, if I've offended you I apologize. I still think of you as my charge, especially after all we have been through. Which is why I overreacted with Macsen. Truly, Salrana, he's had more girls than I have socks.

Her smile was forgiving. 'I've seen your wardrobe. You only have two pairs of socks.

'I do not!

'And they have holes in them. So you just concentrate on worrying about yourself, Edeard. I know and understand all about Macsen and boys like him. That's why he's perfectly harmless.

'He's perfectly charming.

'It's not a crime, you know. Perhaps if you showed a little more charm, then you could boast more conquests.

'Charm, eh? He bent his arm, and extended it towards her. 'May I escort you to the mooring, Novice Salrana.

'Why thank you, Constable Edeard. You may indeed. She linked her arm through his, and allowed him to lead her out of the Hall.

The Rakas restaurant was in the Abad district; which meant a gondola ride down the Great Major Canal. It was the first time Edeard had ever been in one of the elegant black boats. He didn't have the coinage to travel in them ordinarily. Money clearly wasn't an issue with Dybal.

The errant musician was everything Edeard had expected. Wild black hair reaching halfway down his back, barely contained by red leather bands which gave it a peculiar ropy appearance. A long face with weather-beaten creases and sunken cheeks above a narrow jaw; but with brown-gold eyes that always seemed to be seeing the funny side of life as they peeped over narrow blue-lens glasses. His whole mental aura was agreeable, akin to that of a carefree adolescent rather than a man well over a hundred. Just being able to say hello and shake hands was enough to banish Edeard's lingering dismay over Mistress Florell. As their little group assembled at the moorings, Dybal made them all feel welcome, even though they'd never met him before. He instinctively knew the right note to take with each of them.

'Come on then, he said loudly once they were all present, and led them down the steps. His clothes were large, even though he was improbably slender for his age. Edeard imagined they needed to be that big to contain his ebullience, he certainly achieved the whole larger than life image effortlessly enough. Strident voice, big arm gestures, fur-lined velvet jacket, paisley-pattern shirt and leather trousers, their colours mimicking those of the Musician's Guild — or, more likely, a deliberate mockery of them. Edeard was only slightly disappointed the musician wasn't carrying his guitar; he wanted to hear the songs of rebellion which stoked up Makkathran's youth.

Dybal took the first gondola along with Macsen, and Bijulee, Macsen's mother. Edeard watched him talk to the gondolier, holding the man's hand between his own two palms, squeezing intently. Both men laughed, the kind of low merriment which usually came from a dirty joke. Dybal took his seat beside Bijulee, while the still-smiling gondola pushed off.

'That is Macsen's mother? Kanseen asked as they settled on the middle bench in their own gondola.

'Yeah, Edeard said. And to think, a few minutes earlier he'd believed the Pythia was an attractive older woman. 'Macsen introduced me just before you arrived. Which had gone a long way to making his world a better place.

'Can't be, Kanseen declared as their gondola slipped out onto the Great Major Canal. 'That would mean she had him when she was what… ten? She looks like she's my age, for the Lady's sake.

Edeard sat back on the bench, smiling. He was so content he came this close to putting his arm round Salrana, who was sitting next to him. 'Do I hear the little voice of envy, there, Constable?

'You hear the little voice of disbelief, Kanseen muttered.

'Perhaps it's his sister, and I misheard.

'How does she keep her skin so fresh? It's got to be some ointment only available to the rich.

'Maybe she imports it direct from Nikran.

Kanseen pulled a face.

'You two, Salrana laughed. 'You're like an old married couple.

Edeard and Kanseen carefully avoided each other's gaze. The gondola had already reached Birmingham Pool, the big junction at the top of the Grand Central Canal. From Edeard's position, the entire circle of water seemed to be full of gondolas, dodging round each other as they slipped in and out of the various canals emptying into the Pool. He did his best not to flinch. None of the gondoliers were slowing down, they just seemed to instinctively know where to go. Craft slipped past them, close enough to touch if he'd been brave enough to stretch out an arm. Then they arrived at the head of the Grand Central Canal, and their gondolier gave a hard push on his punt.

The first thing Edeard looked at was the mooring on his right where the thieves had escaped. He caught Kanseen looking at it too. She gave a tiny shrug. Then he forgot all about it, and really enjoyed the view. At the top end of the city, along the Silvarum, Haxpen and Padua districts, the canal was lined with some of the grandest buildings in Makkathran; palaces up to ten storeys high, with huge windows, facades a swirl of colour in weird patterns. Turrets, belvederes, and spires produced a serrated skyline. Ge-eagles bigger than any Edeard had ever sculpted flew in lazy circles around the pinnacles, keeping watch on the approaches to each magnificent family seat. Kanseen pointed out some of them: the palace that was home to the Mayor's family, the ziggurat where Rah and the Lady were supposed to have lived — now home to the Culverit family who claimed direct lineage. She whispered about one red-tinged facade where Macsen's father had lived. When Edeard glanced at the gondola in front, both Macsen and Bijulee were looking in the opposite direction.