'A gift from all of us, Kanseen said.

Edeard took the book. It was very slim. Small gold-leaf lettering on the front read: A Gentleman's Guide to Marriage.

'Thank you, he said, genuinely grateful.

'What does it say about the stag night? Macsen asked. Caught himself, threw Kanseen a panicked look. 'I mean, friends' night, he corrected.

She just groaned wearily.

Edeard flicked through the pages. 'An evening may justifiably be set aside for a fellow to bid his male acquaintances farewell, in the full knowledge that his bachelor ways are about to end. This should be a tasteful evening, revisiting those places retaining fond memories, and sampling their delights for the last time.

'I don't want another night at Olivan's Eagle, Dinlay protested. 'This is supposed to be special.

'We could start at the Rakas restaurant in Abad, the one we went to after graduation, Kanseen said.

Edeard was about to agree, but Salrana had been with them that day. 'Maybe a different one, he said.

'There's a theatre in Fiacre I know of, Boyd said breathlessly. 'The dancers take their dollies off as they dance.

'Do they? Edeard asked.

Kanseen deliberately focused on a point just above Edeard's head, her jaw set firm.

'That's not reliving the past, Edeard conceded.

'We'll start off at the dog track in Andromeda, then make our way through some of the classy taverns in Lillylight, Macsen said. 'There are plenty of good restaurants and theatres there, so we can make our choices on the night.

'Excellent idea, Kanseen said.

'Julan has to get the vote through Council first, Edeard complained.

'It's considered bad form to vote against a Consent bill, Dinlay said. 'There hasn't been a nay vote for over three hundred years.

'Really? I didn't know that.

'We know, they said in union.

Edeard was supposed to spend the evening choosing the suit to wear at the charity ball thrown by the District Master of Nighthouse. Due in a fortnight's time, it was given every year to raise funds for city hospitals. Kristabel had accepted his excuse that there was just some constable work which had to be done at night. 'Be careful, she told him, which almost made him feel guilty. Almost.

It was certainly the first time Edeard had ever been grateful to Buate; but the gang lord had arranged a meeting with several others on their One Hundred list. A get-together of that magnitude couldn't be ignored.

As dusk fell he led the squad out of the station. All of them were immediately aware of the three ge-eagles overhead, and a couple of small ge-dogs loitering down the street. It had been a while since the gangs had used actual people to spy on their comings and goings from the constable station.

'I want to try something, he told the others. 'We're not going to use the tunnels for a while.

They followed him over Marble Canal bridge into Drupe, where the streets grew narrow, and the buildings tall. The ge-eagles kept level with them, drifting and soaring on the night air.

'I've been reading your book, Edeard said. 'Apparently, after marriage, I shouldn't complain to Kristabel about events relating to managing my estate if they go poorly.

'Yeah, I always avoid that when I'm with Saria, Boyd said. 'It's for the best.

'Nor should I be querulous about the proportion of the household budget spent on her wardrobe. Apparently it's her duty to always look her best for me, and support me in public'

'Quite right, Kanseen said.

'And I must not feel inadequate if I cede an argument to her.

'That has to have been written by a woman, Dinlay pronounced.

It was already dark at the foot of the buildings when they walked into Moslet Avenue, little more than a deep crevice between walls six storeys high. Small vaulting tube bridges linked the two sets of buildings, with slender orange light slits on their underside shining a week orange glow down on to the pavement. The alley was a series of sharp corners, which restricted farsight; while its narrow width made anyone following them highly conspicuous. Precisely the kind of place that usually provided Edeard with excellent cover while he vanished down into the tunnels below.

He ordered the orange light strips on the bridges to dim down, turning the darkness to a claustrophobic force. A sweep round with his farsight showed him they were alone as they went round the first corner. Then he followed that up with a more subtle look, using the technique Finitan had gifted him. Someone was sneaking into the alley; registering in his mind as a grey swirl, like a small bubble of fog. At the core was the outline of a man.

'Keep going, he told his friends. 'We need to hurry.

They started to jog forwards. Edeard observed the figure behind them quicken his pace.

'Okay, stop here. he ordered as they went round the second corner. They were directly under one of the small bridges, invisible to the ge-eagles above. The concealed pursuer hurried round the corner, to see the squad huddled together as if performing some illegal act. Edeard's arm came up, pointing at him, cloak swirling to follow the move.

The narrow alley was suddenly drenched in brilliant white light. A terrific bang ricocheted off the confining walls.

Edeard's miniature thunderbolt struck the figure square in his chest. He was flung backwards to sprawl on the ground, concealment vanishing in the blink of an eye.

'Great Lady, Dinlay gulped.

Edeard was watching the figure keenly; the man was twitching but making no attempt to get up. Farsight revealed he was still alive, his thoughts chasing an agitated sleep pattern. The thunderbolt must have knocked him unconscious, though his heart was still pumping wildly, and not entirely regularly. His thick leather jacket was smoking from a burn spot where the discharge had struck.

'Take care of the ge-eagles, Edeard told Kanseen as his third hand lifted the inert figure, and drew him towards the squad. The birds would have witnessed the flash, he couldn't help that. But they would have been dazzled. Their owners still wouldn't know what was going on in the alley.

Once Kanseen had confused the already flustered genista is overhead, Edeard asked the city to let him into the drain tunnel below the street. The squad sank down, taking their captive with them.

Once they were safe below the surface, Edeard examined the man his third hand was still holding above the trickle of water. He was plain enough, probably in his late forties, with dark curly hair and a small, neatly trimmed beard. 'Anyone know him?" Edeard asked.

'I don't remember him from any of our lists, Dinlay said.

Macsen let out a pained sigh. 'He won't be, look at how he's dressed.

Edeard gave the unconscious man a closer look. The clothes were simple, a black leather jacket worn over an indigo shirt, and beige suede trousers. Ankle length boots with discreet silver hooks for the laces. The kind of garb that could be worn anywhere in Makkathran without drawing undue attention. However, these days Edeard was familiar enough with the city's tailors to know quality when he saw it. 'Expensive, he said.

'Certainly not cheap, Macsen said. 'So we know he's not from the gangs, not directly.

'The families?

Macsen's face produced a pained expression. 'Again, nothing you could ever prove, not that he'll tell us anything.

'What then? Boyd asked. 'Come on, you obviously know something.

'Look exactly where we are and how we got here, Macsen said with the kind of serious, level voice that was unusual for him. 'And that blast of light you knocked him out with, Edeard, that's something new. There's rumours that your maisonette is different. A fall off a tower can't kill you. Small wonder the families are extremely interested in you.