With only a couple of hours left until dawn, it was still very dark inside the lounge as he and the barrels rose through the floor. His farsight found several people sleeping upstairs, including Buate who was sharing his bed with two of the house's girls. A more detailed scan couldn't find anyone using concealment lurking within the building.

Edeard sent three of the barrels drifting through the doorways leading off the wooden gallery. His third hand broke open their tops, and the thick jamolar oil inside spilled out along the corridors. Two more barrels were hoisted up to the top floor, drenching carpets and furniture in Buate's big study. Oil ran out under the door, washing down the corridors and stairs.

His longtalk prodded the minds of the slumbering ge-chimps in their little pen behind the kitchen. 'Go outside, he ordered them as he walked upstairs. They obediently shuffled silently out into the street.

His third hand broke open two of the barrels downstairs, leaving an intact one standing on top of the bar. Jamolar oil sluiced across the floor.

'Nostalgia, he muttered as he started up the stairs to the upper floor. He stood in front of the door to Buate's bedroom. His third hand plucked an ember from one of the stoves in the lounge, and dropped it.

Flame whooshed across the room. The furniture caught alight immediately, long flames licking round the bar. Within seconds, oil dripping down the stairs had ignited, sending flames ripping across the first floor. The fire followed the damp trail up the next flight of stairs, and blazed into the study.

Edeard smashed the bedroom door down, and strode into the room as flames leapt and danced behind him. Buate's sleep-befuddled head came up from the pillows. The girls cried out as they saw the black figure silhouetted in the doorway, his cloak rippling in the air like some living appendage. They clung to each other in fear.

'What the Ladyfuck— Buate gasped. His farsight was probing the building, finding fire everywhere.

'This establishment appears very accident prone, Edeard observed.

The barrel on the bar exploded. Doors shattered, letting in a huge squall of fresh air. Flames roared up to the roof of tin-lounge.

'If I was you I wouldn't come back here, not ever, Edeard said. 'In fact I doubt there's anywhere in this city where you'll be safe.

Flames trickled into the bedroom, flowing round Edeard's feet as they consumed the carpeting. His cloak flapped in agitation. Both girls whimpered, pressing themselves to tin-headrest. Smoke began to layer the air.

'You're dead, Waterwalker, Buate shouted.

'Warpal tried and failed. What chance have you got?

Buate stiffened at the mention of that name, causing Edeard to grin in amusement.

'Now get out of my city, take your people with you; and if you ever try to start your riot you will join your brother in the manner I mentioned during my previous visit. Final warning. He nodded politely to the girls. 'Ladies.

They screamed as his third hand lifted them into the air. Then the bedroom windows disintegrated, and they found themselves floating through the gap to descend gently on to the street below, where the house's ge-chimps were scampering about in considerable apprehension.

Buate watched their flight in astonishment. 'What about me? he yelled. But when he looked round, Edeard had gone. Flames licked hungrily at the base of the bed.

Edeard chose the middle of Golden Park at midnight. The huge plaza was empty, with nebula-light flickering off the tips of the white metal pillars that surrounded it. Only the faintest of shadows fell across the glossy cobbles as two dark figures appeared from nowhere.

'You are free to go, Edeard said with an expansive gesture.

'Go where, exactly? I am a wanted man. How long do you think I would last out there?

'Nobody will know you in the provinces.

'You believe I should join Nanitte? Argian asked with a show of bitter amusement. 'You are crueller than I thought, Waterwalker.

'I am more desperate than you know.

'Excuse me if I don't offer my undying sympathy.

'I need your help.

'I have given you everything I can. There is nothing left of me.

'I ask only that you do what you were trained to do. I ask that you keep your loyalty to this city.

'My time here is over. I have you to thank for that.

'Keep watch for me, see what your people are doing.

'That is not loyalty, that is betrayal.

'Not to the city. You are an honourable man at heart. You know something has to be done to rid us of the gangs, and pull back the excesses of the families. Things cannot carry on as they are, that will doom us all. Help me. If nothing else, be a moderating voice. If you truly fear I am too uncompromising, then stay and exert what influence you can on me.

'Me, influence you?

'You understand the true way things work. I would listen to your advice if it were to be given in good faith. Tell me how to achieve justice without alienating and ruining the best of that which is. Smooth the way. Do not let this city become divided by my blundering. Isn't that your calling?

'You seem to have missed your vocation.

'Was that a yes?

Argian sighed as if in great pain. 'After all you have done to me, you expect me to help you?

'I left you alone. That's all. If there were any demons in there with you, I didn't send them.

'It will take me a while to gather my things together. If I see anything detrimental before I leave, I may tell you.

'Thank you.

Felax raced into the small hall at the back of Jeavons constable station, very flustered and out of breath. 'Waterwalker, Master Gachet from the Guild of Lawyers is here! He's talking to the captain. He says he has a warrant for your arrest.

'Really? Edeard asked with interest.

'Honestly, the young constable assured him. 'I'm not joking.

'I'm sure you're not. His farsight caught a thoroughly disgusted Boyd handing over coinage to a smug Macsen. 'I'll he right there.

The squad stood up to leave.

'Everyone keep going, Edeard urged the other constable working at the benches. 'We're really close to a hundred now. I don't expect this nonsense to take more than a day.

He left the small hall with his friends. 'Ready?

Macsen grinned as the hall door closed behind them. 'Oh Lady, yes.

Edeard hurriedly pulled off his distinctive jacket. Macsen was already wearing Edeard's glossy boots, even though his feet were too large.

'Remember, Dinlay said pleadingly. 'Just don't say anything.

'Who me? Macsen asked as he buttoned up the jacket.

'Let's see it, Boyd said.

Macsen nodded, his mind betraying a brief flutter of nerves, then he concentrated. Shadows thickened around his face, turning him a malaised grey. Then they stretched and blurred.

Edeard held his breath while Dinlay grimaced in anticipation. The squad had practised this for a day, helping each other with ideas and techniques as they slowly developed the notion, refining and improving the original blanket concealment method. Surprisingly, it was Macsen who was the most capable. Edeard had assumed it would be Dinlay, who was always the studious one.

The shadows faded away from Macsen's face. Kanseen let out a little gasp of appreciation. Edeard shook his head in disbelief; he was staring at himself. His own face gave him an evil smile. 'How do I look? Actually, how do you look?

Dinlay let out a hiss of exasperation. 'Stop talking! It ruins it.

'Go! Boyd urged. 'We'll take it from here.

'Good luck, Edeard told them. The floor changed beneath him, and he sank into the tunnel below. His farsight tracked Macsen, Dinlay and Kanseen as they carried on to Captain Ronark's office.