The central bridge across Cloud Canal from High Moat was a low curve of the city's substance, lined by stubby emerald pillars with tangerine grooves spiralling up the outside. It led over into a small plaza where tall espaliered fruit trees grew up the sides of every building, covering the bowed walls with thick lines of blossom. The mild scents of peach and plumb were now overwhelmed by the acrid smoke that chuffed out of the barricades. Both Burfol Street and Jankal Lane which led back into the heart of Sampalok had been blocked by piles of furniture that the crowds had set alight. Behind them the shops and businesses had all been looted. Edeard and the squad saw several named on the Hundred list moving among the confident crowd, congratulating friends, muttering instructions. He picked out a lot of pistols being carried openly. Inside the buildings it was a sorry story. Injured shopkeepers and traders nursed their wounds, while their families watched the triumphalist carnival outside with mournful thoughts and a great deal of suppressed rage.

Edeard reached out to Kristabel. 'Can you sense all this? he asked.

'Yes, my love. Everyone in the city is watching Sampalok now. No one can believe the militia has been brought in; father fears the worst but there are so few voices in Council that will dare oppose the Mayor. Oh Edeard, what a mess, and it's my fault.

'No.

'Yes, she insisted. 'It was my idea to drive them all into Sampalok, and look how many decent people have suffered already.

'It was a good idea; imagine this replicated in every district. That's what would have happened.

'Would it? I don't know any more.

'The responsibility is mine alone. Kristabel, I'll probably have to leave the city soon. That's if I don't end up in the Trampello mines.

'I'll be with you, you know that. Wherever you go.

'No darling, you're to be Mistress of Haxpen.

'I don't think I want to be, not if it is to be a Haxpen under Owain's One Nation rule.

'Let's not make any decisions until tomorrow, certainly not in heat.

'Whatever you say. Is there nothing I can do to help you? Please. I want to be there with you.

'No. But there are a lot of people hurt already. They need doctors.

'I'll organize that; I'll talk to the Medical Guild's Grand Master. At least he's no Owain ally.

'All right then.

The alley came out on the Cloud Canal path just short of the bridge. Constables were standing on either side, watching helplessly as the militia regiment marched over. Soldiers were still arriving from High Moat, forming into neat ranks on the plaza. Except for one platoon which had lined up four deep across the path. Twenty eight revolvers were aimed on Edeard as he approached.

'I would talk to your lieutenant, he said.

The front rank parted to let their lieutenant through. He was tall, in his late-thirties, with blond hair curling out from under his black cap. Every brass button gleamed brightly on his green and sapphire tunic. A long sabre was strapped to his white belt.

Edeard kept his mind tightly shielded as his spirits sank further. The lieutenant was like every clothead officer in the militia, a young aristocrat who qualified for a commission because of his infinite arrogance. Just for once he'd wished for one with a spark of intelligence and independence.

'Waterwalker, the lieutenant inclined his head. 'I'm Lieutenant Eustace, I'm in charge here, and I have comprehensive orders from my colonel not to let you pass.

The name was somehow familiar to Edeard, but he was sure he'd never seen the man before. 'If your orders are to stop the rioters, then I can do just that. I already have over at Mid Pool.

'Which agitated the crowds elsewhere, Lieutenant Eustace said. 'You're a menace, Waterwalker, the sooner you're out of this city the better.

'People are going to get badly hurt, Edeard said. 'Surely you can see that. I cannot allow this situation rise to a point where the militia fires upon the crowd. The constables are enough to handle this.

'Your sudden concern for the criminal element is touching. Who has spent the past year provoking them, eh?

'Please, let me try. I'm asking you man to man, what have you got to lose? If I do quiet them down your colonel will be full of praise for you taking the initiative. If I fail, then you just carry on.

'Man to man, eh?

Edeard nodded. There was something wrong here, the lieutenant's face was completely expressionless.

'We have a saying here in Makkathran, Eustace said. 'Something a boy from the countryside probably isn't aware of. Don't piss in the canals, you never know when you'll need to drink from them. He waved his left hand in dismissal. It was a languid movement. Edeard saw the silver ring on his third finger and couldn't help the groan of dismay that escaped his lips. It was shaped as a vine with a single ruby in the crest.

Jessile's fiance.

'Quite, Lieutenant Eustace said thinly as he turned away. 'Like one more step towards the bridge, Waterwalker, and we'll find out just how many bullets you can shield yourself and your squad against. Now fuck off back to whatever diseased cowpat you came from.

'Forget him, Dinlay sneered as the platoon closed ranks again. 'Just go round them, use concealment. He's not a problem. We can get to the plaza easily.

Edeard stared past the hard-faced platoon aiming at him, watching their comrades who were still filing into the plaza. A gentle drizzle of ripe blossom was drifting down around them like dry pink snow. 'I can't fight both sides, he said.

'Just blast the lot of them with the water, Macsen said. 'Anything that'll stop the shooting.

'I'm not sure there's enough here, Edeard said, giving Cloud Canal a miserable look.

'Air then, Kanseen said. 'Can you use air? Hit them with a hurricane?

'Well, probably—

A pistol shot rang out. All four of them instinctively recoiled from the terrible distinctive noise. The platoon were glancing over their shoulders, becoming dangerously stressed.

'Oh, screw this lot, Edeard growled. 'We don't have time. Another shot sounded.

Edeard pulled an enormous column of water out of the canal beside the platoon. In the distance he heard, 'Militiamen take aim.

Lieutenant Eustace shrank down from the water as it began to curve over the canal path. His platoon started to combine their third hands to ward it off. Edeard let the enormous weight fall free.

'Fire!

The air thundered with the power of two hundred and fifty revolvers fired together down Burfol Street and Jankal Lane.

'No, Edeard yelled in horror.

His churning waterfall sent a dozen platoon members skill ding off the path, scrabbling for a hold as they went over tin* edge into the canal.

'Fire!

A second volley crashed out.

'Keep them off me, Edeard told his friends. Macsen and Dinlay immediately started hammering the struggling, drenched platoon soldiers into Cloud Canal. Kanseen's third hand snatched revolvers from those who had the presence of mind to take aim on the Waterwalker.

High above Burfol Street, a wide cylinder of air started to spin. Tales of twisters had always been one of Edeard's childhood bedtime favourites. He always regretted never having actually seen the phenomena. Now, he squeezed for all he was worth.

The air thickened, turning dark as it let out a tortured screech. A gyrating finger wormed its way out of the bottom, heading down towards the plaza.

One of the sodden platoon members managed to fire a shot at Edeard. Dinlay saw it coming, his third hand pushing the soldier's gun arm aside. The bullet went wide, and Dinlay physically punched the man to the ground. Lieutenant Eustace jumped on Dinlay, and all three slipped on the wet path, going down in a thrashing heap. Another soldier leapt on.