Beyond Sampalok, his farsight lingered briefly on the recently refurbished (again) House of Blue Petals. Feeling mildly guilty, he observed the pro-Owain party it was throwing for its clientele. It wasn't strictly against election rules, which forbade monetary encouragement to vote for a candidate, but sailed close to the limit. He shook his head in disapproval, but then such petty defiance was typical of Ranalee. She'd finally emerged from the behind all the obstructive paperwork with a legitimate claim on the ownership of the bordello. And that's all it was now, a lewd business, which filed correct tax forms with the Guild of Clerks. Edeard had left it and her alone. Ranalee had clearly found her place in life, and in the meantime there were bridges to rebuild, and the Waterwalker couldn't afford to appear vindictive in any way. He and Finitan had agreed a line must be drawn under the day of banishment if the city was to move forward.

After a few hours hanging round the hall doing exactly nothing, Edeard left Dinlay in charge and headed in to Haxpen.

Finitan's farsight found him as he crossed Flight Canal. 'So have you voted yet, young Edeard?

'Yes, sir.

'Did 1 get your approval?

'Voting is private, sir.

Finitan's humour carried through his longtalk. 'It certainly is. Unfortunately.

'Any idea how it's going, sir?

'Indications are good so far. Those who speak to the observers are effusive. According to the percentage we calculated an hour ago I'm in the lead.

'But that is good news.

'Remember when you walked into Sampalok to arrest Buate? Everything seemed to be going smoothly, then Owain damn near walked away with the day. Never underestimate him.

'I'll remember, sir.

'Ah… I'm sorry, Edeard. I haven't slept in days. I'm worried. What if I lose? I've gambled everything on this election.

'Sir, I remember what you told me at our first meeting. You said that even those in high office would never be able to change anything. Well, I believe you're about to prove yourself wrong.

'Thank you, Edeard. At least you and I know we gave this our best endeavour. That is what we will be judged on.

'Yes, sir.

When he arrived at the Culverit mansion there wasn't much activity inside. In fact it was almost deserted apart from the guards who greeted him warmly enough.

Kristabel was waiting in one of the lounges on the top floor, sitting at a wide leather-topped desk with folders stacked up on either side of her. Her hair had been plaited into a tight tail, which hung loosely down her back. Her dress was a pale lemon, which she'd accompanied by a thick gold necklace made with figure-of-eight links. It suited her perfectly.

She was writing when he came in, the tip of her long onyx fountain pen quivering furiously. There was a wonderfully intense frown on her face. Edeard wished he could capture the image forever.

'You look like you're signing a death warrant, he said.

She gave him a disapproving look. 'I am.

'What?

'You see all this? Her hand waved expansively at the paperwork. 'This is my family, which is going to be your family as soon as we get married.

'Er, right.

'Daddy has decided that you and I will have the entire tenth floor for ourselves, which is very sweet of him. But, that also means he and Mirnatha will live on the ninth floor below us, along with aunt Rishia and cousin Gorral, in addition to Uncle Lorin and his wife and children and the first three grandchildren. Uncle Lorin really isn't happy about that. He and Daddy had a stinking row about it last night. Daddy just says he knew it was inevitable and he should accept it. Uncle Lorin has accused him of abdicating to you. But Daddy's still Master so down to the ninth he goes, which means a lot of people there get displaced down another floor.

'Oh Lady, I know your uncle doesn't like me…

'Ha! Honious take him. That's not the real problem. It's the family on the third floor that I've got to deal with.

'Third?

I

'Yes, below that it's just the staff.

'Right.

'Once everyone here has adjusted, there's going to be eleven sets of cousins move out.

'Eleven? Edeard muttered in dismay as he pulled a chair over to sit in front of her desk. Jessile had said something about her father giving her a country estate, but that was as a dowry.

'Yes, and I'm the one who has got to find somewhere in our estate to put them all. Kristabel rested a hand on top of a pile of folders. 'These are details on lands and farms and vineyards and houses and other properties we own beyond the Iguru Plain. Of course, they're all currently occupied as well.

'This is crazy, he declared. 'Families shouldn't have to support so many… relatives.

'Deadbeats?

'I wouldn't quite say that.

'Actually, my cousins on the third floor aren't as bad as the ones further up. At least they knew they were going to have to move out some day. Most of them have taken some kind of schooling, even if it's not terribly practical. And a few are now seriously considering joining a Guild; cousin Dalbus has already arranged for a commission in the militia. It's everyone else who can't stand the idea of losing status, not to mention their place on the entitlement list.

'Entitlement list?

'Senior family members are entitled to money from the Culverit estate. The further removed you are from the succession, the smaller the amount.

'Oh Lady, so when I come along and marry you—

'Actually, everyone's entitlement stays the same until we start having children. Then they all get bumped down the list.

Edeard grinned. 'How many children are we planning on having?

'Let's put it this way; we'd need to have seventy before Uncle Lorin gets disqualified.

'People should always have a goal in life.

'Edeard Waterwalker! If you think I'm bearing you seventy children—

He started laughing. Kristabel tried to give him a cross look, and failed. She smiled wearily. 'Well how many do you want?

'I don't know. I was an only child, so definitely more than one — but I agree less than seventy.

'All right. She stood up. 'We'll resume negotiations after lunch. It's a buffet, I'm afraid. The staff are all off voting.

'Oh dear Lady, how the senior family suffer for the good of the city. You'll have to order your own genistars around next.

'If you want to be capable of siring just one child, watch your mouth.

'Yes, Mistress.

They walked out on to the hortus, looking over the south western districts. Edeard's arm instinctively went round her shoulder. The winds fluffed her skirt around.

'Is Finitan going to win? Kristabel asked softly.

'He must. Nobody in their right mind would vote for Owain. Surely people understand what he was trying to do with the militia.

She pressed her lips together. 'This is Makkathran. Anything can happen.

'Have you been to vote yet?

Kristabel gave him one of those looks. 'No, Edeard. People like me don't vote.

'I thought everybody is entitled to vote.

'Everybody is. But it's considered bad form for senior members of Grand Families. We carry enough power as it is.

'It was bad form to vote against our Marriage Consent bill. You could get one back on Bise by going down to the hall and voting.

'Two wrongs don't make a right, she said automatically.

'Yeah, I know.

'Is he still out there?

'Bise? Yes. Him and his closest family have moved into one of the Gilmorn farms twenty miles away.

'How do you know?

'Argian has been doing what he does best, and stretching his farsight for me.

'I'm not sure I trust him.

'Did you know the families have agents like him?

'Daddy never said anything specific, but I've always known we were supposed to be protected in a way ordinary people weren't. Things get done quietly if you need them to be. I suppose I will be introduced to the right people when I become Mistress.