'Nobody knows, Macsen said sourly. 'The clerks have been reviewing the Diroal estate for two weeks solid; and all they can tell me so far is that it's going to take years to track down every last farthing. A lot of it never will be recovered, I suspect. Bise and his ancestors were good at covering up the full extent of their holdings. Just like the rest of the Grand Families, they know how to avoid their full tax liability. It's one of the principal reasons they all became so wealthy.

'There will be funds he can draw on to keep him in fancy clothes and fine wines for the rest of his life, Kanseen said. 'In fact, it might be a good idea to let that be known among his old friends. I suspect the Gilmorns wouldn't be quite so free with their coinage if they knew he had lands and money stashed away. She grinned evilly. 'Would you like me to tell Ranalee?

Edeard tipped his glass at her. 'I'll think about it.

'Even without a full inventory, we're still incredibly rich, Macsen said. 'As are all the businesses that suffered during the riots. The clerks are still paying out compensation on a pro-rata basis. I've heard it said that people are smashing up their own homes and claiming it happened during the riot simply to qualify for new furniture and clothes. There's so much coinage flooding the district it's changing the whole economy. The pro-

Bise candidates have been accusing you of trying to buy the election.

'I hadn't thought of it, Edeard admitted. 'I also didn't think what spending all of Hise's money would do to Sampalok. But, as I suspect most of it was squeezed out of the residents here for the last few generation, I suppose there's a kind of poetic justice to handing it back.

'Except those that aren't getting any compensation are resentful, Kanseen sighed.

'Another noble gesture goes chronically wrong, Macsen said.

'I didn't realize how much half of the Diroal estate would be. Maybe the rest of the money could go into some kind of general fund to benefit Sampalok? Edeard suggested.

'Ah, now you're changing things, going back on your word.

'Yes, but I didn't intend to—Oh Lady take them. It can wait until after the results. And then it'll all be your problem anyway.

'Thanks for that, Macsen said.

Edeard lowered his voice, casting a strong seclusion haze. 'How are you two coping, anyway?

'Just that, Kanseen said. 'Coping. We don't have much Lady-damned choice. A whole load of Bise's staff are lobbying to continue in their old jobs once the mansion's fully grown. I don't like the idea of using people who devoted their lives to the Diorals, but how else are we going to stop things from sliding back to how they were before? And when we sit on the local council we have to make fast decisions that'll affect people's lives, without any reference as to what went before. So far we haven't hurt too many residents.

'Sounds like you are in control and setting a good example. I can't ask for more. How has the Upper Council taken your appointment?

'Owain welcomed us like we'd been sitting there for five hundred years, she said. 'The rest just fell into line with that. Of course, there've only been three sessions since the riots. We'll see what happens after the election.

'It was so unbelievably sweet seeing my dear half-brother's face when I walked past him in my robes, Macsen said with a far-away gaze. 'I'm as rich as him now, and I have a seat on the Council, which he doesn't.

'We have a seat on Council, Kanseen pointed out.

'Yes dear.

Her third hand gave him a sharp tweak. Edeard laughed at the wounded expression on his face. 'Ah, married life. I have all this to look forward to.

Kanseen narrowed her eyes and gave him a shrewd look. 'And what about you? What are your grand plans?

'It all depends—

'Let's just assume Finitan gets in tonight, shall we? she said brusquely. 'What do you do next?

'Nothing dramatic, he said, and gestured down at the square with its embryonic structure. 'I intend to support Finitan because I believe he's right. First consolidate the city, and to do that you need to implement the rule of law. It doesn't take that much, the Grand Council let things slip, but the organizations and concepts Rah founded are still there, they just need revitalizing, that's all.

'People are generally happier now that the gangs have been beaten, Macsen agreed. 'You've shown them things can be put right no matter how bad they seemed. But Edeard you also showed people what you are and what you're capable of.

'I'd never abuse the trust the city puts in me. You know that.

'We know that, hopefully the rest of the city will accept that in time. You're going to have to work on that.

'I know. That's one of the reasons I pushed Marcol into being a constable.

'Yes, Macsen said, sitting up and leaning forward with considerable curiosity. 'I didn't get that. I've talked to Dinlay. He says the boy isn't really constable material.

'I disagree. He's trying, Edeard said defensively. 'He'll make it to graduation, he's got a huge incentive.

'But why?

'Remember when we all wondered why I'd been chosen by the Lady to do what I could do? What if I haven't been chosen?

What if, instead, her teachings have started to take hold? I mean really taken hold.

'I can't believe you of all people would say that, Kanseen exclaimed. 'We've spent a year down on the streets fighting those bloody gangs. They never followed her teachings.

'The gang members didn't, no. But what about everyone else? They all knew it was wrong, even if they couldn't see a way out. Once I banished them everything changed. You said yourself the city is a happier place already, and it's barely been two weeks. The Lady's teachings are everywhere, they're an ingrained part of our culture now, here in the city and out in the farthest province. It's the one thing that truly binds us, the one commonality. We all know instinctively that we should be striving to better ourselves, to live a more righteous life even if we don't quite know how.

'That's just human nature.

'Maybe. But the Lady endorses it, encourages us to follow that instinct and provides a strong justification to develop it. Her Mothers have spent two thousand years preaching it. You can't tell me anything would endure that long if it wasn't accepted as a fundamental truth. We know the Skylords are out there waiting to guide us to the Heart; and, as I showed everyone, we have souls that desperately need that guidance.

'What in the Lady's name does this have to do with Marcol? Macsen demanded.

'I have the strength to influence the city, and I have the certainty how that strength should be used. Suppose I'm not the only one to have that strength? Suppose I'm simply the first? Suppose this is the time when Querencia has reached the level of decency and fulfilment it takes to summon the Skylords back?

Kanseen stared at him, making no attempt to cover her astonishment. 'Marcol? Marcol is like you?

'He's got a damned powerful psychic ability, Edeard said. 'What if that's part of reaching the fulfilment the Lady talks of? What if there are others starting to emerge, if all the kids start to show this potential?

'Lady help us, she grunted. 'Marcol?

'Stop saying his name like it's a curse, Edeard said crossly. 'He's just a kid like any other. What he becomes depends a great deal on his environment. He didn't have the best start with those parents; well now I'm trying to help him become something better. The very last thing we need is division among those of us with stronger than average psychic powers — it's bad enough the Grand Families distort the balance in their favour. We have to show Marcol and all the others like him who come along that real fulfilment is found through a strong society which cares for individuals, where people try and help each other as well as themselves.