'What?

'Nothing, just an idea.

'There's not even any certainty that Eustace will come back after Eriach. Suppose the bandits appear somewhere else? She started turning her silver vine ring, unconsciously rubbing the diamond.

He put his hand on hers, squeezing lightly. 'He'll be back.

'Thanks. I know.

'Did he mention if they have guns?

'Guns? No. He hasn't said. Do you think it's likely? He might get shot!

'Some bandits have guns. Not many, Edeard lied quickly, allowing her to sense a calm confidence in his thoughts. 'They just get hold of the odd pistol from farms, that kind of thing. To be honest, pistols have a very limited range anyway.

'Oh. She gave him a nervous smile. 'Don't scare me like that.

'Sorry. No sane bandit is going to tangle with a mounted militia squad. He'll be perfectly safe. You'll be married off by midsummer.

'I hate that he had to go. It's all politics. Mayor Owain only sent the militia so he can look strong and benevolent at the same time. That's what Daddy said. And I'll bet Owain's Guild merchants are there following the militia around, selling guns to the locals.

'See? Everyone's a cynic'

She grinned at him. 'I guess we are.

'Owain might have sent the militia for political gain, but it's been beneficial. Reutte needed help. The local sheriffs couldn't cope. Quite a few farming families have arrived in the city since New Year. I spoke with some of them; they were forced off their land.

'I know.

'He will come back.

'Thank you, Edeard. You're a lovely man.

After the meal they settled down to read a book Jessile had brought. Kadril's Voyage, which told of the legendary merchantmen captain who'd opened up the trade route to the south, finding a navigable route through the Straits of Gathsawal. Edeard enjoyed the tales of ocean life and fights against pirates, even though he suspected the author had enlivened the tales somewhat. They took it in turns to read to each other, slowly sipping red wine as the coal in the stove hissed and snapped. Edeard felt the tensions drain away from him. This was what he wanted his life to be like. Success in the courts, pushing the gangs from the streets, then home. Not back to the maisonette, but a true home, one with Salrana, maybe. He'd even seen a few vacant buildings in Cobara and Igadi that were possibles. They would need the room eventually, he hoped, for the children. Children who would know a city without the shadow of crime and the excesses of the families; playing in streets and parks where they were safe. And it could be done, his idea had been growing since supper, expanding in that lazy way that certainties possessed.

'You look a lot happier, Jessile murmured. She closed the book and leaned in against him.

'You have a soothing voice, he told her.

Her nose rubbed against his cheek. 'My voice, is it?

'Yes.

'I wish you had a piano in here. I'm quite an accomplished player, you know. Music would be extra soothing.

It was that casual grumble which made him smile so merrily. She really had no idea how little a constable earned; on his pay it would take months for him to buy a piano. 'We'd never get it up the stairs.

'Never mind. She kissed him, her thick hair brushing his face and neck. 'I bought a new satin chemise today. It's not very big, I'm afraid. Would you like to see me wearing it? Well… trying to wear it.

'Yes.

'Say please.

'Please, he croaked hoarsely.

She got up, showing him a truly immoral smile. 'Back in a minute. She picked up the hamper and disappeared into the bathroom.

Edeard took a breath to recover. He was beaming in anticipation as he rolled off the couch and ordered the light down to a cosy glimmer. At which point he became aware of Vilby walking over the bridge into Silvarum. 'Oh Lady, no! he groaned.

'What's the matter? Jessile called out.

'Er, I'm really sorry about this, but—

The squad was waiting where Edeard had told them, huddled together under an overhanging wall on Golard Street, where the pavement was only four feet wide. It was dark, with the nearest light coming from behind the undulations of a nebuly moulding on the wall two houses down.

'Saria was furious with me, Boyd was saying. 'It was her great-aunt's annual ball, half the District Master families were there. He was dressed in a splendid cerise frock coat, with a white shirt that was all lace frills. Silver buckles gleamed on his knee-length boots.

'Sounds like you're making social progress, Kanseen said. Her face wore a faint frown, she was glancing along the street as if searching for something.

'I didn't know he was going to call us away so suddenly.

'He was really worried about this, Macsen said. 'That's not like our great Waterwalker.

'Well you didn't help, Dinlay said. 'Not the way you were shouting at Edeard the other day. All those wild accusations…

'Hey, I'm entitled, Macsen said, raising a finger for emphasis and waving it right in front of Dinlay's face. 'That was my mother they attacked. And it's his fault.

'No it's not.

'Oh yeah, if he knows so much like he claims, then he should have warned us. If I'd known what was happening I could have stopped those thugs attacking my mother.

'We didn't tell him what was happening to us, Kanseen said. 'We're all to blame.

'He doesn't trust us. lie couldn't even be arsed telling us about the ge-eagles. We're his decoys, that's all.

Edeard dissolved his concealment, appearing beside Macsen's shoulder. 'No you're not.

'Ho Lady! Macsen jumped back in shock.

'Where in Honious did you come from? Dinlay demanded.

'I've been here all the time.

'You heard… Dinlay's thin face blushed hotly.

'Now do you understand? This is not a game. I want to change this city. I want your help to do that.

'And you think that's the way to get it? Macsen asked.

'If a couple of insults and a bad temper can put an end to this squad, then we were never going to achieve anything. We were just some kids thrown together with nothing special holding us. I'm hoping that's not true. I'm not pretending I don't have a weakness. I made an arse of myself chasing girls. I'm too frightened to tell you everything I know about Ivarl. I didn't know how to handle the warehouse raid so I went along with Ronark's suggestion. And I'm certainly not sure where we go from here, although I've got an idea. He shrugged. 'That's it.

Macsen glanced round the others, unhappiness shining though his shielded mind. 'All right, that's honest enough. Crap on inspiration, mind. But I'm willing to see what you want to show us.

'Me too, Kanseen said.

'Yeah, Dinlay said.

Boyd gave a soft chuckle. 'Count me in.

'Thank you, Edeard said.

'Do we get to learn the concealment trick? Boyd asked eagerly. 'I always thought it was a city myth.

'Oh you get to know it, Edeard said. 'You're going to need it. Ready for the gift?

'Yeah! the squad chorused.

After half an hour practising along the street, Edeard led them into the Black Horse tavern. They weren't perfect. Boyd's concentration kept slipping; Macsen's farsight wasn't half as good as ho always claimed, which meant he couldn't combine the ability with his third hand in a way that was truly effective. But Kanseen and Dinlay were surprisingly adept. Apart from the occasional lapse from Boyd and Macsen, when their ghost-like shape would flare out of nowhere, they remained invisible, certainly from casual scrutiny. The only way they knew where each other was standing was by a tiny direct longtalk, the kind of thing they'd practised a hundred times out on the streets. Edeard helped by dimming the tavern's lights around them, producing long deep shadows. They crept between them, passing unseen through the back rooms.