Consequently, Julan was estranged from a good percentage of his relatives; meanwhile Kristabel was the most desired girl in the city, with every noble son desperate for an introduction. Any party she was due to attend was besieged by potential suitors. 'And Lady, wouldn't you just know it, she's an exceptionally pretty thing, too, Macsen had finished wistfully.

'We have a problem, Walsfol announced as soon as the squad was ushered on to the high terrace. 'No doubt the entire city will know by breakfast, but Mirnatha has been abducted.

Edeard risked a sideways glance at Dinlay.

'The second daughter, Dinlay explained with direct longtalk.

'I'm terribly sorry, sir, Edeard said to Julan. 'Obviously if I can do anything to help, I will.

Julan's distress abated long enough for him to give Edeard a fierce judgmental stare. He held up a small square of paper. 'You can start by explaining this.

Edeard gave him a puzzled look, and appealed to Walsfol. The Chief Constable gently extracted the paper from Julan and handed it to Edeard. 'A ge-eagle delivered it not quite an hour ago.

With a sinking heart, Edeard read the note.

Mirnatha is very sweet. The price of her return alive and still sweet is eight thousand gold guineas. If you agree to our price, fly a yellow and green flag from the Orchard Palace this noon.

The Waterwalker is to deliver our coinage by himself. He will go to Jacob's Hall tavern in Owestorn at midnight. Further instructions will be given to him there. If anyone is with him, or if he tries to snatch her back without paying she will be killed.

'Oh Lady no, Edeard groaned.

'I can't order you to deliver the money, Walsfol said.

'You don't have to, sir, I'll take it of course. Er… do you have the money? he asked Julan. With that much coinage you could buy Rulan province and still have enough left over for a fleet of the fastest merchant vessels.

'It can be found, yes.

'Where's Owestorn?

'It's a village out on the Iguru, Dinlay said. 'Maybe two hours' ride from South Gate.

A long way from any possible help, Edeard realized, and even I can't longtalk that far. 'The note was delivered after Mirnatha was taken, he said delicately. 'Is there any proof that it came from those who hold her?

Julan held up his hand. His fingers clenched a blue ribbon with a long tuft of gold-brown hair. 'This was attached.

'I understand.

Tears were running down the old man's cheeks. 'The ribbon was from her night dress. I know it was. I kissed her goodnight.

I kiss my Mirnatha every night. She is so precious— He began to cry, sobbing helplessly. Walsfol moved to comfort him. 'We'll have her back for you, my friend, be assured. Every effort will be made. The constabulary will not rest until she is in your arms again.

'She is but a child, Julan wailed, 'Six years old! Who could do such a thing? Why? He stared wildly at Edeard. 'Why have they done this? What is your part in this? Why you? Why can't I go? She's my baby.

'I don't know, sir. Somehow, just having so much anguish directed at him made Edeard feel shamed.

'Of course you do, a thin voice snapped.

Edeard's farsight identified her being helped though the doorway behind him out on to the hortus, but he didn't want to turn round.

'It is your fault, Mistress Florrel insisted. 'And yours alone. You caused this with your ridiculous crusade against the gangs. Why couldn't you just leave things well alone? Nobody was being harmed. This city worked perfectly well before you arrived.

Edeard took a deep breath, trying to keep a shield around the growing anger in his mind. Mistress Florrel was in one of her usual archaic black dresses, wearing a tall hat that seemed to have purple fruit growing out of it. A man in fine aristocratic robes was holding her arm as she made her way slowly towards Edeard.

'Lorin, Macsen murmured. 'Julan's younger brother.

Mistress Florrel stood directly in front of Edeard, her shoulders all hunched up as if in sorrow; but still managed to fix him with a merciless stare. 'Well?

'Mistress Florrel.

'What have you got to say for yourself?

'I will bring the girl back and deal with those responsible.

'You will do no such thing. You will hand the money over as you're told. Nothing more. I don't want this made any worse by your wretched stupidity. Officers from the militia will lake full charge of things from now on. Gentlemen of good character and family, that's what we need. Not some country buffoon.

Edeard felt his teeth grinding together.

Boyd put his hand on Edeard's arm, smiling politely. 'We will cooperate in any way we can, Mistress Florrel.

Her eyes narrowed. 'I know you. Saria has taken a shine to you.

'Yes, Mistress.

'Ha, she dismissed him with a flutter of her hand. Her voice took on a tragic tone. 'My dear dear boy, her arms rose up in sympathetic greeting as she shuffled over to Julan; 'how are you coping? This is all too, too terrible.

'She'll come back, Julan managed to stammer.

'We'll make sure of it, brother, Lorin said effusively. 'What has passed between us is nothing now. I am resolute in helping you endure this ordeal.

Julan bobbed his head. 'Thank you, he whispered.

'Come along, Mistress Florrel said. 'Sit down my dear Julan. You family is here to comfort you now. That is what you need. You are no longer alone or surrounded by fools. Go and get him some tea, she told Walsfol imperiously. 'Now my boy, have you enough money to pay the ransom? I will help if not. We simply must get her back to her home and loving family.

Walsfol inclined his head respectfully to Julan as he left the hortus, and signalled the squad to follow. They hurried after him.

'Now what? Edeard asked.

'I hate to concede the point, but Mistress Florrel is right in one respect, Walsfol said. 'This is about you.

'Yes sir, Edeard said miserably.

'Stay here for now in case they get in touch again; and for the Lady's sake keep out of her way, Walsfol said, pointing back through the horseshoe arch in considerable irritation. 'I'm going to convene the station captains. Somebody out there must know where that poor girl is. One of them will talk.

Edeard was looking round the magnificent lounge with its clutter of fabulous artwork and gilded furniture. 'How did they get up here? he asked in bewilderment. 'And then how did they get out again, carrying Mirnatha? In the Lady's name, there are hundreds of people in the mansion, and this is the tenth floor.

'A valid question, Walsfol said in a low voice. 'The captain of the house guard here is called Homelt. Talk to him. The kidnappers must have had some inside help. Take a look round the girl's room. There must be some clue, some evidence we can use to uncover the kidnapper.

'Do you think she's still alive sir?

Walsfol took another guilty look out on to the pleasant hortus. 'Very few kidnapping victims are ever returned. Just enough to make the families and merchants pay out in the hope that their loved one will be the exception.

'So she might still be alive?

'Yes. She might. We have to carry on in the belief that Mirnatha is going to be handed over safe and well in return for the money.

Edeard wasn't much encouraged by his tone. They found Homelt waiting for them in the central corridor. He was in his fifties, thickset but still fit. The kidnapping had left him angry and distressed; it was taking up a lot of self control just to clamp down on his emotions. He'd spent twenty years in the constables, he told them, serving out of Bellis station. 'I was a good constable, he insisted. 'Not like some of them, who were just in it for the pay off. I did my duty and earned this post.

'So how did they get her? Edeard asked.

For an instant it looked like Homelt might strike out. He stood quite still and took a long breath. 'I don't know. And that's the Lady's honest truth. It was the middle of the night. All our gates are locked and guarded. There are more guards on random patrol inside. There's always someone on the stairs. I just don't understand.