'The countryside wishes to enjoy the benefits of the city without having to pay the cost, Owain said. 'Five times since last summer I have dispatched our regiments to aid desperate provincial governors. And what payment have we received? A grudgingly given reimbursement for our basic costs. To what avail? The regiments ultimately have to come home, leaving the lands open once again to infiltration by the bandits. It is a nonsense, a gesture which achieves nothing in the long term. If we are to achieve stability and an end to this dreadful felony, then the provinces will have to pay taxes to Makkathran for organizing their defence. Militias will have to be stationed permanently and strategically across the countryside. Such achievement will require tremendous organization, one province cannot be favoured above another. All costs — and they will be considerable — must be borne equally. The rule of law available to all without prejudice. Both the Master in his mansion and the farmer in his cottage will have to answer to the same authority.

'One nation, Edeard said.

'Precisely. At the moment city and provinces are naught but a loose affiliate. And look where it has taken us, to the verge of anarchy. To face this new threat, we have to consolidate the forces of civilization, to strengthen our boundary and enforce our justice. Only as a nation where equality reigns, can this happen.

They walked over the bridge together. Edeard's mind was awhirl trying to take in all the Mayor had said. Standing in the shade thrown by the sprawling conglomeration of Parliament House's buildings, Owain faced Edeard.

'I hope you no longer consider me an enemy, Waterwalker.

'I never really did, your honour.

'That gladdens me. Maybe one day, when your generation has risen to high office, you will extinguish the vanity and foolishness of petty politics that so bedevils us today. I wish you luck in that. He inclined his head, and walked into the tower housing the Guild Of Clerks. His entourage went with him; Captain Larose smiled knowingly as he passed Edeard.

'Ho Lady, Edeard exhaled. He turned and made his way slowly round the base of Parliament House, towards the bridge which would take him back into Jeavons. So whoever wins, they'll support me against the gangs.

Despite everything the Mayor had said, he still hoped it would be Finitan. Though the idea of a penal colony on a remote island was an intriguing one.

Of all the people in Makkathran, Nanitte was the one Edeard would never have expected to see waiting for him in the street outside the tenement. But there she was when he made his way home that evening.

'Can I talk to you? she asked as he reached the tenement's entrance.

Edeard's farsight swept round. He wasn't just searching for people he knew (this wouldn't look good to Macsen, for a start), but to see who Buate had got watching. 'You've got one minute, he said, after confirming there was nothing immediately suspicious.

'Not out here, this is too important. Nanitte's voice was brittle; her old self-confidence had gone.

Edeard took a good look. Beneath her dark-blue cloak, she wore a low-cut green and white dress, with her hair arranged in long waves. Now, out here in the sunlight, he could see the heavy makeup on her face. Even that didn't completely cover up the bruise. Her lip had recently been split as well.

'All right, Edeard said reluctantly. 'Five minutes.

Nanitte looked round the inside of the maisonette with interest. Her hand slid over the cold alcove, fingers touching the milk jug and fruit. 'It is all different in here, just like they said it was, she said as she walked over to the bed. A hand tested the firmness of the spongy substance.

'Who said?

'Girls I've talked to. On Ivarl's behalf, of course. They talk freely to me rather than him.

Edeard grunted. 'Right.

'He was obsessed with you.

'And his brother?

Nanitte slumped. 'I hate him.

Edeard indicated her face. 'He hits you.

'Among other things, yes.

'Leave him.

She laughed bitterly. 'You said that with a straight face. You really do come from another place, don't you?

'Probably.

'I want to leave him, she said. 'Those things you said to him the other night. That's all going to happen, isn't it?

'Yes. Even if Owain gets elected; I was talking to him today.

'So I'd be thrown out of the city.

'That depends how deep your involvement is.

'I was surprised I'm not on your warrants already.

'We're concentrating on the violent ones for now.

'It wouldn't be much of a life for me out there, not like that, not the whore of an exile.

'Why are you here, Nanitte? What have you got to tell me?

'He's going to buy guns, a lot of guns.

'Who from?

She gave him a thin smile. 'If I left now, by myself, I thought perhaps I could go to one of the big towns beyond the Iguru Plain, somewhere no one would know me or what I am. I could buy a small house, or some land. If I had that, I could find a husband, a nice provincial man. I'd be able to make sure he loved me; whores make the best wives, did you know that? I'm not quite sure I could do the whole housemistress and children thing for him, but we'd be happy, and all this, my life, would be gone.

'I wish Buate thought like that.

'No you don't. You're enjoying this, it makes you live. You

need to see him defeated, you want Makkathran liberated from the gangs he controls. You need an ending, Waterwalker. Throwing them out just so they can drift back into the city over months and years won't be good enough for you. The Waterwalker requires finality. I don't know what you'll do to achieve it, but I know I don't want to be here when you do. Out of you and Buate, I think I'm actually more afraid of you.

'That's a very nice summary of me. Shame it's not particularly accurate.

Nanitte glanced through the archway into the bathroom, her eyebrows rising at the sight of the perfectly flat steps leading down into the bathing pool. 'It's not just Mothers who can see the future, you know.

'Why don't you just tell me what you know of the guns? I'll take you to the City Gate myself. He'll never be able to stop you.

'And how would I get my house and my land?

'I thought… You must have money.

'I was a dancer once. A long time ago. That's all I ever really wanted to be. Then one day Ivarl visited the show I was in. That was it. He knew the theatre owner, of course, and I was young and stupid, stupid enough to believe his promises. After I'd been with him for a while I realized that was it, I'd become a part of that life, there was no way back. No theatre owner would ever hire me unless he told them to. I gave up.

'I'm sorry.

'So there you are, Waterwalker, I'm not just some girl working at the House of Blue Petals; I'm his. Do you know what it is to be owned like that? To be less than some genistar?

'I won't patronise you by saying yes.

'Thank you. So now you know. If you want me to tell you when and where he's getting the guns, you have pay me. That's what all men do, they pay me for what I've got.

'I'll have to ask my station captain, or maybe Finitan.

She came to stand in front of him, as self-assured as any Master. 'You don't have that much time. I need the money today. I want to be gone by morning.

'There's a reason these things take time to arrange.

'I told you of my dream, nothing more. We both know I can survive anywhere. Is that what you want for me, to keep on doing what I do? I thought you were going to save us all, Waterwalker.

'I haven't got that kind of coinage.

'Kristabel does.

'I can't ask her.

'Why not? Actually, why aren't the two of you engaged? All of Makkathran wants to know that. You can tell me. I'm leaving, remember.