Kristabel giggled wildly.

'Get about your business, Edeard snapped at the youngsters, and put on a fierce expression. They fled, laughing all the way.

Kristabel hugged him delightedly. 'You are going to be the one who explains to our children how you proposed.

'Yes, he said meekly.

She kissed him properly. 'There's no need to fight a Skylord. You know how I feel about you.

'Yes. He glanced at the worn grey planks that made up the back of the stable. 'Can we, er…?

'Yes. She held out her arm, and Edeard led her away from the stable back to the path.

'I appreciate the sentiment, though, Kristabel said. 'Actually, I'm quite intrigued how you would fight a Skylord.

Edeard blushed. 'Me too. Do I ask your father now?

'Yes. She gathered her composure, and looked straight ahead. 'And if he approves, he will put the motion before the Upper Council for a vote.

'Right… What?

'The direct heir of a District Master or Mistress has to get Council approval for their marriage. It's a formality. It dates back to the Nighthouse inheritance crisis eleven hundred years ago when the Master forbade his eldest son to marry a woman from Myco — he'd fallen out with her father, some dispute about unpaid cargo. He threatened to disinherit him, which the son challenged in court, so the Master had the law changed. Alter that the families used it to make sure the right people produce heirs. Nobody bothers with that any more, the really important marriages are quietly arranged between houses. Law simply becomes tradition. But it actually is still law.

'Oh, dear Lady. When I am Mayor, I'm going to repeal every stupid law this city has and replace them all with something simple.

'When you're Mayor?

Edeard cleared his throat. 'If.

'You're serious about that, aren't you?

'Do you really think in this day and age I should have to ask Bise or even Owain's permission to marry you?

'I suppose it is unpleasant if you think about it closely. But I've grown up with all this, so I just know the way things work. It hasn't bothered me before.

'So, was your father arranging a fiance for you?

'No. Daddy wouldn't do that. Not that it stopped other families from petitioning him, mind you. There were a lot of suitors.

'Oh. The idea of someone as beautiful and spirited as Kristabel being married off to some dismal second son for the sake of dynastic status quo was repulsive. It sent him thinking about everything Ranalee had said about bloodlines. Yes, that law will definitely have to be removed. Though he suspected it would take more than that to loosen the nobility's' stranglehold on Makkathran's society.

'Why now? Kristabel asked softly as they neared the North Curve Canal.

'Excuse me?

'Why did you propose now? I mean, I know Salrana made it happen, but I'm curious why she did.

'It wasn't guilt, he said quickly. 'Salrana and I were so comfortable with each other. We'd been through so much together, I've known her all my life. We were going to be lovers when she got back from Ufford, which would have led to us getting married I suppose, at least I always thought it would. Then I met you.

'You agreed you were going to be lovers?

'Er, yes.

'Sounds like the country town version of our family arrangements.

'I'm not explaining this well. The point is, when I saw her today I felt just terrible at what I was doing to her, I really have broken her heart, which is about as unpleasant as you can get. She doesn't deserve that, she's such a nice person, the best our village ever produced. But despite that, there was no choice. I was never torn between the two of you. It was you, and only you.

She stopped and kissed him again. 'That's lovely, and very flattering. I think.

'I love you Kristabel, he said simply.

'And I love you too. So the first thing we have to do is go and tell daddy the good news.

And dear old Uncle Lorin the bad. 'Right! He straightened his shoulders and took a breath. 'I can do that. We'll go and do it now.

'You understand, don't you, that after he says yes, we have absolutely no say in anything. If you thought you'd encountered tradition in this city before, it's nothing compared to what's about to happen. The formalities of marriage for the direct heir of a District Master were scripted a thousand years ago, and it does not change, not even for Haxpen and the odd Mistress like me.

'Er, okay, he said apprehensively.

'Ah, you say that now

'As long as you and I are together at the end of it, the city can do its worst. I mean, how bad can it be?

Edeard arrived at the base of the Blue Tower in mid-afternoon, and looked up at the tall structure looming over the Tosclla District. Its azure walls almost matched the bright cloudless sky above, as if it were attempting its own variant of concealment.

As he walked forward the shadows thrown by its huge buttresses fell across him. There was something about the Eggshaper Guild headquarters which always slightly intimidated him, and he was never sure why.

He walked into the grand entrance hall with its dark red flooring, standing in the angled grid of thick sunbeams shining down through the lancet windows far above. A Guild guard approached, wearing his plain white tunic under a pale drosilk jacket. Edeard gave him a wary glance, it was the same sergeant who had intercepted him on his first visit here.

'Waterwalker, the sergeant said.

'Sergeant Eachal, Grand Master Finitan asked to see me.

A reserved smile crept onto the sergeant's face. 'I know. It's always best to turn up here with an appointment.

'Yes. I've learned that.

Please, Eachal gestured at the stairs. 'He is expecting you.

Edeard's constant running was definitely beginning to pay off. The long, winding stairs were annoying, but nothing more. His breathing was constant the whole time they walked up.

'They say you saw Chae's soul after he died, Eachal said.

'I did.

'Was he happy?

Edeard frowned. He was used to being questioned about seeing souls, but not quite like this. 'Not that he'd died. But he was content with what awaited him.

'I'm glad he found peace at the end. There was a lot of hardship in his life.

'You knew him?

'The same way you did. I trained at Jeavons station.

'You did? Edeard couldn't help the surprise in his voice.

Eachal gave Edeard a furtive glance. 'I didn't turn out quite like you, but yes, that's where I served my probation, and eight years on the streets.

'I didn't know.

'You're not going to let us down, are you?

'Let you down?

'People have a lot of expectations now.

'I'm aware of that.

'Yet you're going to marry into the nobility.

Edeard stopped and faced the sergeant. 'I'm marrying the girl I love. The gangs will not benefit from that. This city will see the full restoration of law and order, and it will apply to all equally.

Eachal pursed his lips and nodded in apparent understanding. 'I'm glad to hear it.

Edeard knew the man was still sceptical, yet didn't know how to convince him, nor why he should make a special effort.

As always, the view from Finitan's office was a huge distraction. Edeard managed to greet the Master formally while Eachal bowed and backed out. He'd been worried that the height of the office would somehow remind him of his fall from the tower in Eyrie, yet his nerves were calm as he gazed out across the rooftops.

'My boy, Finitan said happily, rising from behind his desk to shake Edeard's hand. 'So glad to see you. And you don't have to ask, I will be delighted to be your nominee in the Upper Council when Julan introduces the Marriage Consent bill.

'Ah, thank you sir. He'd said he didn't care about the ludicrous formalities of the marriage, yet… As soon as a delighted Julan granted his permission, the household's senior equerry had been summoned to inaugurate the preparations. There were the legal requirements, Julan had to ask the Mayor for a ruling to introduce the Consent bill before the Upper Council — which would be a week yet, the current session's legislative schedule was very busy. The Pythia was informed, and her blessing requested for the engagement; then her staff had to find a time when the main church in Eyrie was free for such a ceremony, which wasn't going to be until autumn at least. Letters of notification issued to the other District Masters, and by custom the Guild Masters as well. The official engagement party planned for the evening following the vote in Council — which was usually hosted by the groom's family, but would now have to be at the Culverit mansion.