When he finally reached the central square, the new hexagonal mansion was over twelve feet high, and the second storey was forming under the first that had grown up. According to his design, there were another six to come, each one larger than the previous, giving it a stepped outline. A conservative reckoning was another four months before it would be complete. Which meant the new Master and Mistress had set up their temporary home in the Bea's Bottle tavern on the south side of the square.
Edeard waved cheerfully to the tavern's landlord as he walked in. After the first couple of days the man had come to accept the situation, especially as it meant renting out every room he had to the clerks who were sorting out the Diroal family finances, and providing them with food and drink, along with everyone else who came visiting the new Master and Mistress — there were a great many.
Macsen and Kanseen had taken over seven rooms on the fourth floor. One had a balcony overlooking the square, where they could watch their now mansion rising. Edeard found them sitting there sharing a bottle of white wine. When they offered him a glass he took a look at the label. With Kristabel educating him he'd come to recognize quality. 'Nice, he said appreciatively, and took a sip. 'Definitely.
'Yes, Kanseen said, and stretched out on her chair. 'A girl could quite easily get corrupted by this life.
Edeard took a look at the boxes and bags piled up in the room behind the balcony. The shop names were from many districts, all frequented by the women of Grand Families as they commissioned their exclusive clothes. It wasn't just wines he was becoming familiar with these days. 'Nice to see you're rising above it.
Macsen chuckled, and raised a glass. 'There are certain expectations. District Masters must act the part.
'And dress for it, too.
'Yes, I was most careful with that; I made sure I used the same tailor Kristabel gets your uniforms from.
Edeard groaned and gave up, taking a larger sip of wine as he settled into a chair next to his friends. 'So how did the election go in Sampalok?
'Relatively honest, I think, Kanseen said. 'No fights at the district hall, anyway. The constables had to step in to stop a few heated disputes over residency, but nothing they couldn't handle.
'Any idea which Representative got elected? Edeard asked.
'Nope. You're going to have to wait along with the rest of the city.
'Lady! How do the candidates stand this?
Macsen eyed him lazily. 'Lady help us, what are you going to be like when you finally stand for Mayor?
'I never will. Not now I know what it's like.
'Ha! Macsen took a sip of wine.
'I heard our old friend Cherix had crawled back into tin-public domain, Kanseen said.
'Yes. Edeard eyed the wine in the glass. 'Life just wouldn't be the same without him.
'You need to watch that sentimental streak, she said. 'They'll exploit that.
'Who? Macsen said indignantly. 'There's nobody left to reinstate the gangs. Owain is going to lose. The families will accept Edeard and they'll adapt as they always do. For them very little will change, but for ordinary citizens things will get a whole lot better. And best of all, Bise will slowly lose his influence along with his so-called friends. Argian told me his old allies are growing tired of him already. This election should see the end of him.
'Lady, please let it be so, Edeard muttered. 'Did Bise manage to save anything?
'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.