'With respect Mistress Florrel, they don't. I will bring her back unharmed. You have my word. Edeard turned to the top of the curving stairs.
'Come back here, young man, Mistress Florrel said with quiet insistence.
Edeard couldn't believe it. Thanks to Dybal's recognition gift, his mind perceived her longtalk trying to insinuate itself into his consciousness, a soothing compulsion for him to come to her just as she had suggested. She was trying to dominate him.
He raised an eyebrow disdainfully as his mental shield closed. 'Naughty, he said, and wagged a forefinger at her.
She blanched, her hand pressing theatrically against her throat.
A smiling Edeard led the way down the stairs.
'Bet we never make it out of the mansion, Macsen said cheerfully as they reached tin- ninth floor.
'Outside? Boyd said. 'That's ambitious. We'll never make it to the bottom of the stairs.
'Do you know who took the girl? Kanseen asked.
'No. Edeard gifted them the vision of the kidnapper. 'Do any of you?
'He's a Gilmorn, Macsen said. 'Or sired by a Gilmorn at any rate. Look at that nose.
'Maybe we should tell Julan we've found his daughter, Dinlay said, with a hint of anxiety. 'I mean, surely he deserves to know? If we're going to put her at risk he must have the final say.
'I'm not telling him what I can do, Edeard said flatly. 'I don't know where his allegiance is.
'Well, he's hardly going to be on their side, Boyd said.
'Not today, no. But let's face it we don't even know who they really are, do we?
The squad had reached the third floor when Grand Master Finitan longtalked Edeard. His telepathic voice was directed so skilfully it was as though the Master was standing beside him on the stairs whispering into his ear. 'Edeard, whatever have you done to my least favourite aunt?
'What did she say I'd done?
'Well arrogance and incompetence were the mildest complaints. I'm supposed to be longtalking you out of rescuing Mirnatha. Apparently she thinks I have «influence» over you.
'Are you going to?
'Certainly not. Do you know where the poor girl is?
'I think so.
'Edeard, I hate to be unpleasantly harsh on poor little Mirnatha, but you do understand what's at stake, don't you?
'Tomorrow's vote.
'There is another tactic I could use in Council. I've hesitated before now because it looked like we could win a straight challenge.
'What tactic?
'A plebiscite. There will be enough Masters to support that motion. Many of them are troubled. They see the progress you've made in Jeavons and Silvarum, and there is enormous pressure from the general population to continue your campaign. But Mirnatha's death would give them the option to vote down the warrants. If we were left in uncertainty for the Council meeting tomorrow then they would jump at the chance to defer the decision and be able to place blame elsewhere.
Edeard paused on the stairs. 'You mean do nothing?
'It's a long way to Owestorn. You might be able to ensure news took a equally long time to come back.
'Sir, I cannot do that. More than anyone I want the gangs out of this city. But I cannot play politics with the life of a six-year-old innocent. I know where she is, and I know what has to be done to bring her back to her family. Right now that's all that matters.
'Of course. You'll have my support no matter what. May the Lady be with you this day.
'Thank you, sir.
They were on the last flight of stairs when Julan's voice echoed down from above. 'Stop! Stop, I forbid this. You must not do anything rash. I have the ransom. Waterwalker! Come back. The flag flies above Orchard Palace as they asked. His longtalk was added to the plea. 'You promised me. You said you would bring her back.
Edeard looked up to see the broken Master leaning over the rail far above. 'I will bring her back to you, sir. Trust me.
'No no. There is to be no fighting. Pay the ransom. That is the only way she will come back unharmed.
'I give you my word I will not endanger her. If it takes the ransom to release her, I will carry it to them for you.
'Wait. You know where she is, don't you?
'I'm not sure.
'My aunt says you do. Wait, I will come with you.
'Oh Lady, Edeard groaned.
'We can be there before he even gets down here, Boyd urged.
'No we can't, Macsen said through gritted teeth.
Edeard looked down, Homelt and a number of guards were standing at the foot of the stairs. 'Does nobody want this girl to live? he growled.
'We do, Edeard, Kanseen assured him.
'Right then. He took the last flight of stairs at a run.
'I have my orders, Homelt said as the squad confronted him. His hand rested on his pistol holster.
'What are they? Edeard asked reasonably.
'Not to let you leave the mansion. It's not just Master Julan. I could maybe ignore that on this day. But Lorin backed him up, and he does have his wits about him. I'll say naught about Mistress Florrel. The guard captain glanced up, several people were on the eighth flight of stairs, making a commotion as they wound their way inexorably down.
'Fair enough, Edeard said. 'Don't let us out.
Homelt flashed him a hugely relieved look. 'You'll wait for the Master?
'Not quite. Edeard leaned forwards. 'She is alive. I know where she is.
'I will come with you, Waterwalker, Homelt said softly.
'No. This is not the help she needs. Already the news is spreading. We have to be quick. You know they'll kill her, and you know why.
Homelt's anguish was visible for all to see. 'What do you want me to do?
'Take us down to your deepest cellar. The one on the north western corner of the mansion. And we'll need your pistols, too. Hurry man, or it'll be too late.
Homelt glanced up the stairwell. Julan was on the seventh flight of stairs. 'Quickly then.
The cellar door was ancient wood, long since blackened so that no grain showed. Nails holding the hinges against the city's original open arch were in need of re-inserting; the city's sub stance had rejected over half of their length. That looseness made the heavy door swing about unsteadily as Homelt drew the bolls back and opened it. Barrels and crates cluttered the small room, caked in decades of dust and fil-rat droppings.
'I don't understand, the guard captain said, peering into the gloomy space. 'What's in here?
'Us, Edeard told him. 'Lock us in here. That way you will have obeyed your orders to the letter.
'What about Mirnatha?
'Trust me.
For a moment Edeard thought he might refuse and march them all upstairs for Julan and Lorin to sort out. But after a moment of hesitation while his mind showed a huge amount of uncertainty, Homelt ushered them all into the cellar, gave them a pistol each, and shut the door.
'Far be it for my humble self to criticise, Macsen said as the bolts were slammed back into place with some force. 'But I don't understand either.
'If we are to rescue Mirnatha alive, it means we won't be able to take prisoners, Edeard told them gravely. He brandished a pistol, examining its mechanism with his farsight. 'Are you still with me?
'We're with you, Kanseen said. 'But will you please tell us what in all of Honious is going on. I thought we'd got past this whole trust thing.
Edeard grinned broadly. 'This'll test your trust as nothing else. Step where I do, one at a time. You will feel like you're falling, but I promise you're not. If you can't do this, I'll think no less of you. He asked a circle of floor to let him though. It changed. Edeard stepped on it, and fell through the blackness into the Great Major Canal tunnel. Once he'd landed on the ledge above the water he moved to one side and waited.
It was Boyd who came through first, yelling in shock the whole way until his feet touched the ledge. 'Fuck the Lady! he bellowed in fright-driven excitement.