As they ascended, Edeard became very conscious of the mood swirling round him. There was anger, predominant in the men, and a great deal of fright and sorrow.
'Something bad has happened here, he said quietly. Macsen gave a short uncomfortable nod of agreement.
Walsfol and Julan were waiting for them on the upper hortus garden that faced the Grand Major Canal. Even so early, the Chief Constable was wearing a pristine tunic, his gold buttons shining brightly in the rising sun. Julan, by contrast, was one of the few aristocrats who showed his age. A hundred and fifty three years made his shoulders sag, and his grey hair thin. He wore a rumpled house robe over his nightshirt. His eyes were red rimmed, and sunken with abject despair.
The squad had brought Edeard up to date with Culverit family gossip on the way over. Now, as never before, they were the subject of intense speculation and discussion within the rest of Makkathran's aristocracy. Master Julan had married very late in life. In itself that wasn't too unusual among his class. It was a truly romantic marriage. Apparently he fell completely in love with his wife (a hundred and eight years his junior) as soon as they were introduced, and was utterly devoted to her until her tragic, untimely death six years ago. Though what scandalized everyone was that the first child she produced had been a daughter, Kristabel, as was their second child, during whose birth she'd died. There was no son to inherit. It was almost without precedent in the city. But to the dismay of Lorin, Julan's younger brother, there was a clause in the Culvert family's legally registered claim to the Haxpen District to allow the lineage continuation through a daughter if there were no sons. The situation had occurred only twice before in Makkathran's two thousand year history.
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.