Han was embarrassed, mortified by their gratitude. He tried to deflect it, or share it. “Thank Hallie and Mick and the others—they led you here.” And “Hayden Fire Dancer changed the wind and stopped the fire from crossing the river.”

But they would smile and nod and stroke the fabric of his jacket and offer to pay him back somehow.

Need a bit o’ slide-hand done, Lord Alister, anything on the down-low, you know who to come to.

My Nancy, she’s a rum seamstress. Looks like you could use some new clothes, or some repairs, at least. When we get set up again, come along by, and she’ll take your measure.

I got the best fancies in the market. And they’d be proud to meet you, if you know what I mean.

Any time you need some blacksmithin’ done, you come to me. Do the best work this side of the river. No charge.

“I don’t understand it,” Han muttered to Cat, standing next to him. “They’ve lost nearly everything.”

“Nobody’s ever cared what happened to any of them before,” Cat said. “Can you imagine Lord Bayar or Queen Marianna risking their lives to save people in Ragmarket or the Bottoms?” She snorted.

Han remembered what Bayar had said about Ragmarket at the council meeting.

It would benefit the public good if they left the queendom altogether. They would scarcely be missed. And the land would be valuable once cleared of the ragtaggers and their hovels.

Other residents began walking back from their refuges across the river, shaking their heads in amazement, remarking on the landmarks forever gone. They had other stories to tell, as well. They were buzzing about their queen.

“You should have seen her,” one woman said. “She stood up on this wall, this little bit of a thing, and called out orders, and put her shoulder to the wheel of the pump, and carried water just like the rest of us. They kept trying to get her to go into Southbridge Temple, where she’d be safe, but she wouldn’t have none of it. She was ordering wizards around like ’twas nothing.”

“This building nearly fell on Captain Byrne,” a man said. “Queen Raisa, she swore like a teamster. She didn’t sound like no queen I’ve ever seen.”

“Well, maybe we an’t seen any queens like her before,” the woman said, “but I’m glad she’s the one we have now.”

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y - T W O

ASHES AND
ACCUSATIONS

After Han and Cat left, Raisa sent Dancer, Mellony, and Missy back to Fellsmarch Castle in her carriage. Lord Vega arrived with a contingent of healers, and he and Speaker Jemson assessed the injured, deciding which needed to go to the Healer’s Hall and which could be attended by the dedicates at Southbridge Temple.

The dedicates also took charge of the dead.