“Vanity, a loud voice and a loose relationship with the truth,” whispered Zuri. “All the qualities of a successful politician.”

Leo smiled, relishing his moment of victory, and a hundred reflections in the great mirrors smiled back at him. Was there something horrible in that? Given the price? A hundred reflections of Savine looked on in adoring triumph, but she could see the pale worry hidden in those copies of her own bruised face. She was not sure she had ever really loved him, but there had been plenty to admire, once. He had been generous, honest and brave. She had wanted him to be more ruthless. More ambitious. More calculating. She had moulded him into her image. Now she found she had much preferred him before.

“We must bring back the best of the past!” he was calling. “Families once honoured by a ‘dan’ in their name will be honoured again. Our restored Open Council will be made up of commoners and noblemen in equal numbers, united in their purpose, with respect given by every member, to every member. A grand declaration has been prepared to that effect. I trust everyone here will sign their names to it and join us in this brave new dawn. This new sunrise!”

Zuri laid the great book open on the table and turned it around to face the Representatives. Neat blocks of her perfect calligraphy on one side. Spaces for two hundred signatures on the other. Savine had brought her lawyer Temple over from the Near Country to help draw it up, the keenest eye she knew for both the art and science of a contract. Leo might like to harp on the past, but this paved the way for a new government, a new monarch, a new Union.

Isher sprang up from his chair. “I will be honoured to be the first to sign!” Though no one had asked him to be.

“And I the second!” shouted Heugen, not to be outdone.

“We must institute a new government!”

“One based on justice and fairness!”

“We must return to our principles,” said Leo, sternly. “And as the first step, we must elect a new king.”

The lords, clearly prepared for this development, applauded again, but Savine saw worried faces on the other side of the room. The Burners might have humiliated the king, after all, but even they had not presumed to replace him. An old man with wispy hair was finally urged to his feet, clasping his hands, more like a supplicant approaching the throne than a proud Representative of the people.

“My Lord Brock, if I may… no one here, I am sure, doubts your motives…” He glanced nervously towards Leo’s many loyal soldiers. “Or dreams of denying your contribution, or disagrees with a word of your admirable speech…”

“I sense a but coming,” said Isher, one white eyebrow raised.

“But when it comes to electing a new king… do we not still have…

well… an old one to worry about?”