Broad found he was nodding along, but the noise in the hall was mounting again. Jeers and cheers together. The old man’s voice was failing, and Sworbreck sprang up to thunder over him.

“Prepare, of course, but we must not indulge in defeatism. We must not encourage a dangerous nostalgia for happier times that never were! I would rather lay down my life than see this proud assembly cavil, nag and nay-say. We must not talk the nation down!”

“Before we can feed the people’s bellies,” agreed Risinau, “we must feed the people’s minds. Only with a government founded on sound principles of fairness and justice can they prosper!”

As the old man dropped spent into his seat, the rest of the Representatives were rising to applaud their Chairman. They did that a lot. Broad clenched his fists tighter and glanced towards Judge, flopped loose in her chair with her head resting on the back, scratching gently at her stretched-out throat. With something stuck between horror and excitement, he realised she was looking right back at him.

He remembered being chained to a chair with her in his lap, crotch grinding against his, and he felt that guilty tickle, deep inside. He remembered her grinning face spotted with blood when he split that banker’s skull, and he felt that tickle even worse. Even better.

A little smile quivered at the corner of her mouth. As if she guessed everything he was thinking. Some men can’t help ’emselves…

“I have a point to raise!” As the Representatives sat back down, one man was left standing in the aisle. Ordinary-looking, in travel-stained clothes, a walking staff in one hand.

Risinau peered up at him. “I do not recognise you, Citizen. What district do you represent?”

“Oh, this is Master Sulfur!” The king tried to swig from his goblet, frowned, upended it and shook a couple of drips into his lap. Then he turned his lazy eyes towards the benches. “He represents the First of the Magi.”

That got a murmur from the Assembly, and from the gallery, too. Broad raised a brow at Brint. The general could only shrug. Not much would’ve surprised any of them now. If a dragon had risen from the benches, it would likely have been calmly dismissed on a point of order.

“My master, Bayaz, is gravely concerned by recent events!” called Sulfur. “In the Union he founded. In the city he built.” He gestured towards Orso, who was sitting back and holding out his goblet for a refill. “To the king he crowned.”

“Do thank your master for his concern,” replied Risinau, “but tell him he should keep it for himself!” Laughter at that, and an approving banging of fists on benches. “The free people of the Union have no further need of his meddling!”

Sulfur’s eyes narrowed. “How soon you all forget. It was within your lifetimes that he saved Adua from the terrors of the Eaters!”

“By destroying half the city and causing the deaths of thousands!” called Risinau. “Bayaz saved us from the Eaters, perhaps, but one wonders…