He heard footsteps crunching in the frost-stiff grass and caught hold of his cane to rise. “Chairman Risinau—”

“Don’t get up, Citizen, don’t get up!”

Leo sagged back with some relief. Getting up was no simple matter these days. He watched the Chairman’s frowning guards take up their positions, still as the broken statues. “Thank you for seeing me.”

“We are honoured to have a hero of your calibre among us!” Did a true word ever leave this bastard’s fat mouth? He’d no respect for Leo at all, and their causes had never been a bit alike, but there were still people who’d cheer for the Young Lion, and Risinau wanted their support. His own was starting to crumble.

“I’m the one who’s honoured,” said Leo, matching lie for lie. “To be given a seat on the Assembly. A place in your great endeavour.”

“I did not bring all this about simply to see oppressors and oppressed trade places. It is equality I want! True equality.” And Risinau happily fingered the rich fur he wore. “All must be represented in the Assembly. Even those we might once have considered rivals. Even those we might once have considered enemies. Look around us, after all.” And he pointed out the great bald head of Bayaz, on its side in the grass, an optimistic little growth of ivy already making its way up his stony top lip. “A graveyard of ideas. The lies of the past swept away, to make way for all our futures!”

“You have the nation’s gratitude for that,” said Leo. “I’m not what you’d call eloquent—”

“You do yourself a disservice!” Risinau wagged a fat finger at him. “I have been most impressed with your contributions in the Assembly thus far.”

“I’m just a blunt soldier. Or… I was.”

“And now?”

“And now…” Leo paused. Plainly he was no soldier. And bluntness, like love, was a luxury he couldn’t afford. “I suppose… I’m a politician.” Wasn’t long ago he’d have taken that as an insult, but constant pain was quite a thing for changing your perspective. “And a father.”

“Twins, I understand. A double blessing! You must congratulate your wife for me. There is no higher contribution a woman can make to the nation than the fruit of her womb, would you not agree?”

“She certainly would.” Leo smiled as he imagined her kicking him in the face for his fucking cheek. “Fatherhood has made me think about the world I’ll leave to my children. The truth is… I’m worried about Angland.”

“I, too,” said Risinau. “I, too.”

“A gulf has opened between Midderland and the provinces. I blame myself, in part. But it goes back a long way. I don’t want to see it widen. I hate to think the province of my birth might… break away from the Union.”

“Unthinkable,” said Risinau, the slightest dangerous gleam in his eye.

“You’re so right. When I was Governor there…” Leo didn’t think the word “Lord” would help his case. “I tried to move Angland forward.” Or Savine had persuaded him to look like he was trying. “New labour laws, fairer taxes.”