“I am aware and admire your efforts.”

“Small steps beside all you’ve achieved. But I want to help bring them the rest of the way. To bury the past.” He gestured towards Bayaz’s fallen head, just the way Risinau had. “To lead them into the future you’re building.”

The Chairman put the tip of one finger to his thoughtfully pursed lips. “You think you can coax your erstwhile countrymen back into the fold?”

“I have to try. Let me write to my mother. Assure her of your good intentions. Assure her that I, and my wife, and her grandchildren, are here as willing believers in your cause.” Leo winced as he leaned hard on his cane and stood, so he could speak as one friend to another. “Let me bring like-minded men to represent the province in the Assembly. Trustworthy men. Blunt men. Men who can see first-hand the merit of the changes you’re making. The changes we’re making. Men who can support us, and argue our case back home.”

Quiet, while Risinau considered Leo with those small, black eyes. The chill wind fumbled between the broken statues. Chisels tapped in the background. Leo used to be always restless. Following an argument had been painful. Sitting still had been torture. Now he knew what torture really was, and he was happy to wait. When every movement hurts, you come to appreciate a little stillness.

Then Risinau smiled. “Young Lion, I feared you would be an obstacle to our Great Change. I knew we needed you, because of your popularity with the people and the nobles, because of your value to your mother, but I was sure I would have to drag you bodily with us into the future!” He seized Leo by the shoulders, sending a stab of pain through his leg. “Now I see I have in you a kindred spirit!” And he dragged Leo close, into his smell of sweat and rose water, and kissed him on both cheeks.

It was the most Leo could do not to butt the bastard in his fat face. Instead he followed Savine’s example and smiled his widest smile. “We’re both fathers. I’ve brought two new children into the world, but you’ve brought a whole new nation.”

“An apt metaphor, Young Lion! No birth happens without pain. Without blood. Without risk. They are joyous occasions even so!”

“But newborns are so fragile,” said Leo. “They must be protected.”

“Such insight.” Risinau looked at him with something close to admiration. “Such insight! Write your letters, Citizen Brock! I will see them delivered. We will stride into the new future together!” He slapped Leo on the shoulder as he turned away and strode off with his guards following.

“We’ll hop into it, at least,” muttered Leo. Looking down, he saw his useless arm had dropped loose without him even noticing, the pale hand dangling. He had to lurch to Bayaz’s head and lean awkwardly against the magus’s nose, breathing hard, before he could stuff his hand back between the buttons of his coat.