“Oh, there’s been a Great Change, it’s true.” Leo felt his own anger bubbling up, never far from the surface, and he slapped at his aching stump. “I’m fucked, and the world’s fucked, but there are still some things that—”

A rattle as the door opened and Savine swept in, smiling radiantly with a baby in the crook of each arm. “Jurand! Thank the Fates you’re here. It’s so good to see you again!”

“Lady Savine…”

“Citizeness Savine!” She leaned close, to speak out of the side of her mouth. “We are all equal, apparently.” Jurand was staring at the two bundles. “Ah, yes. These. This is Harod, and this is Ardee. At least, I think that’s the right way round.” She laughed, just as if there was no icy tension in the room at all. “This is your father’s dearest friend, Jurand,” she cooed at the babies. “Yes it is, he’s the brains of the business, and everything will be all right now, you’ll see. Two of the little monsters, would you believe it?”

“I… wouldn’t,” said Jurand, still staring.

“And they’re almost as unreasonable as their father. Shush, shush, come now.” One of them had started to wriggle and squeak. Leo couldn’t be sure, but he wondered if Savine might’ve pinched it. “Could you hold him, just for a moment?” Without waiting for an answer, she dumped the other in Jurand’s arms.

“He’s beautiful,” whispered Jurand, and as he stared down at little Harod, a hint of that familiar smile touched his face.

“He takes after his mother in that regard,” murmured Savine.

All she’d done was walk in with the children. Put aside the past, those little bundles of innocent potential seemed to say. Look to the future. As simply as that, the mood was changed.

Leo had sworn never to let another chance slip by. He dragged himself up, set himself as best he could, hesitantly reached out and laid his hand on Jurand’s shoulder. He didn’t shake it off.

“I’m sorry,” said Leo. “I’m so sorry.” And he was. For the mistakes he’d made. “I was a fool. I need you.”

“We need you,” murmured Savine, gripping Jurand’s other shoulder.

“The Union needs you. Risinau’s position gets weaker and weaker.”

“No one loves him, no one fears him, no one respects him.”

“I read a newsbill more savage about him than they used to be about the king,” said Leo.

“One of Sworbreck’s, no doubt,” said Savine. “Even he’s turning on the Chairman.”

“Things are coming apart. Riots every day. Someone has to step into the gap.”

Jurand glanced at Leo’s hand on his shoulder, then up into his face. “Or limp into it?”

The time was Leo might’ve punched him for that, but now he smiled. “I was actually hoping you might carry me into it.”

Jurand looked back to Leo’s son, sound asleep in his arms. “Things will have to be different this time.”

“Of course,” said Leo.

“No hotheaded folly.”

“I’m with you there,” said Savine.