Chapter 13: Heirs ApparentThe rule of law was only a servant to the governor, the temples, and the guilds. When the governor weakened into death, the city descended into chaos, to be restored by the reign of the next governor.
– letter from a Gatatean trader
Iola hadn’t been asleep for long when one of the treasurers came to her door.
“A petitioner for you,” she said.
“But it’s only been a day,” Iola said. “The Aralel told me only twice in a quarter-moon.”
“Reluctant now?” the treasurer said. “I shouldn’t need to tell you that things are different now that the governor is gone. It’s our rule, and we must make the most of it. You’ll need to take one every day if you’re not bleeding. Are you?”
Iola shook her head. The baths had washed away all traces of blood from the afternoon before.
