40
	The city burned all around them.  Most of the fighting had moved off to other parts of the city and loyalists had regained control of the streets around the prison.  But the walk up from the house was the most frightening of Richard's life.  Walking into the rebel camp had been nothing in comparison.  Then, it had still been possible to believe that none of this was real.  He'd never believed that Thomas would actually attack the city.  Now, they held streets he had known since birth and they were ready to take his only home away from him.
	None of this was helped by the sight of his father lying motionless at the top of the jailhouse steps.  It would have been Marcus's idea, of course.  He had so many people to help him now that he could run the whole city from his chair by the fire, and he still insisted on doing everything himself.
	“Someday, you're going to push your luck just too damned far,” he said, and he knelt by his father's head.  From so close, it was just possible to see that the older fox was still breathing.
	“Would it really be such a bad thing if the rebels won?” Michael said.
	Richard bit down on his first reply, and wished, again, that he'd had the heart to make Michael stay in the house.
	“For God's sake, don't let dad hear you say that.  I know what you mean, but he wouldn't understand,” Richard said.
	“I know.  It just scares me to see you going down the same path.  You're too good to be a tyrant like he is,” Michael said.
	When Richard held out his hand, Michael grimaced and lowered his ears, but he dug the tube of ammonia out of the pouch around his waist and passed it down.
	“You will still tell him, won't you?” he said.
	“Later.  When I see what kind of mood he's in,” Richard said.
	He pulled the cork out of the little tube and held it under his father's nose.  The stink of the ammonia made their eyes water and Marcus woke with a sneeze.
	“Well, it certainly took you long enough,” Marcus said.
	He was up and halfway down the stairs before Richard could answer him, but walking clearly pained him and after those first few steps he hunched over with his hands clenched across his chest.  Richard took his arm to steady him and held him until he was able to stand straight again.
	“Idiot.  If Jacob hadn't told me where you were, you might have lain there until someone came to cut your throat.  What did you think you were doing?” Richard said.
	“Proving a point,” Marcus said.
	He pulled his arm away, and forced himself to stand up straight.
	“What are you talking about?” Richard said.
	“I would have thought that, at least, would be obvious.  Any damned fool can run a city.  But who would keep fighting for Thomas after he died?” Marcus said.
	“You think that was worth letting someone shoot you?” Richard said.
	“I was never in any danger.  Elizabeth had control of her the entire time.  And she's soft hearted, just like you,” Marcus said.
	He grabbed Richard's arm and pulled him along the street, as much for support as to keep him close.  No matter how much he tried to hide it Richard could always tell when his father was frightened.  Michael ran after them, and when he caught up he offered Marcus his arm as well.  Marcus spared him no more than a glance, but for once he didn't recoil from the boy or sneer at him.
	“What will you do with Jessamine?” Richard said.
	He saw Michael's face go blank and wished he could take the last question back.  But that was the one wound he couldn't heal.
	“She shot me,” Marcus said.
	“After what you did to her, it's no wonder.  That girl has some serious issues to work out,” Richard said.
	“Do you still love her?” Marcus said.
	Richard wondered if he still did.  He dreamed about her at night and had thought of nothing but her all the way back home.  Still, he'd made his choice, and last night he'd put the sapphire around Michael's neck.  That made him happier than he had ever been in his life.
	“I have what I want,” he said.
	“Then trust me, and put her out of your mind.  I'm not completely unreasonable,”  Marcus said.
	When Michael offered him an arm a second time, Marcus took it without hesitation and he gave the boy one of his rare smiles.
	“We'll see how long you last,” he said.
	“I'm here for Richard, and nobody else,” Michael said.
	“Then that means being for me, too, and doing what I say.  If you make it past tonight, then I might be convinced he made the right choice,” Marcus said.
	“Do you mean that?” Richard said.
	“I've done nothing that wasn't for you.  Help me now, and I'll give you everything you want,” Marcus said.