The skaa sagged a bit more as the Lord Ruler arrived, visible ripple washing across tile crowd, their postures drooping as they felt his powerful Soothing. The background roar of whispers and chatting dampened, an unreal silence falling over the enormous square.

"He's so powerful," Breeze said. "Even at my best, I can only Soothe a couple hundred men. There have to he tens of thousands of people here!"

Spook looked over the rim of the rooftop. "It makes me want to fall. To just let go . ."