Troubled Waters

As with the other anthologies in this series, this one is written in a braided format - in fact, more so than the preceding volumes, so that there is a nearly seamless flow from story to story. Abbey, Lynn: "Strange Bedfellows" - Further development of Marina Kamat's infatuation with Mondragon, mainly from the Kamats' point of view. Once Richard becomes aware of some of what's been going on, he steps in and meets with Mondragon. For one thing, Richard takes action to see that a promise made to Raj by Marina is kept - help getting accepted at the College as a medical student. This story also sets up Richard's working relationship with Mondragon, as Richard works to create the Samurai, a new security force for the merchants' docks and warehouses. Asire, Nancy: "By a Woman's Hand" - This thread follows Justice Lee, his mentor Father Rhajmurti, and various figures at the College, and introduces his fellow-student Sonja Keisel. She's a wizard at math, willing to tutor Justice at Rhajmurti's suggestion - and the daughter of two families at the top of Merovingen's hierarchy. Cherryh, C.J.: "Troubled Waters" - This thread weaves in and out of the others, mainly following Jones and Mondragon. Fish, Leslie: "Treading the Maze" - We find out more about Black Cal, the only honest cop in Merovingen - such as why he only seems to show up when Rif's around, and why the blacklegs at the Signeury know it's time to clean out the blueblood's cell when Cal takes out rookies on his beat. The Janists, Rif among them, are busy trying to get permits for Master Milton's Magic Show - but why? :) Lackey, Mercedes: "A Tangled Web We Weave" - Raj finally cracks under the strain of letting Marina Kamat think that his love poems actually come from Mondragon (among other things, it's potentially dangerous for Mondragon). Being a Takahashi, Raj does what he considers to be the honorable thing. We find out a bit more about Raver and May, the swampies who were closest to Raj in his days out there...including that Raver was once Raven, a Janist agent, and that he scooped something very interesting out of the harbor after the 'sharrh overflight' in FEVER SEASON. Morris, Chris: "Saying Yes to Drugs" - Michael Chamoun, having been introduced to deathangel powder during his catechism sessions with Cardinal Ito Boregy for past-life regression, proceeds to introduce his wife, Cassie Boregy, to the stuff - and she begins to acquire a reputation for prophecy. Morris, Janet: "The Prisoner" - In case you're wondering why one faction or another never grabbed Jones as leverage against Mondragon, well, everyone in Merovingen knows that it's crazy to lay hands on the Trade; they stick together against landsmen. But Chance Magruder, the Nev Hettek ambassador, doesn't know the rules. Rogow, Roberta: "Nessus' Shirt" - If the title doesn't mean anything to you, grab a book of Greek mythology and turn to the end of the section on Hercules. (Yes, I read way too much mythology when I was a kid