The only thing that bothered Larsen was that from his office he couldn’t see the fire that was destroying the Green Belt. It was just out of his line-of-sight to the left. He could, however, see the flames billowing into the air throughout the Flats, and they were glorious.

Pattis had just left with an assessment, and things could not have gone better. The Grell and Ironside families were deep in the Merchant Guild dungeons, while the other minor families that lived near the river were being shuttled across the Great Bridge and dumped in the Wretched Quarter. He had one more night to clear out a few more troublesome families, and then resistance would be minimal as he and Saxe and Orion cleared out the Harvest Guild from everywhere but the Harvest District.

He returned to his desk. He had not heard from Karch in days, and that worried him. Pattis was the Blade. He was not the one to organize the work that needed to be done to clear the Flats and Lower Triangle. For that he needed someone with a sense of authority, not just ruthlessness. That is Karch, Larsen thought as he drummed his fingers. People will listen to Karch.

The trouble was that Karch was late from his mission to the Outlands. Larsen cursed himself. He had no more need of the Outlanders, and Karch’s mission was irrelevant. What Larsen needed was Karch back in Ness.

With a slam of his fist, Larsen rose. He marched to the door to his office, exiting with a comment to the guard. “Wake me immediately when Karch arrives.” The guard saluted as Larsen turned and paced to his quarters.

He had one more night of burning, and then he’d need Karch or he himself would have to organize his captains. They would listen to him, but Larsen didn’t know their strengths as well as Karch did. He’ll be here tomorrow, Larsen hoped.

As he set his head on his pillow, Larsen couldn’t help but smile as the scent of burning wood drifted in through the window.