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“I don’t think such a banishing will be necessary,” Cole said. “I believe we may be able
to reach an accommodation.”
“Oh? Marla is willing to name me her successor and go into voluntary exile?”
“Hell, no,” Marla said. “But how would you like to move out west and run San
Francisco?”
Susan stared at her for a moment, then said, “That is not in your power to give.”
Marla snorted. “Ever hear of right of conquest? Besides, Cole supports my claim.”
“There have been major upheavals in the past few days,” Cole said. “All the powerful
sorcerers who used to live here are either dead—”
“I killed a couple of them myself,” Marla said.
Cole went on as if she hadn’t spoken. “—or have otherwise departed forever.
The…precipitating situation has been contained, but a power vacuum has developed in
the aftermath. I owe Marla greatly for her part in saving this city, and she has asked that
I offer you the stewardship of San Francisco.”
Susan frowned. “I have no wish to be your puppet, Cole.”
Cole waved his hand vaguely. “I’m going to the Marin Headlands, across the Golden
Gate, to train B, away from the distractions of the city. Once he has a better grasp of his
powers, I’m going back to sleep for a few more decades. I have no interest in running
San Francisco, and I will swear to the same under the auspices of any spell you choose.
I may walk its streets and eat its food, and I will always admire its beauty and vibrance,
but I will not try to control it. But you will swear to protect this city to the best of your
ability, under the auspices of a spell of my choosing.”
“Come on, Susan,” Marla said. “Why would you want our dirty, industrial, blizzardprone
city when you could have the jewel of the West Coast? This isn’t a lateral move,
either. I think most people would agree that San Francisco is a step up from Felport.
You said yourself, my city’s a shithole.”
“But you would rather rule Felport,” Susan said.
“I love that city. It’s where I’ve made my life. You’ve always said that if you took over
Felport, you’d run out the heavy industry, gentrify downtown, try to bring in high-tech
companies. Why go to all that trouble, when you can come here? Not that this place
doesn’t have its problems—I’ve never seen such shitty traffic, or so many homeless
people, and the Mission is like an open-air latrine—but it’s got all that world-class
theater and art and music you’re always going on about, too.”
“This is the proposal on the table,” Cole said. “Leave Marla alone, and you may take
over San Francisco. The offer will, of course, be withdrawn if anything happens to
Marla during our negotiations.”