"At least, they loved the chance to loot Pomona," Nichol says dryly.
"And after that?" you prompt.
"After that, the excitement of the campaign died down. The Raven had grown used to being loved and supported unquestioningly. In the aftermath of the campaign, questions were asked. Not everyone at court felt they had been rewarded as they deserved. And those of us in the city noticed that the rewards had gone mainly to the Raven's friends and the great merchants, those who were already well-endowed with wealth, while the rest of us dined on the crumbs. The Raven did not react well to being questioned."
"I understand it's unwise to offend him," you say.
"Unwise," Nichol says, his expression twisting. "Yes, it was unwise. There were a number of unwise young people, men and women and other persons with radical ideas they were deternined to express. The idea that the wealth of the city should be shared with its poorest inhabitants, for instance. The idea that artistic creations should blossom without fear of the chilling touch of a royal hand. The idea, most dangerous of all, that perhaps a bloodline was not the best way of determining who should sit upon the throne. There was talk of a council of guilds, talk of breaking into the great vaults and letting coins flow down the street like water, talk and talk,and talk, as if we could say anything we liked and never pay the price."