Meliandri, Salonius and their respective companions are surprised by the new Lord Mayor to be. He marches into the opera with two dozen Dottari and two more dozen Hellnights of the Order of the Rack.
"Dear, peasants of Kintargo. Please follow the orders of our law enforcing helpers here and leave. The opera is closed."
He might sound like he is polite, but his troops are not. Everyone who dares to protest is met with force. Within minutes the aghast crowd finds itself outside of closed doors. Iressa is in tears.