Maria is in the poor quarters, have you found her?
http://www.kiya1.de/images/Div_poor.jpg.htmlMalcom is in Verdistis, in the merchant guild (SE room) - speak to him.
Search M.'s house for clues (number 3 in this link
http://www.kiya1.de/images/Div_Verd.jpg.html ) Maria has flagged this house for you
After you have found out that Malcolm is a crook and reveal this to
Trevor, the main guy in this guild - M. will vanish.
Ask Trevor about getting a house - he will say, a person will have to vouch.
Return to Maria in the poor quarters, speak to her and a short time later, she is the merchant guild/Verdistis.
Hmm, depending on your game version, she might not speak to you if you have accepted M.'s quest to kill her.
Burned house => you mean Cyrus the assassin/Verdistis? After Sir Dante has told you where he is, Cyrus will be in the burned house. You can choose to kill him yourself or go to Com. Ralph first (watch house S of Stormfist Castle)
