"Yeah. I felt pretty embarrassed when you got her that holovid for her birthday and I'd forgotten clean about it." Bevan shook his head. "Wondered why you didn't ask her out after we broke up. I wouldn't have minded."

Kai stood and checked himself in the mirror. "It wouldn't have worked—your permission or otherwise." Kai stared into the mirror but saw only a long line of footprints along a black sandy beach.

As though reading Kai's mind, Bevan smiled sympathetically. "Hey, I know your thing with ... ah, what was her name ... ?"

Kai's face remained impassive and his eyes distant. "Wendy. Wendy Sylvester."

Bevan looked down apologetically. "Yeah, Wendy, right, Well, I know how that ended and that you blame yourself, and all, but you can't let it ruin your life. You gotta start living sometime. This girl today, she could have been an omen."

Kai shrugged. "If she was an omen, I already missed." Bevan opened his arms expansively, lifting his palms to the heavens. 'There are plenty of fish in the sea, Kai. You're an eligible officer who also happens to have enough noble blood coursing through his veins to get him invited to the Marshal's reception while us po' folks have to fend for ourselves on this New Year's Eve. There are women in the thousands who'd like to be seen on your arm, or in your bed, if you'd just give it a chance."

Before Kai could respond, Bevan cut him off. "I know what you're going to say, but bottom line is this, Kai: You just have to open up and give yourself a chance. Hell, today's the day."

Give yourself a chance.Somewhere deep inside that phrase struck a chord in Kai. Why spend your life avoiding things because you know they'll turn out badly? You know you got along with Pam because she was with Bevan, which meant there was no pressure on you. You couldn't screw that up. Give yourself a chance.

"So resolved. As of January 1, 3050, Kai Allard will give himself a chance." As he offered his hand to Bevan, a whisper of dread passed through him. Let's hope the gods of retribution do not notice your boldness. If they do, you will reap what your temerity richly deserves.

* * *

"Yes, sir, I think it was three years ago we last saw each other." Kai smiled as he took Leftenant-General Andrew Redburn's hand and shook it. "As I recall, it was at the anniversary party for my Aunt Riva and Uncle Robert. I enjoyed getting to see both you and Misha." He looked around. "Is she here?"

Andrew shook his head. "No, but she sends her love. She asked me to thank you for that kind hologram concerning her last book ..." Andrew Redburn's deep voice and ready smile reminded Kai of when the Leftenant-General—then just a Major with the First Kathil Uhlans—had brought his family to Kestrel for Dan Allard's wedding. He'd made it his duty to ride herd on all the children present to keep them from getting underfoot during the preparations. Kai remembered fondly more than one colossal wrestling match where Victor Davion, Phelan Kell, Andrew's son Thelos, and he had been wolves to Andrew's bear—complete with roars and growls and playful swats on all sides.

"I meant every word," Kai said. "She and Jay Mitchell are the only historians around who have any sense for accurate battle reportage. Freedom's Bloody Pricereally brought to life Rasalhague's battle against the renegade Kurita forces during the Ronin Wars. The tactical descriptions of the battles read logically, and her judgment of the Gunzburg debacle placed the blame where it belongs: on the mercenaries and the politicians equally. I very much enjoyed the book and felt I had to tell her so."

Andrew smiled and light glinted from the medals and campaign ribbons on the broad, black breast of his Uhlans' uniform. "Your message arrived right after the book had been damned in a review, so your comments were most welcome."

"Then I'm doubly glad I wrote her. I just hope Misha is the one to chronicle any battles where I find myself. I know the victors write the history, but having a sympathetic historian in your corner can't hurt at all."

"Excuse me."

Kai felt a jolt as he heard her voice and felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned from Andrew and stared straight into the deep blue eyes of the woman he'd met that morning. Maybe Bevan was right. Maybe she is an omen!

She wore a black evening gown whose bodice was sewn with ebony sequins in a starburst pattern that flashed with the lights as she moved. The string of pearls around her throat matched her earrings and had enough of a blue tint to complement her eyes and dark hair.

"You forgot your bag," she said with an impish smile.

"What?" was all Kai could think of to say.

She laid her hand on his arm. "Your bag. The one with your towel in it? You left it on the bench. I waited after my run, thinking you might come back for it. There was nothing with your name so I couldn't call you. I took it home and planned to get out to the trail early enough tomorrow to give it back to you."

Kai felt his cheeks flushing and turned back to Andrew just in time to see a bemused smile spread over his face. "We met this morning, General. Out running. I would introduce you, but I ..."

Andrew winked at the worhan. "No need. Dr. Lear came in with us yesterday. She's being transferred to the Tenth Lyran Guards and I met her on the way down to Skondia. It's good to see you again, Doctor."

She nodded her head. "And you, General."

Andrew glanced at Kai. "Allow me to perform introductions. Leftenant, this is Dr. Deirdre Lear."

Kai took her hand and raised it to his lips. "Most pleased to make your acquaintance formally."

"And, Dr. Lear, this is Leftenant Kai Allard-Liao."

Her smile froze, then dissolved into a thin, colorless gash in her face. She blinked once or twice, as though searching for words that would not come. She clawed at the back of her right hand, raking nails across where Kai had kissed her, then turned abruptly and vanished into the crowd.

Kai's jaw dropped open and concern puckered Andrew's brow. Both men looked at each other, then looked away like friends who had both seen a ghost, but would not admit it to the other. Hair rising on the back of his neck, Kai tried to see if he could catch any glimpse of her retreating form, but the milling crowd had swallowed her whole.

Kai rubbed his right hand over the back of his neck. "I wonder what that was all about?"

Andrew shook his head slowly. "I have no idea. I do know she became a doctor because her father was a MechWarrior who died in battle when she was only a child. She's not much on violence, though she did mention having a black belt in aikido."

Kai nodded. "That doesn't surprise me. Aikidoteaches one to use his opponent's energy against him. It is the ultimate in non-violent self-protection. You don't hurt your foe. He hurts himself."

"Perhaps she didn't realize you were a MechWarrior," Andrew suggested. "But then, she would have known that from your uniform. Maybe it's that she has no fondness for nobles—it's not unheard of."

Kai chewed his lower lip. "Perhaps." Whatever it is, she was hurt and hurt bad. Isn't it enough that I have to live up to my family's reputation? Now I have to work against something that someone else did. What good is it to give myself a chance, if it's just going to blow up in my face?

* * *

The next morning Kai found his bag on the bench but Deirdre was nowhere in sight. He searched the bag tor a note or some other sign from her, but found nothing.