The Archon let her hand fall from his shoulder. "I'm sorry I brought it up."

"Don't be. It's ground I've traveled often in the past eleven years." Morgan winked at her and brandished the holocube, his sadness banished. "Think I should go back to just a mustache?"

Katrina shook her head. "No, Morgan, the full beard is more becoming." A mischievous light flashed in her eyes. "However, if ComStar decides to hold a masquerade as part of Melissa's wedding celebration, perhaps we can reprise the Red Corsair and some of her court."

Morgan slapped his forehead with his open right palm. "What a dolt I've been! Here I see Melissa for the first time in ages and I haven't yet congratulated her on her engagement."

Katrina held a hand up. "Don't worry, Morgan, you've scored points with her for that omission. Everyone in the receiving line commented on what a pretty bride she'd be and how much they regretted not being able to be there." Katrina rolled her eyes.

"Trolling for invitations—a time-honored tradition at epic events." Morgan smiled wryly, but a look of concern had settled over his handsome features. "On Zaniah, when we heard of the engagement, we were happy, of course, but Brother Giles and I both worried that this might become a rallying point for dissidents and rivals in the Commonwealth. Brother Giles even had a visitor from Solaris-—an Enrico Lestrade, I think—who inquired if he wanted to come out of retirement in light of the engagement."

Damn that Aldo Lestrade! How dare he send his nephew to disturb my uncle in his retreat. And bless you, Morgan, for actually caring."There has, indeed, been some resistance among the nobility. Aldo Lestrade pulls Frederick Steiner's strings, so that's trouble. Aldo's engineered at least two failed assassination attempts against me, and I think he was behind the Silver Eagle'sdiversion. The hard evidence may be tantalizingly elusive, but I know he's the author of many of my troubles."

Something flickered in Morgan's dark eyes, and Katrina felt a coldness slice through her. Well, Aldo, you don't know what you have unleashed with your actions, do you? You killed Patrick Kell, and that's not a sin that either Morgan or Heimdall are likely to soon forget."Aldo keeps trumpeting his complaint that we leave the Isle of Skye vulnerable to attack, but even the raid Kurita pulled on Chara to exterminate the Kell Hounds failed to excite many people."

Katrina smiled. "However, with you back to lead the Kell Hounds, I don't think Kurita is going to try anything as foolish as that last raid ... But Morgan, what is it?"

Morgan frowned. "Katrina, I have a special favor to ask of you."

The Archon opened her hands. "Ask and it will be done."

Morgan smiled briefly, then let the smile die. "I appreciate the vote of confidence. Dan has told me of a clause in the Kell Hound contract that allows me to dissolve any agreement that Patrick made."

Katrina nodded. "The contract expires in 3031. Do you want to break it or renegotiate? I can probably pull some extra money out of the budget for you . . ." What are you up to, Morgan ?

Morgan shook his head. "I appreciate the thought, but no. And don't worry, I'm not taking the Hounds off to another House. I, ah, I'm taking them myself. I have some business to complete."

Katrina's eyes became like sharp steel slivers. "What, Colonel Kell, have you in mind?"

Morgan sighed and replied in an uneasy voice. "I'm not sure, Katrina, and it scares me. Dan tells me Yorinaga Kurita is back and that he killed Patrick."

Katrina shook her head in disbelief. "Morgan, you aren't going off on a vendetta, are you? That's for recruits just out of Nagelring. You know as well as I that personal conflicts have no place in warfare." She stared at him.

Morgan raised his hands in surrender. "Easy, Katrina, I'm not a green leutnant in your battalion." He opened his mouth to continue, but couldn't find the words.

Katrina watched Morgan Kell as he wrestled with the demons in his mind. This is very important to you, isn't it, Morgan? I've not seen you like this before—except, perhaps, when you first went to Zaniah. All those years at St. Marinus and you've still not got control of it? My heart aches for you, old friend.

Morgan looked up and sighed heavily. "Believe me, Katrina, when I tell you Yorinaga's return to duty—it's palpable. I knew he was back months before Dan came to Zaniah." Morgan faltered. "I just never imagined Patrick would get caught in the crossfire.

"Years ago, on Mallory's World, Yorinaga Kurita and I started something. It began in 3013 when tattered remnants of the Davion Fourth Guards and two companies of the Kell Hounds held off the Second Sword of Light while other Davion troops evacuated Ian Davion and pried his body out of his broken 'Mech. Yorinaga had killed Ian, but we prevented him from taking home any trophy.

"Three years later, again on Mallory's World, Yorinaga and I met." Morgan paused and stared off into space. "We fought and I learned a lot about myself in that fight. I fear what I learned, to be very honest, and I felt the seeds of the same terrible thing in Yorinaga. While both of us remained in exile, nothing could happen. Now we'll be drawn together, inexorably, and our fight must eventually take place." Morgan shrugged. "There's no other way."

Katrina smiled warmly. "Can I convince you to wait until after the wedding before you head off on this quest of yours?"

Morgan started to answer, then paused and slowly nodded his head. "I believe we have the time. I will pull the Kell Hounds from active duty, however. They're already on their way to Arc-Royal."

"I have no difficulty with that," the Archon said. "But do you think it wise to have a light battalion going up against what's likely to be a Kurita regiment?"

"No," replied Morgan Kell as he poured himself another whiskey. "Not wise at all." Smiling, he raised his glass in a salute. "That's why the word went out from Zaniah. The Kell Hound unit I'm assembling at Arc-Royal will be, once again, a full regiment. Let the Dragon beware . . ."

15

Tharkad

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

31 December 3027

At the Minister of Protocol's insistence, the string quartet immediately began a waltz. As the first soft notes filled the room, Dan disengaged his arm from Melissa's grasp, then turned and bowed to the Archon-Designate. "It would be my distinct honor if you would accompany me in the dance."

Melissa smiled and bowed her head. "And it would be my pleasure, Captain Allard." She took his extended right hand and allowed him to lead her to the floor. The other guests parted to let them pass, then some of the more adventurous followed until soon the dance floor was full.

"You realize, don't you," Dan whispered, "that there are dozens of your citizens who would kill to be in my position."

"That may well be, Captain, but I would prefer not to deal with them. None of them would be as light on their feet or as agile as you are." She smiled impishly. "Does the Federated Suns teach dancing in their military academies?"

Dan shook his head and whirled the Archon-Designate through a series of steps. "Only at the New Avalon Military Academy, Highness. Albion and Warriors Hall frown on dance, though they do have excellent anti-armor classes." Dan blushed as Melissa giggled. "Actually, my mother insisted that all her children learn 'how to behave in polite company,' and in my opinion, company comes no more polite."