Malenkov shook his head. "I'm not comfortable being a third wheel, but thanks for the invitation anyway." Malenkov opened the door, took a half-step toward it, then stopped abruptly to avoid a collision.

Standing in the doorway like a framed portrait was Candace Liao, and the sight of her set Justin's heart to racing. The light catching the silver of her silken robe matched the sparkle of unabashed pleasure in her eyes. The smile for Justin that brightened her beautiful features faded slightly when she noticed Malenkov.

"Good evening, Citizen Malenkov. How are you?"

Malenkov bowed respectfully. "Quite well, thank you, Duchess." He turned enough toward Justin so that Candace could not see his wink. "I will see you tomorrow, Citizen." Turning back, he smiled at Candace. "A pleasure as always, Duchess."

"Good night, Alexi." Justin watched Candace move through the doorway with a fluidity she'd not possessed two months before, then shut the door behind Alexi. When they were alone, he turned to her with a smile. "Welcome, Candace."

Candace frowned and glanced at her chronometer. "You've not changed yet. I'm not early, am I?"

Justin shook his head, but before he could reply, a red light set above the door burned into life. Justin pointed to it. "Damn! Your father wants me." He shrugged. "You can wait here, if you wish . . ."

Candace's black hair bounced as she shook her head. "No, I'm too impatient to wait. I'll accompany you. If my father doesn't want me there, he can try to send me away."

Justin nodded and offered her his right arm. "I am more than happy to have your company." He chuckled lightly. "I don't envy your father if he believes you should not be present."

Candace slipped her left hand through the crook of his arm. "You and I have an appointment to keep, and I'll not let some minor problem keep us from it."

Justin nodded as they headed down the hallway toward Maximilian Liao's throne room. "But what if that minor problem is a full Davion invasion?"

Candace shrugged nonchalantly. "I suppose I could wait five minutes."

Justin winked. "Make it six. Half that if it's just a raid." As Justin reached out and pushed open the throne room door, he felt Candace stiffen beside him.

Maximilian Liao sat on his throne, glaring down at them like a spindly gargoyle. Standing below the throne, with her right arm enfolded through Tsen Shang's left arm, Romano Liao smiled like a merchant who has just heard the magic words, "Money is no object." Across from her, at Liao's left hand, stood the well-weathered form of Chandra Ling. Fatigue hung heavily on her.

Justin's eyes narrowed to dark slits. Madame Ling looks defeated, which means Romano has convinced her father of some witless scheme. Shang looks uncomfortable enough to mean he's probably been trapped in it, too.When he glanced at Candace, he saw her eyes had taken on that tigerish look they got when she was livid. This isn't going to be pleasant,he thought.

"Ah, excellent, Justin," Liao said, with his wily smile. "You've found her and brought her here." A look of affection softened his features somewhat. "Candace, this affects you as well."

The Chancellor nodded at Romano. "Your sister has come up with a brilliant plan for garnering a great deal of intelligence at the Davion wedding." Liao beamed at his younger daughter. "It is pure genius." He winked at her. "Tell them, Romano, what you propose to do."

Romano's green eyes flashed a look of pure venom at her sister, and Justin felt the tremor that ran through Candace. "Well, beloved sister, I'm sure you will agree that this wedding will be an opportunity to learn much during the receptions and parties. Only the most important people will be there, and any of them might be liable to let tidbits slip to impress their rivals from the other Houses." Like a snake waiting in tall grass, Romano's patronizing tone had its hidden bite.

Candace's reply was frosty. "That conclusion, dearest sibling, is so obvious that even you were able to come to it."

Romano shot a quick glance at Shang, then lifted her head higher. "Each of the Great House leaders would give much to get their spies into the gathering, but Davion and Steiner have been very careful about how many individuals will attend from each House. There is no chance to bring in Maskirovka as servants because ComStar has offered its personnel to handle all such menial duties." Romano smiled and squeezed Tsen Shang's arm. "But I have a way around Davion's proscriptions."

Maximilian nodded solemnly. "Romano has suggested that Tsen Shang accompany her to the wedding ceremony as her escort. In that capacity, he will be able to mingle with the other guests and learn all he can about whatever may be of interest to us in the activities of our fellow Successor States. I will have half my crisis team with me."

Candace grinned, but her eyes were fierce. "Lady Romano, you have indeed hit upon a magnificent plan." Her smile broadened as confusion wrung all joy from her sister's face. "And father, you are correct. It would not do for you to be without your crisis team."

Candace smiled at Justin, too, in a way that made him decide he was not going to like what was coming. He shook his head at her but Candace ignored the implied warning.

She looked down with an exaggerated expression of giving thought to some serious matter. "It is a pity, though, that we cannot surprise Prince Davion at his wedding in the same way he has surprised us by announcing it so suddenly." All at once, her eyes grew wide, and she pressed her hand to her mouth as though in amazement. Glancing up at her father, she smiled. "But there is!

"What if we could bring to the wedding, as our guest, an individual guaranteed to send anxious ripples throughout the gathering? A person whom Hanse Davion has publicly embarrassed, only to have the tables later turned on him? And what if that individual could also gather information of use to the Maskirovka?"

Candace turned toward Justin. "Indeed, what if the presence of that person would mean you'd have your entire crisis team with you?"

Maximilian Liao's face glowed with the light of divine revelation. "Ha ha! A better gift I could not imagine giving the Prince of the Federated Suns." Liao nodded and smiled ecstatically at Justin. "Imagine finding the man you exiled turn up as a guest at your wedding. Oh, yes, this is perfection."

Justin raised his artificial hand, "Celestial Wisdom, do you think it in your interest to have the crisis team with you when we will be cut off from our staff?"

Liao stared incredulously at Justin, then seemed to consider further. "You do have a point." The Chancellor turned to Chandra Ling. "You will coordinate the crisis team during the wedding and use ComStar to keep them informed of all important matters."

"As you wish, Chancellor." Chandra Ling glanced at Justin and some of her anxiety seemed to drain away.

Liao smiled openly. "This is excellent. Tsen Shang will accompany Romano, and Justin Xiang will escort you, Candace." Liao's eyes narrowed for a second, then flashed with an idea. "We can even have your aide, Molatov . . ."

Justin smiled. "Malenkov, Highness. Alexi Malenkov."

The Chancellor nodded sternly. "Yes, Malenkov. We'll attach him as an aide to Colonel Pavel Ridzik to keep an eye on him during the wedding festivities."

Justin looked around at the assembled group, wondering what each of them might be thinking. Having Alexi with us will be good, but putting him there to spy on Ridzik? If Liao doesn't think he can trust the commander of his armies, who does he trust?Justin licked his lips. And when will he stop trusting me?