Dan stared blankly at Justin for seconds that seemed to last for hours. When he finally gained control of his anger, he raised himself to full height and glared down at the man who had been his brother. "I don't believe you, Citizen Xiang. I don't believe Justin Allard is dead. Instead, I choose to believe that, like King Arthur or General Kerensky, Justin Allard is a hero just waiting for his chance to return. When he does, Citizen, tell him that his brother waits to stand gladly beside him."

26

ComStar First Circuit Compound

Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra

17 August 3028

The jostling of well-dressed guests finally forced Dan away from Justin. For half a second, Dan fought against the tide of people shifting around and pressing back from the doorway, but there was nothing more he could say to the man his brother had become. How they must have hurt you, Justin.

Like an automaton, Dan turned and let himself be moved toward the far end of the hall. Standing on a raised platform against a white silk banner emblazoned with ComStar's logo, a red-robed Precentor held up his hands in an effort to get the attention of all who were gathered here.

Dan narrowed his eyes. Looks like Ulthar Everston, Precentor of Tharkad. Makes sense. He's part of the First Circuit and this is a momentous occasion.When Dan turned to the man standing next to him to confirm his guess, he was startled to discover Morgan Kell at his side. "Colonel!"

Morgan nodded. "I saw you speaking with Candace Liao's escort. He is your brother Justin?"

Dan looked down and shrugged. "It depends who you ask, I suppose." Catching the puzzled look on Morgan's face, Dan opened hands and raised them shoulder-high. "Sorry, Morgan. You don't deserve that. In body, that was my brother. In mind, however . . ."

Morgan reached up with one hand to squeeze the thick muscles at the back of Dan's neck. "Are you all right?" Dan nodded. "I'll live ... The hurt tells me that much.”

“People change, Dan."

Dan smiled weakly, wondering how many more people would tell him that about Justin.

Precentor Tharkad was lowering his hands in a gesture that cut off virtually all conversation in the room. "It is my very great honor to welcome all of you to our Compound," he said. The man smiled so guilelessly that Dan sensed that the speaker's words echoed his true feelings. "We are all present to witness and bless a most hallowed event in our lives, the lives of the Archon-Designate and Prince, and, indeed, the lives of all who inhabit the Successor States." Looking around the room, the Precentor seemed to sense how quickly he had established a rapport with his audience. "It is the hope of every member of the First Circuit, and all members of ComStar, that the Peace of Blake be upon you during your stay with us. If there is anything we can do to make your visit more pleasurable—within the bounds of reason, decency, and nonviolence, of course—please ask it of any yellow-robed Acolyte you see."

Clasping his hands against his chest, Precentor Tharkad closed his eyes and smiled. His lips moved as though mumbling a prayer, then he bowed his head. "It is my very great pleasure and honor to introduce your host, ComStar Primus Julian Tiepolo."

Polite applause rippled as Precentor Tharkad stepped back to allow the Primus to take the platform. Dan narrowed his eyes as the hawk-nosed ascetic walked slowly to centerstage. He looks barely alive,Dan thought. I wonder how true are the rumors that he is really a revivified Jerome Blake.As Tiepolo faced forward, Dan answered his own questions. No. Even a reanimated corpse would have more humanity in his eyes.

As Tiepolo removed his hands from the broad sleeves of his dun-colored robe, Dan wondered if the Primus had some hidden reason for wearing so plain a garment. Does he mock his richly dressed guests with humility, or is this a graphic demonstration of the poverty ComStar claims so that it can keep communications possible between the stars?Dan chewed his lower lip, realizing that here was a man whose every word and action would have many levels of meaning.

Tiepolo smiled as though the effort were more strenuous than lifting a cubic myriameter of uranium. "We greet you in the name of the Blessed Blake and trust that you will find this place as hospitable as your own domains while you are with us. It is said that one should treat guests as family, and family as guests. This we shall endeavor to do during your stay."

Morgan leaned toward Dan. "Given the history of patricide in the Successor States, I've had warmer greetings in hot landing Zones."

Tiepolo's strong voice swallowed Dan's chuckle whole. "Most honored guests, we of ComStar are not divided by location or nationalities. We have renounced all title and ties to the structures of power so that we may more perfectly serve the divine mission placed upon us by the sainted Jerome Blake. Through strict adherence to the Word of Blake, we have recaptured, in ComStar, the unified spirit that mankind once knew and cherished."

With the light glinting off the sweat on his bald head, Tiepolo had begun to warm to his subject. "That rivalries and open hostilities exist among and between the various people gathered here is no secret. That many people fear what this union of man and woman will mean to the Successor States is not in doubt. Some see their share of power withering and would wish to reverse this loss. Others see energy draining away from their enemies and would seek to hasten the loss. Like selfish children," the Primus chided, "some gather to them the means of exploiting the less fortunate. This is pitiable.

"It is pitiable because this marriage does not involve loss." Tiepolo graced the Archon-Designate with a respectful nod. "This woman will gain a husband, and this man will gain a wife. It is the normal enactment of a cycle that has, for eons beyond counting, brought life into an entropic universe. The cycle of life is all that keeps man above savagery, because as man and woman struggle to create a better future for their children, they aspire to greatness. Facilitating and nurturing this growth of the Human spirit and invention is the cornerstone of Blake's Wisdom."

Tiepolo smiled as though he alone understood the true significance of his words. "This gathering, and the ceremony that will cap it, is a celebration of life, of unity, and of growth. We all gain through the wedding of Melissa Steiner to Hanse Davion. It is our wish that you will dwell with us here in this spirit of hope and affinity."

Tiepolo bowed, then drew to the side as Precentor Tharkad again moved forward to speak. The tall double doors on either side of the platform opened into the room beyond, from which Dan could hear the strains of a sonata for flute and clavichord.

Ulthar Everston listened to the music for half a second, then he spoke over it, but with reluctance "We ask you to join us in an evening of music, dance, and food." He waved a hand toward the doors on his right. "All waits for you within ..."

His words trailed off as though someone had dialed down the volume on his voice. Staring over the heads of the crowd, the Precentor's mouth opened as though to speak, then he licked his lips and simply remained silent as he watched the man who was coming now through the entrance.

Though physically small, the gray-haired, lantern-jawed Mech Warrior standing in the doorway commanded the attention of everyone in the room. He wore a cropped black jacket that was belted at the waist, and well-creased black pants with a red stripe down the side of each leg. Over his right shoulder hung a cape that was cinched across his chest with a silver chain. This left free the left shoulder of his jacket, which was intricately embroidered with a gray wolf's head and pelt, with eyes of ruby-red. Everyone immediately recognized the man as a member of the feared mercenary unit known as Wolf's Dragoons. Light caught at the wolf's head insignia on either side of his collar, but the only other indication of the man's rank or identity were three silver stars that glittered on the lower part of each jacket sleeve. The newcomer was none other than Colonel Jaime Wolf.