Ardan offered his arm to Candace. "As an usher, it will be my distinct pleasure to lead you to a seat. Do we consider you a friend of the bride or of the groom?"

Even Justin had a hard time keeping his face impassive at Candace's reply. "Why Colonel," she cooed, "that must have been a most difficult question for many of the guests to answer."

Though Ardan managed to smother a chuckle, amusement lit his handsome face. "Truer words have seldom been spoken. Citizens of Houses Marik and Kurita have split over the issue, though your father and sister have chosen to represent themselves as friends of the bride."

Justin nodded. "Choosing the lesser of two evils," he said evenly.

Ardan smiled cautiously. "An interesting perspective, Citizen."

Candace flicked a cool gaze at Justin, and he fell silent. Quite right, Candace. This is not the time or the place for rancor.

Candace slipped her arm through the crook of Ardan's elbow. "If you think the Prince would not find it offensive, Colonel, I would wish to sit on his side of the aisle. I do this as the first installment on the debt I owe him."

Ardan raised an eyebrow. "Debt, Duchess?"

"Yes, because the Prince did not attack the St. Ives Commonality after the unfortunate terrorist attack on Kittery. My passions do not run as hot, nor my blood run as cold, as they do for others in my family at the mere mention of Prince Hanse Davion's name."

"A wise decision," Ardan said with a slight smile before turning to Justin. "Citizen Xiang, if you will follow us."

Justin went along with them, but his mind was elsewhere. What game is Candace playing? Sitting away from the Chancellor while her sister sits close by can only serve to weaken her relationship with her father. Romano's stock may be very low with her father right now, but it rises with every passing day that ComStar does not punish House Liao. Candace must know that whatever she says to Ardan will get back to the Prince.

Organ music filled the cathedral with strong, impassioned notes as Ardan led the couple to a pew parallel to that occupied by the Capellan Chancellor and directly behind Jaime Wolf. Candace slid into the pew with a rustle of blue silk, but Justin genuflected automatically before joining her.

She laid her left hand upon his right. "Why did you do that?"

"Old habits die hard," he said with a shrug. "I was raised in the New Avalon Catholic Church, but I renounced my faith when Hanse Davion stripped me of my name. Since then, I have begun to study the Buddhist beliefs of the Capellan Confederation."

Candace squeezed Justin's hand. She nodded toward the altar where two men in gold-trimmed white vestments sat in canopied chairs emblazoned with medieval crests. "Perhaps, with your knowledge of religion, you could tell me why we have two priests to officiate at this wedding."

Justin leaned closer to the Duchess. "Those are cardinals, not just priests. The one on the left is Francis Flynn, of the New Avalon Archdiocese, and the one on the right is John Maraschal of the Tharkad Archdiocese. Because the Prince is New Avalon Catholic and the Archon-Designate is Roman Catholic, the wedding mass is to be concelebrated."

Candace frowned in puzzlement, prompting Justin to continue. "Two hundred and eighty years ago, when Stefan Amaris usurped the Star League throne, his goons occupied the Vatican. In response to the emergency, the Pope transferred church control to the Cardinals on the capitals of the five Houses. Unfortunately, the Pope's message to New Avalon was garbled in transmission, and the New Avalon Cardinal ended up believing he'd been given control of the entire Catholic Church.

"It took thirty years to elect a new Pope. During that time, the New Avalon branch of the Church initiated some reforms—such as allowing priests to marry—that created difficulties with the Church's mainstream. Since then, the two denominations have not reunited, though they openly recognize their common beginnings and respect each other's offices. To keep the peace, both Cardinals will officiate at the ceremony, though they will forego the mass that usually accompanies a wedding celebration."

Leaning back against the pew's oaken back, Justin allowed his mind to drift as he studied the beautiful architecture of the cathedral. Like the trunks of venerable redwoods, massive white marble columns rose strongly from the floor to support the vaulted ceiling. Above the central aisle, a vast stained glass mural depicting the Last Judgement glowed red, blue, and gold in the midday sun. Painstakingly exact reproductions of frescoes from the Sistine Chapel decorated the ceiling's vaults and won grudging admiration from Justin.

Once I would have marveled at these images and assumed that they thrilled me because of the story they represented.He glanced at a corner painting depicting David beheading the slain giant Goliath. Seeing that picture on a holodisk about Michelangelo inspired me to become a MechWarrior. Even now, it still has the power to take my breath away.

Justin studied the stained glass windows in the exterior walls, his gaze lingering on the huge rose window above and behind the ornate marble altar. I know the Church built this Cathedral from the rubble of churches destroyed during the Civil War started by Stefan the Usurper. But instead of it being a curious collection of unrelated styles, the unity of a theme binds everything together. Like the shrine back on Sian, this is a place of peace.

Justin smiled to himself. Be careful, warrior. If you begin to think like a philosopher, you will lose your edge. That edge is the only thing that keeps you alive.Justin chewed his lower lip. Grant the ceremony and the Prince the respect he and it are due.

Seeing Ardan Sortek escort the Archon to her seat in the front row on the left side of the aisle, Justin smiled slightly. Interesting to see the Archon in civilian dress instead of the paramilitary uniforms she normally wears. She is, indeed, a beautiful woman.

Another usher guided Marie Davion, the Prince's half-sister, to a spot of equal importance on the Davion side of the aisle. Michael Hasek-Davion, his hair in its characteristic braid, joined his wife. Justin narrowed his eyes. The Duke seems ill at ease. I suspect he sees this marriage as the destruction of his chances to take the Federated Suns throne.Justin caught himself. Still, as long as Hanse has no heir, Michael's path to the throne remains open. And as long as Michael is alive, he will aspire to the throne.

Moments later, the six ushers filed up the aisle and seated themselves further along in the front row. As members of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, all wore dress uniforms decorated with gold braid, medals, and campaign ribbons. They sat tall and proud, and for the barest of moments, Justin envied them.

Through a side door behind the altar, Morgan Hasek-Davion led the Prince to his place a third of the way down the aisle. Both men wore the deep blue uniform of the Davion Heavy Guards, but aside from the insignia of rank, neither had added any medals or ribbons to their jackets. Justin admired that. Neither of these men needs trinkets to remind others of their bravery. Anyone with eyes to see can read it in their stance and in their eyes.

As the organ music shifted smoothly to the familiar tones of a wedding march, all the guests rose as one and turned to face the rear of the Cathedral. Justin strained unsuccessfully to see through the crowd, but the growing wave of hushed whispers proceeding from the rear told him the procession had begun.

Finally, he saw the first members of the wedding party. Two young girls, nervously glancing back over their shoulders to make sure they were not outstripping those who followed, scattered rose petals along the aisle. The Prince smiled at them as they drew close, and the one nearest him giggled as she moved past.