Noton grimaced. Had I known that, Iwould have killed him. Never would I so maim another MechWarrior that he could not fight again.Noton looked up and saw Shang lost in the pleasure of tasting the kincha. Ah, Shang,he thought, has the Maskirovka made you forget your days as a MechWarrior? You have become so careless, and your addiction tokincha marks you as one of the Liao's Lost Legion. You disgraced yourselves when you lost Shuen Wan to Marik. Do you forget what it is to be a MechWarrior because you wish to forget losing thekincha's home-world, or is it that you believe MechWarriors are below your exalted height as a spymaster?

Shang opened his eyes. "I have arranged for your payment, as usual." Shang fished a silvery slip of paper from the pocket of his green silk jacket, and passed it across the table to Noton. Gray waited until Shang's attention returned to the kinchabefore reaching out for the paper. In the dying holo-light of the scarlet Waspcollapsing above him, he squinted and studied the ticket.

"Steiner Stadium, fifth fight?" Noton frowned. "The bet is too small to make any money on Philip Capet."

Shang nodded and his dark eyes flashed. "It has been arranged."

Noton pulled back and slowly shook his head. "You've fixed a fight with Capet in it? Impossible. He won't lose on command. We both know that—especially not against Capellans."

Blue light flashed from diamond chips as Shang waved away Noton's concerns. "He's in his Riflemanand he'll be fighting the Teng brothers. They'll both be in Vindicators.Your bet is that he'll leave Fuh Teng alive."

Noton nodded. "Sze Teng will die?"

Concentrating more on the kinchathan his answer, Shang nodded diffidently. "He has lost his nerve. He disgraces ancestors who, two hundred years ago, made the Vindicatora 'Mech to be feared. He knows it is time to die."

I will never understand your Capellan ways,Gray thought. They are .. . unnatural."But won't that affect how he fights?"

Shang flicked the kinchapit into the bowl. "He has been told that he will die in the rematch after he and his brother defeat Philip Capet."

Noton took a long drink of beer to forestall any comment. The brothers Teng were Maskirovka, too. They would follow Shang into Solaris's sun if he so commanded them. Noton lowered his glass. "Is there something that you want me to do?"

Shang thought for a moment, then nodded. "The MechWarrior who organized the defense on Kittery while you fought Major Allard is Leftenant Andrew Redburn. Keep your eyes and ears open and let me know anything you're able to learn about him."

Noton smiled and rose to leave. He made no move to drain his glass of beer, as other MechWarriors or denizens of Solaris might have. Shang's eyes flicked toward the beer and Noton suppressed a smile. Capellans—so bound up in traditions that confuse me, but still so easy to read. Because I leave that expensive, imported beverage, you take it as a sign that I am prosperous. Likewise, you will abandon your prizedkincha fruit to prove to me your own affluence. You will respect me for what I do, while I find your action laughable.

"Again, Gray, I offer you the praise of House Liao for your mission. I look forward to sharing similar successes with you in the future."

Noton smiled in the dimness of Midgard. "And I with you, Tsen."

6

Solaris VII (The Game World)

Rahneshire, Lyran Commonwealth

15 January 3027

Leaving Shang to his kinchafruit, Noton climbed the terrace steps and cut back along a narrow catwalk to a door linking Midgard with Valhalla on the far side of the garishly lit bar. Opposite the bar was a section of tables and booths kept intentionally dark. A bank of coolers set into the ceiling was so efficient at sucking up the smoke of everything from opium to Turin leaf that Noton caught only a hint of the acrid drugsmoke while passing among the tables. He never looked down, never tried to identify anyone in the cherry glow of a pipe, but marched straight ahead toward and through the shadowed doorway in the wall.

Noton brushed aside a thick black curtain and walked swiftly up a ramp that doubled back on itself and brought him to a lobby roughly above where he had spoken with Roger earlier. Set into the floor was a pressure plate where Noton stopped to allow the identiscanner's ruby red beam to play over him. Behind a clear, impact-resistant glass panel to his left, a security guard smiled. "Welcome, Mr. Noton."

Gray nodded in a brief salute. Facing him across the short lobby was a dark glass wall that prevented anyone from seeing into Valhalla, but that allowed those already inside to monitor approaching newcomers. From time to time, the denizens of Valhalla amused themselves by watching the guards conduct undesirables back down to Midgard, but most paid little attention to new arrivals.

Noton smiled, thinking that only one person there would be anxious about his arrival. As the wall's central panel slid noiselessly into the ceiling, Gray Noton entered Valhalla.

In accord with its name, Valhalla had been constructed as a Norse warrior's vision of paradise. Long and wide, the whole room was constructed from rare, imported woods cut into rough, unfinished planks. Animal skins hung from the walls, and garishly painted shields decorated pillars and posts. A holographic bonfire raged in the center of the room. Along with holographic torches stuck into wall brackets, the fire provided virtually all of the light for Valhalla.

Running the length of the room, from the door to a raised dais at the far end, were crudely built tables and benches. Mech-Warriors filled the tables, seating themselves in a rough hierarchy of skill and reputation. The best MechWarriors sat nearest the dais. The new warriors, or those on their way down, sat nearest the door. Male and female servers hurriedly passed up and down among them, carrying wooden mugs frothy with Tsinghai ale, or depositing plates of steaming meat and fresh bread before the customers.

Along either side of Valhalla, gray woolen curtains cut off dark alcoves from view. Alongside most of these hung a shield decorated with the arms of the MechWarrior or noble who owned that alcove. The nobles' booths were clustered nearer the door than were the alcoves of the MechWarriors. Even so, everyone on Solaris VII knew where the real power lay. Though it might be a great honor to sit with Snorri Sturluson in his alcove near the dais, it was usually more profitable to visit back further with a Duchess or Count from any one of the Successor States.

Noton waved a friendly greeting to the first few MechWarriors he knew, though he did not linger to chat. He usually enjoyed the company of other 'Mech pilots, even those doomed to live and die in the tempest world of the Games on Solaris. Tonight, however, there were other, more important matters on his mind.

Lo, though I walk through the valley of death, I shall not fear— I shall not linger ...Noton knew that any MechWarrior found in Valhalla was superior to 80 percent of the MechWarriors on the planet, and could best 90 percent of the MechWarriors in the Inner Sphere. He also knew that the Game World of Solaris was a deadend for MechWarriors because, unlike 'Mech pilots in service to the Lords of the battling Successor Houses, no one here could retire to a title and liege-gifted riches. As the name Valhalla suggested, these MechWarriors were already as good as dead.

Or they'll get smart and get out, as I have,Noton thought, admiring the shield that decorated his alcove. The device, a wispy, almost comical, ghost centered in a red crosshairs, reminded everyone of Noton's past glories. Legend-killer, they named me and myRifleman, and I spilled more alcove-owners from their havens than has anyone before me or since I "retired." Now, as an information broker, I consort with royalty and spill leaders from their thrones.Though some MechWarriors believed that Gray had betrayed their profession by making such a switch, most did not care. No one cared less than Gray Noton himself.