The Archon guided them toward a hovercraft and stood back as the door slid upward and melting snow dripped from it to the ground. Melissa preceded the others into the craft's dark interior. She seated herself with her back to the hovercraft's pilot and Leftenant Redburn sat down in the jump seat beside her. Ardan Sortek took the seat opposite Melissa and the Archon sat facing Redburn.

The Archon pressed a hidden pair of buttons. The hovercraft's door slid shut and the clear partition between the driver's compartment and the back slid open. At a nod from the Archon, Melissa stood up and said something in a low voice to the hovercraft pilot. The driver rose, too, and moved to the seat Melissa had vacated while Melissa made her way to the driver's seat.

When the whole exchange was complete, Katrina Steiner smiled. "Ardan," she said as the hovercraft pilot removed a woolen cap to let free a rain of golden hair around her shoulders, "I would like you to meet my daughter, Melissa."

* * *

Ardan Sortek, standing in the Archon's offices, turned to Simon Johnson and shook his head. "Even seeing them stand side by side, I cannot tell them apart. You have done a superior job." Ardan had suppressed a shiver, however, as he thought, This reminds me too much of what Max Liao almost accomplished with his duplicate of Hanse.

Johnson smiled. "I did nothing." He pointed to the Melissa on the right. "Jeana has worked long and furiously to become the Archon-Designate's double. Because she has voluntarily adopted the role, we believe she will be superior in her job." Johnson glanced over to where Redburn stood talking to the Archon and raised an eyebrow.

Ardan shook his head only slightly, as if to say, Redburn knows nothing of the double, or of his true purpose here.

Johnson took his cue from Ardan's curt shake of the head. "Thank you, Jeana. You may withdraw."

Jeana nodded and retreated from the room through one of the private and secure corridors built into the palace for the royal family's protection in even wilder times. Melissa crossed to a bookshelf and pressed a switch. The whole bookcase swung out to reveal a hidden bathroom and vanity. She glanced in the mirror. "I always feel an urge to make sure I'm still me after Jeana and I spend time together." She smiled and turned back toward the room. "Sometimes she seems more me than I do."

Ardan caught the tremor in Melissa's voice. He nodded to Johnson, then walked over to the girl. "What do you mean, Melissa?"

The Archon-Designate shrugged her bare shoulders, then tugged at the top of her gray gown. "Jeana is eight years my senior. She's a MechWarrior and she's so much more mature than I am. It's scary the amount of discipline she has and how com-, manding is her presence."

Ardan reached out and placed his hands on Melissa's shoulders. "You seem to forget how commanding is your own presence, Melissa, and how you've grown into your duty. I can see it." Remember, Ardan, though she is a woman in form, she is only seventeen years old. Melissa may have matured since last you saw her, but she has a way to go before she's ready for the responsibilities that await her.

Melissa frowned and bit her lower lip. "When I look at her, I see the person I could be. Perhaps I should just let her rule in my place when the time comes."

Ardan rocked back on his heels. "What's this? Why is she more worthy to rule than you?"

Melissa looked down at her feet. "She's a MechWarrior, just as my mother was—and as all the Archons have been."

Ardan gave Melissa's shoulders a squeeze. "As I recall, you did not study to become a MechWarrior."

"I was too skinny. They trained me for infantry." The dejection in her voice slowed her words to a dirge.

Ardan reached out with his right hand and tilted the girl's head up so that he could look her in the eye. "I seem to recall that you did well in that training. Didn't you once tell me to tell Hanse that he'd be getting a wife who could command the household infantry while he ordered his 'Mechs about?"

Melissa shook her head. "Those were games, Ardan. Jeana has had the will and discipline to become a MechWarrior and a champion triathlete. And she gave it all up to help protect me. That's the sort of sacrifice I could never make, and I don't think I'm worthy of someone else making such a one."

Ardan noticed Leftenant Redburn hovering by his shoulder. "Yes, Leftenant?"

Redburn swallowed hard and looked down at his feet. "Begging your pardon, sir, and your Highness, but I overheard that last remark." He looked up, embarrassed, and his brown eyes searched their faces for understanding. "I'd not intended to, you understand, but the Archon wants a word with you, Colonel. What I wanted to say, though, is that I think I understand some of what the Archon-Designate is saying."

Ardan narrowed his eyes, but found only pained innocence on Redburn's face. Just saying what you have, Leftenant, has taken more courage than anything you've done on a battlefield. I respect you for it.Ardan dropped his hand from Melissa's shoulder. "Please, Leftenant, share your thoughts." Ardan smiled at Melissa. "I'll be right back."

Melissa composed herself, then looked up at Andrew. "Yes, Leftenant Redburn?" Feeling on the defensive, her voice and manner grew icy, but her obvious vulnerability kept the tone from wounding him.

Redburn hesitated, then bobbed his head and spoke. "I know what you're afraid of, because I've been there. I've looked into the faces of raw recruits in a training battalion. I know that some of them, no matter how well I work with them, will die in their (irst battle. I know they'll go to their graves wondering why I wasn't there to save them. I know that just by trying to give them the skills they need to pilot a 'Mech, I'm probably teaching them just enough to kill them." Redburn looked down at his balled fists. "It's a hell of a responsibility."

Melissa nodded unconsciously. "How do you handle it? How can you accept it?"

Redburn shrugged and looked into Melissa's gray eyes. "I do the best I can because I know others would do worse. I hope my men's faith in me will make them believe in what I tell them. I pray that the training will give them something—anything—that will save them in a tight spot."

Redburn smiled wistfully. "The trick of it is, your Highness, that people just want someone to tell them everything is fine, or they want someone to blame when things go wrong. They want someone else to shoulder the responsibility so that they can get on with whatever else they need to do. I accept the responsibility for my men, just as you accept the responsibility for your people."

"Yes, but how do I know I can stand up under the pressure?"

Melissa's plea bored through Redburn like a PPC blast. He forced a smile to his lips, but his voice remained grim. "I don't know the answer to that question. I don't think anyone ever does until the time comes and they either stand or fall." Redburn's head came up and he winked at Melissa. "I do believe, however, that the only folks who even think about the question are the ones who have what it takes."

26

Tharkad

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

10 April 3027

Katrina Steiner, standing on the raised dais at the northern end of the Grand Ballroom, waited until the servants had circulated long enough to serve all the guests a glass of the rare wine. Then she lifted her glass toward the vaulted ceiling and smiled as the clear liquid reflected the image of her cousin Frederick—who stood pouting below the edge of the dais—and stood him on his head. "It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you here this evening."