36

It took a week before the capital city and principal towns of New Avalon returned to normal. Hanse freed the imprisoned councillors and reinstated them with more pomp than usual. He hoped in this way to make some apology to them and also to reinforce the conviction, among the populace, that a great injustice had now been corrected.

In the meantime, the Prince's investigators discovered a network of informants throughout the Palace and even in the military. These were systematically weeded out and replaced with others known to be trustworthy. Ran Felsner took complete charge of the New Avalon contingent of the Royal Brigade again. His return from Stein's Folly at the tail end of the conspirator's plot had been convenient. He went right to work.

Hanse personally took charge of reorganizing the Court on New Avalon, and when the dust settled, there were some old faces missing and many new ones come in. Argyle, too, got its shakeup. Hanse had Cleery removed from his post with speed and neatness, then appointed Fani Littek as Maître in his place. Though many were dismayed by her promotion, most agreed she'd be perfect for the job.

Ardan, meanwhile, had been dispatched to Redfield to take part in the reconquest of that world. After a successful invasion, with only minimum Davion losses, he was soon back in Avalon City again. Seeing the many changes Hanse had been making, Ardan approved and was especially glad to see Maylor Efflinger still in place as Steiner ambassador. Without that man's help, Ardan believed that their desperate attempt to regain the throne would have failed.

One evening shortly after his return, Ardan stood looking down from the terrace as the pale sun vanished beyond the distant wall of the Palace garden. It was peaceful here, and Ardan was feeling the kind of pleasurable fatigue that often follows the successful resolution of a crisis.

Footsteps on the stone pavement caught his attention, and he turned. It was Hanse approaching, and for a moment, Ardan recalled that now-distant day when so much bitterness had existed between them. How glad he was to know that was all long past

"Just the man I wanted to see," the Prince said. "I was hoping to personally hand you this invitation for tomorrow evening."

"Invitation to what?" Ardan asked, unable to keep a note of irritation from his voice. "I'm too bone-weary to attend some fancy affair, Hanse. Can't we have done with all this, and get on with other business? What in the world are you up to now?"

Hanse chuckled. "You will see what you will see, my friend. Now, don't be difficult just when everything is beginning to fall back into place." With that, he clapped the younger man on the shoulder and shoved him toward the door. "And don't be late!"

Back in his own chamber after a session in the Cleaner, Ardan stretched out on the bed in his soft robe. He picked up the invitation and slit it open, reading half-aloud:"...the Palace ballroom...eight o'clock...full dress..." Damn! he thought Formal again.

He rose the next morning full of gloom. Ardan wanted to get back to his old work, without the confusing and distracting interruptions that seemed to crop up so often lately. This formal affair was not to his liking at all.

The day went quickly, for all that He was working with Lai and Nym again, putting a new Victorinto operational condition. The fine tuning of the neural helmet was a slow matter, and he spent hours in the 'Mech, testing the polymer muscles and weapons of the huge machine.

Dusk came before he knew the day was gone. Lai called up to him, "Sir, you have an engagement tonight. Remember. . .you asked me to remind you?"

Ardan sighed and climbed slowly down from his tremendous alter ego. "So I do. Remind me tomorrow that I have enjoyed it, will you? Ill never know, otherwise."

Lai chuckled, helping him on with his fatigue uniform. But Ardan didn't feel like chuckling as he made his way up the stair into the living quarters.

He found there a new dress uniform waiting for him. Hanse had evidendy sent it during the day. It was even more elaborate than the one he had worn into the dungeons on Argyle. What a get-up for a soldier!

He went into the Cleaner and came out scrubbed but still unhappy. The thing fitted perfecdy. He cursed Hanse's tailor. If it hadn't been a fit, Ardan could have worn a plainer outfit. Ready promptly at seven-thirty, he was waiting for his friends at the foot of the stair leading onto the walkway outside the barracks.

Hearing footsteps above, he glanced up. Then his jaw dropped. Sep was wearing the elaborate dress Prillie had chosen for her and that Efflinger had insisted she keep, Ardan now realized that he must have been so tense the last time she had worn the dress that he had not really looked at his second-in-command.

That had been-a major error. Sep looked stunning. She was, after all, a handsome woman, even sweaty and dusty as she went about her work. Now, her hair done high, her skin glowing with artfully applied makeup and the jewels that were the gift of Steiner blazing at neck, ears, and fingers, she might have been one of the most sought-after women of Davion's court.

"Close your mouth!" she snapped, seeing his face. Her eyes were twinkling, however, and her tone was not angry.

Though Ardan managed to compose his expression, his heart was jumping about in his chest. He had always known that Sep was nice to look at. He hadn't known she was beautiful.

Jarlik thumped him on the shoulder. "Get a move on, Dan. We don't want to be late. I suspect that the Prince is about to explain some things. I'm told that he has been investigating everything he could possibly burrow into during these past weeks. What I want to know is how the conspirators rigged those tests. That boggles my mind."

Ardan stepped out to keep up with his long-legged friend, but he was very aware that Sep, in her gold and white splendor, was just behind him. A delicate scent of flowers kept teasing him, and he didn't know if it came from the gardens or from her.

They arrived just on time. Lackeys were opening the wide doors from the terrace into the ballroom. A small group of people could be seen inside, already holding filled glasses that glinted with shades of golden and ruby wine. The three friends mounted the broad, shallow steps onto the terrace and entered the room.

"Here they are now," Hanse said. "Come in. I want to introduce my rescuers...and those who helped them in their dangerous endeavor." The Prince clapped his hands, and the people in the room quieted.

Ardan, looking about, saw Kolek and Prillie. He recognized a few other officers of the Guard, as well as several of the staff members of the Palace, now in their best as guests instead of servitors.

He felt increasingly uncomfortable. Was this some sort of award ceremony? He didn't like those at all.

But Hanse was speaking again. "I would have preferred to publicly thank all of you who assisted me in regaining my throne, but this is a matter best kept among ourselves." He glanced about the room.

"I ask each of you to speak little, if at all, of any of the matters we have experienced together over the past months. We know the truth. We won the day. Now we must keep the enemy from profiting by so much as a rumor."

There was a murmur of agreement in the room. Ardan, looking from face to face, knew that these were people of the most solid sort, dependable to the ultimate.

"There are many matters that have been troublesome, and some seemed inexplicable as well. I know that you have wondered, as I did, what really happened. We have now ascertained, as well as will ever be done, just how this sequence of events came about" Hanse motioned to waiters with trays of glasses.