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Dane adjusted his uniform top, checking his image in the mirror hanging in the chapel anteroom. He fingered the gold sash, slightly uncomfortable with the extra epaulets and brocade on his formal royal uniform, then let out a resigned sigh.
“You look very good, Sire,” said Layton.
“Do I?” replied Dane, then removed and repositioned the family crest on his chest for the third time. “Will Colonel Noiman think the same?”
“I believe so, Sire,” replied Layton.
“I feel like a toy soldier in this thing,” said Dane, annoyed. “All of you just get to wear your standard dress. Axel will probably laugh at all this. I’m amazed Rijkard had the ability to replicate these horrid things, and I’d almost forgotten how uncomfortable they are.” He twisted from side to side to get another view in the mirror.
“Yes, Sire.”
“And she’ll just be standing there in her dress uniform, laughing at me.”
“Do you really think so, Sire?”
“Yes, I do, Layton. Just laughing at me.”
“Of course, Sire.”
Dane looked at Layton and realized he was being humored, then decided to change the subject while continuing to fidget with his clothing
“And how is General Tannace?”
“Resting comfortably a few floors down, Sire. Under guard.”
“Good. We’ll deal with him in the morning. As for now,” Dane turned to Layton, arms held out in surrender, “I guess the show must go on.”
***
THE BALLROOM WAS AN enormous hall. All the splendor the earthmen could muster had been brought out for display. From the glistening chandeliers soaring high above the great dance floor, to the clinking of crystal champagne glasses, to the ornate sofas and settee’s trundled about, Rijkard had spared nothing in preparation for this celebration. Dane took in the room from his balcony perch; eying first the terraced gardens and graceful fountains outside to his right, then the musicians gathering at the far end of the hall, then finally to the huge flock of waiters serving the hundreds of guests at the bar to his left. His private observations were interrupted when the crowd noticed he and Layton and began to applaud noisily. The sound echoed around the room until it became nearly a roar. He raised his right hand to acknowledge them. Layton smiled at Dane, both of them overwhelmed and slightly embarrassed by the reception. When it didn’t subside Dane raised both hands in a motion of modesty, but the applause continued. It seemed Dane’s brush with death and treachery had made him even more popular with the Quantar exiles. He began to worry it would become the stuff of legend, and legends had a way of haunting the subject they deify.
Then Rijkard came forward and the crowd began to quiet. He held a champagne flute in his hand, and raised it to the crowd.
“I have not tasted champagne since the days of my youth,” he said. “Not in modesty, but to honor my service to the Holy Church. But today I see the wisdom in honoring what God has done for us, and for your people, a people of destiny, and a man of destiny. God has raised up a young man to lead you, and we are here to honor him. Your time of liberation is at hand, and I give you the one through whom God has chosen to deliver that liberation, Sire Dane Cochrane of Quantar!”
Then Rijkard raised his glass and drank, and the crowd erupted in applause again.
“Heady stuff!” said Layton into Dane’s ear. Dane merely nodded acknowledgement, any reply would have been drowned out by the din. Finally it became obvious they would not stop until he spoke. He took a step forward, then raised a hand to the crowd. This time they quieted.
“People of Quantar, and of the Sanctuary. Tonight is a celebration, and should be treated as such. But let us not forget, the hardest part is still ahead, and that work begins tomorrow.”
The crowd moaned at this. Dane swallowed hard, wondering if he would lose them. He quickly continued:
“But for tonight, we rejoice in our coming victory, the unity of our people and my family, and we acknowledge the gracious help of our host, Dr. Rijkard, and all the assistance he and the Sanctuary has given.” There was warm applause at this, and Dane felt his confidence returning. “So let the music begin, and let us enjoy this night. Thank you.” There was warm applause again, and much to his relief the orchestra began playing at his queue and people made their way to the dance floor to begin the evening’s festivities.
“Whew!” said Layton, “I wasn’t sure you were going to make it out of that one.”
“My father always told me, when all else fails, strike up the band,” the two men shared a laugh, then made their way down the ornate marble stairway to the ballroom floor, where Dane was mobbed by well-wishers. He looked around for Axel, but couldn’t find her among the uniformed Quantar officers. Slowly, and he hoped politely, he made his way through the crowd toward Rijkard. Once engaged with him, Layton made his apologies.
“I’m going to look for Tera,” he said. Dane nodded as Layton winnowed through the crowd, then turned to the master of the Sanctuary.
“You have great confidence in me,” he said. Rijkard nodded.
“Not so much in you, Sire, but in God.”
Dane looked at him curiously. “I could still fail, and we could all be killed,” he said.
“God will not allow that, I’m certain. It is prophesied.”
“Prophesied? Do you know how many failed prophets litter the pages of history?” said Dane. Rijkard nodded.
“Many,” he said, “But God has seen to our needs in this matter, and we are prepared to take our place in history. You will be victorious, Dane Cochrane.”
“Against Starliners? I wish I could be so sure.”
Rijkard smiled. “You’re doubter, I see. Very well then. Tomorrow I will show you a great secret.”
“A secret?”
Rijkard fixed his gaze upon Dane, and locked eyes with him. “The source of our power.”
Dane felt the intuitive knot in his stomach, not in fear, but as he had felt it in the library; the power of truth. He found himself unable to break Rijkard’s gaze, and felt for the first time why he was the leader of this place, felt the power of his presence. It was a presence with which Dane knew he could not contend.
“Tomorrow?” Dane asked, voice cracking. Rijkard nodded, then spoke so that only Dane could hear.
“Tomorrow I will shed these priest’s garments, and become a warrior.” Dane knew in that moment he wanted this warrior on his side. Then Rijkard smiled, breaking the gaze, and slapped Dane casually on the shoulder.
“But tonight is for you, Sire. Celebrate. You are young. Go find Colonel Noiman. I’m sure she is as anxious for your company as you are for hers.”
“Of course,” said Dane, still taking in all Rijkard had said. And then the doctor was gone through the crowd, Sanctuary priests gathering to him as he went. Dane stood alone for a moment, collecting himself. He felt as if he had just woke from a strong dream, and that it still held his conscious thoughts. Vaguely he became aware he was being spoken to. He turned to see an attractive dark-haired Major of the Quantar Guard talking to him and holding out a glass of champagne.
“I... I’m sorry. What did you say?” said Dane, automatically taking the glass from her.
“I said my name is Madrey Margretson, Sire.”
Dane just looked at her, confused. “Major Madrey Margretson?” he finally said.
“Yes,” she smiled, covering her mouth a bit as if she were embarrassed by her own name. “It is rather a mouthful isn’t it?”
“Yes,” replied Dane. “Yes it is.” He stood there with her, his mind still numb from the encounter with Rijkard, not able to think of a thing to say.
“Sire, would you like to dance?” she said.
“What?” came Dane’s clumsy reply. She smiled the embarrassed smile again.
“I asked you if you would like to dance.”
Dane looked desperately around the room for Axel, couldn’t find her amongst the many blue-clad Quantar officers, and was unable to think of a single reason to say no. So he gathered himself and said:
“Yes, I would.” Then he took her by the arm and led her to the dance floor. The crowd, watching his every move, began to applaud, and suddenly Dane realized his dreadful mistake, and knew that he was finished.
Axel will never forgive me, he thought.
Colonel Axel Noiman was in a balcony anteroom, frantically trying to adjust her dress to fit properly, but to no avail. She and Tera had hidden away here to finish their preparations for the ball.
“I can’t believe I’ve lost this much weight since the Starliner!” Axel said, frustrated.
“Hold still ma’am,” said Tera, who was busily trying to sew in her superior officer’s bodice. The orchestra music came muffled through the door.
“Just a moment ma’am, I’ve nearly got it!” Axel stopped her fidgeting, put her hands to her hips and said,
“Is there no way to get you to stop calling me ‘Colonel’ and ‘ma’am’?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just not comfortable being so familiar with officers,” replied Tera.
“Well, I suppose there are worse traits. And you are rather handy. Without that sewing kit I’d being showing Sire Cochrane far more than would be appropriate.”
“But nothing he hasn’t seen already,” teased Tera.
Axel smiled at the good-humored barb. “Yes,” she said, “But I don’t ever want him to take me for granted. That’s the first rule of love.”
“And war?”
“This is the kind of war I’d much rather fight. Aren’t you finished yet?” said Axel, returning the barb.
“Just now. There.” Tera ruffled out the gown with her hands and adjusted the bodice again.
“Enough,” said Axel, sweeping Tera’s hands away, then went to the mirror. She turned once from side to side, hands on hips, admiring herself. “What do you think?” she said.
“Perfect!”
The roar of the crowd got their attention. “What on earth could that be?” asked Tera.
“Let’s find out,” said Axel, and headed for the anteroom door.
* * *
“WE MET ONCE,” SAID Madrey Margretson over the orchestra music, “At a reception for military families in KendalFalk. My father was a member of the palace guard. You were sixteen, I was twelve.”
Dane looked at her, unable to keep from admiring her natural beauty and her grace as a dance partner.
“Well, you certainly don’t look twelve anymore,” he said, rather clumsily.
“Thank you, Sire, she smiled again, flushing her cheeks with a warm red glow.
She is beautiful, thought Dane. Steady, man. Just finish the dance and hope Axel hasn’t arrived yet.
Dane was happy to see there were others dancing around them, providing him some cover. As the orchestra began to wind down Dane thought he might actually escape the situation with minimal damage done. Then something caught his eye, high and away, on a balcony overlooking the dance floor, a color.
Auburn. Her hair and her dress.
Oh God, she’s worn the dress from the Starliner for me, he thought. Idiot!
Axel and Tera stood on the balcony, Tera subdued at the sight below, Axel fuming.
“That! That! Oh!” was all she could muster.
“Ma’am?” quizzed Tera.
Axel turned and brushed past her, back into the anteroom. Tera followed. Inside, Axel paced back and forth, seething with anger.
“That oaf! Who does he think he is? The Director? Well of course he’s the Director, but still...”
“Ma’am?” Axel continued pacing, lost in her anger.
“He couldn’t wait? One bloody dance?”
“Ma’am,” she continued to pace.
“He has no sense for my feelings. Probably be a terrible husband anyway...”
“Ma’am!” said Tera loudly.
“What is it?” shouted Axel.
“Perhaps there is an explanation.”
“What explanation?” she said, then quieted, crossing her gloved arms. “I’m listening.”
“I might suggest, before you jump to conclusions, that you try to find out what the situation really is.”
“It seems to me bloody obvious what the situation is!”
“Still, ma’am, you should at least find out what his story is. Flit about a bit, intrigue him, try to get his attention.”
Axel contemplated this a moment. “And then?”
“Make him pay.”
Axel began to smile.
* * *
BY THE TIME DANE COULD manage to maneuver the Major back into a position where he could see the balcony again, Axel was gone. Probably for good, he thought. It’s what I deserve for being such a fool. He returned his attention to his dance partner.
There could be worse consolations, he thought, then brushed it out of his mind. The music ended and Dane bowed gracefully, promising a return engagement. If I’m still alive, he thought, then made his way through the crowd to find Layton. After a few moments, he was successful.
“I can’t find Tera,” complained Layton.
“She’s in the anteroom above the balcony, with Colonel Noiman, but we’ve got bigger problems,” said Dane. Layton’s face grew concerned.
“What, Sire?”
“Colonel Noiman saw me dancing with another woman.”
Layton couldn’t suppress a smile.
“This is serious, man!” insisted Dane. Layton straightened himself, hands clasped behind his back to indicate attention.
“And, uh, just how did you find yourself in this predicament, Sire?” he asked.
“That’s not important now,” said Dane. “Suffice to say that I’m an idiot.”
“Yes, Sire,” said Layton, smile returning.
“Damn it, man, will you help me or not? I could order you!”
“That won’t be necessary, Sire. What do you need?”
Dane looked about uncertainly. “Well, first I’ve got to find her, to explain. Maybe she’s left the Sanctuary and returned to barracks, I don’t know. But once I find her, then, well, then I’ll make the biggest apology of my life.”
“The apology will be necessary, Sire. But I don’t think you should have much trouble finding her.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s there,” said Layton, pointing to the dance floor.
The handsome young guardsman swung Axel around gracefully, obviously delighted to be dancing with so renowned and beautiful a woman. The fact that she had asked him for the dance, well, that just seemed to be the way of things these days. The crowd applauded at the sight of her, and she acknowledged them with a broad smile, a tip of the head and a flourish of the auburn gown.
Axel glanced at the crowd to look for signs of Dane. Within a few moments she spotted him, but did her best to appear to ignore him. He stood with Layton, hands on hips, looking repentant. But not enough just yet, she thought.
“Layton, get me a drink. I can see this is going to be a long night.”
Layton went and returned quickly with a glass of champagne. Dane drank as Axel danced with one young guardsman after another. She appeared not to notice him, but Dane knew better, so he drank slowly, taking his medicine contritely, waiting for his opportunity.
It was well into the evening when Axel ended her dancing and then struck up a conversation with Colonel Gweneth and some of his senior officers. Dane stayed close, pretending to be in important conversation, but keeping a respectful distance from her.
Axel pretended to listen intently to the pompous Gweneth. “As I was saying,” he said, “Our strategy must take into consideration economic as well as military means to liberate our world. For instance...” Just then Dane broke from his conversation to take another glass from the waiter and move ever closer to her.
“Colonel Gweneth, could we take this engaging conversation out to the terrace, I should like to get some fresh air.”
“But of course!” Axel took his arm and they headed for the terrace.
When Dane turned back from the waiter, Axel was gone. He searched for her, finally spotting her on the outside terrace, where several guests had gathered. It was time to take action. He went through the crowd until he found Layton, alone with Tera in a dark corner of the ballroom.
“Layton,” he said quietly but sharply. Layton stirred, then moved from the shadows, buttoning his loosened collar as he came.
“Yes, Sire,” he said. His demeanor giving away nothing to indicate any displeasure at his Director’s abrupt re-appearance.
“I have work for you. Colonel Gweneth is on the terrace with Axel. I want you to call him away.”
“Sire?”
“I said call him away.”
“For what?”
“I don’t care, man! Make something up. Just do it now. That’s an order.”
Layton looked behind him to his girl, then finished buttoning his collar. “Yes, Sire,” he said, then he was off.
Dane stood awkwardly for a moment, then nodded at the shadowed Tera before moving off to observe. Within a minute an on-duty Guardsman approached Gweneth and saluted. The Colonel listened, then nodded resignedly and made what appeared to be apologies to Axel. Then he was gone as Axel continued to converse with one of the many young men she had danced with. Layton re-appeared at Dane’s side.
“Done, Sire. This is your chance. Don’t blow it.”
Dane smiled sheepishly. “Thank you, Layton. You may, uh, resume.” Layton just nodded once and then watched Dane head to the terrace, approaching Axel from behind.
He had closed to within twenty feet of her when he saw the young guardsman she had first danced with approaching from the other side. Dane realized the guard would get there first, and panicked. Without thinking, he acted.
“Colonel Noiman!” he said loudly. Axel turned abruptly at the sound of his voice, surprise etched across her features. The young guard saw Dane coming and stopped in his tracks. Seizing his advantage, Dane walked briskly up to her and took her by the hand.
“Sire?” said Axel, loud enough for the entire crowd to hear. “What’s all this about?” she protested, looking from Dane to the guard.
“Military business,” he said, nodding to the crestfallen guard as they passed.
“But, Sire!” Axel was caught off-guard by this frontal assault, unable to muster a reply. Dane pulled her convincingly down the terrace steps, past a fountain and into the dew-damp garden. The young guardsman resignedly watched them go, outranked by important business, then shuffled off, his evening ended in disappointment.
Once out of sight Axel began to gather her wits and fight back.
“Let go of me!” she demanded.
“Not yet!” he said back, holding on to one silk-gloved arm as firmly as he dared.
“Where are we going?” she demanded again.
“Waterloo,” said Dane.
“What?”
They rounded a bend and Dane stopped, pushing her firmly up against a yew hedge with his hands on both shoulders. She stared back at him defiantly, piercing fire in her eyes. Dane realized he had crossed a line now and there was no going back. He let go of her and got down on one knee, taking her left hand in his right. He spoke quickly so as not to lose the moment.
“Colonel Axel Noiman of Quantar, I hereby completely and totally, without terms, surrender to you. I apologize for my boorish and stupid behavior. It was insensitive and doltish of me.” He paused then.
“Go on,” she said. Dane looked perplexed, then stumbled out more words.
“I didn’t realize what I was doing until it was too late. I had just finished talking to Rijkard, and, well, he kind of leaves me in a daze sometimes, and it’s just, well...”
“You’re babbling.”
“Yes,”
“It’s cold out here.”
“Of course,” Dane rose and removed his sash, then his uniform tunic and placed it over her shoulders to warm her, leaving him in only his white dress shirt in the autumn air. He looked into her eyes, soaked in the beauty of her face in the moonlight. The flash of defiance was there still, but he had already come this far. He pushed his face into hers and kissed her passionately, feeling the anger melt out of her bit by bit as their lips met. He pulled back again.
“Damn it,” he said, frustrated. “What I’m trying to say is that I love you, and I don’t care about what Rijkard says. Imperial politics be damned! It’s you that I want, and no one else, ever!” He went down to one knee. “Axel, I want us to be-”
“Sire!” The voice was loud, the tone grave, and it belonged to Layton. The knot in Dane’s stomach returned instantly and he knew intuitively that this interruption was necessary and of great importance. He stood to face a crestfallen Axel.
“Wait here,” he said, then moved off to talk privately with Layton, who had brought two Quantar sentries with him.
“Sire, my apologies-”
Dane held up a hand to him. “Save it. I know you wouldn’t interrupt for anything but an emergency. What is it?
Layton swallowed hard. “Our operatives on Zaed Vadela Three have reported Bennis’s Starliner left Quantar orbit four hours ago. Direct heading for the base. They’re worried. Bad, Sire.”
Dane nodded. “They should be. Can we contact them?”
“Not in time. We should know of an attack within the hour.” Dane didn’t hesitate.
“Call the staff. I’ll be along in a few minutes,” he said. Layton started to move off with the sentries.
The knot tightened in Dane again as he watched them start to go. “Belay that,” he called out to Layton. “Wait here for me.” Then he turned back to Axel, the knot growing stronger with every step. He stood at her side, taking her hand in his. Layton stood off in the shadows, trying to give them a private moment they all knew was impossible now. Dane debated the words he had nearly spoken, the warnings of Rijkard, and then made his decision.
“They’re coming,” he said to her. “I’m calling the staff together.”
Axel nodded silently, wavering for a moment between woman and soldier. Seeing no movement in him, she took action.
“I’ll get changed,” she said, then went to move past him. His gentle hand on her arm stopped her. He whispered into her ear.
“Axel, no matter what happens, no matter what I say or do in the days ahead, always remember that I love you,” then he kissed her again just once. When she opened her eyes he was already walking off into the night with Layton.
And Axel stood alone in the darkness, and shivered.