Hanse turned back slowly. "Believe me, however, when I tell you that not for an instant have I regretted that choice. There are those who advise me against trusting you. They say you are a Hasek and they remind me that you spent your formative years in the Capellan March. Indeed, you sit nearest the thrones of two Houses. Were I to die without an heir, you would certainly be pressed into service as a candidate to succeed me."
Hanse smiled with sincerity at his nephew. "Still and all, I have come to understand one very important thing about you, Morgan. Because you have lived in both the Capellan March and the Crucis March, because of your education at Warriors Hall and NAMA, and because of your blood, you do truly understand what it means to belong to the Federated Suns. You are a Hasek and a Davion, but more than either one. No matter what, never doubt that you have my complete trust."
Morgan looked down for a moment as he collected his thoughts. He was touched by the fervor in the voice of the man who was his uncle and also his Prince. "Thank you, Hanse, for that trust. I don't want Marches to rule, nor do I want the power-that intoxicating, mindnumbing power that warps and twists people—that seems to go hand in hand with ruling some part of the Successor States. Once you have an heir, you can award me a small plot of land somewhere and let me live out my days as a country squire."
Hanse smiled. "You've been talking to Ardan Sortek too much."
Morgan shrugged. "Maybe so, but he's got the right idea. Politics is for those who know how to navigate the intricate and subtle patterns fate weaves. I served the Federated Suns willingly, but if I can keep the thread of my life clear of political entanglements, I will be more than happy."
Hanse glanced at his chronometer. "Well, it looks as though the time has come to tie another knot in fate's tapestry."
Morgan nodded, leading the way to the door. "Into the future, my Prince, a future of great happiness for you and your bride." Into a prosperous and secure future, my Prince, which I will do all in my power to make come true for you.
38
ComStar First Circuit Compound
Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra
20 August 3028
Justin refrained from making a comment as Colonel Ardan Sortek met him and Candace Liao just inside the cathedral's door. Sortek graciously bowed his head to the two Capellans. "Good afternoon, Duchess . . . Citizen Xiang."
Candace smiled politely at Ardan. "And to you, Colonel."
Justin nodded stiffly, keeping his voice flat and emotionless. "Colonel Sortek . . ."
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.