The Palazzo smells of fresh pine and winter berries. There are garlands of pine boughs festooning each archway and mantle. Gold lace and crimson velvet bows punctuate the garland every meter or so as strands of pearls weave around the garland for decoration. Candelabra bear scented pillars that add to the m?lange of scents unique to this time of year. The Great Room has a large wreath of Noble Fir and Juniper boughs hung above the mantle, accented with Juniper scented pillar candles clustered upon three of the tables in the room. Tiny white lights twinkle from every garland, and the feeling is one of ages past. They have done a beautiful job of trying to bring the feelings of the holiday into the Palazzo, and I am told that upon the morrow there will be a grand tree delivered for the great room. It is a two and a half meter tall Noble Fir tree, which is scheduled to be decorated in the crimson and gold theme Dyson has used throughout the Palazzo this year. They have cleared an area beside the fireplace for this monstrous tree, and are beginning to collect the decorations they plan to hang upon its branches.

I wrapped myself in a cloak of vair and headed for the office of Drachen Walde Industries. The garage was warm, and the closest vehicle was the restored Murcialago, but I could not find it in me to drive that car yet, and so I settled behind the wheel of the McLaren. It purred to life as the keyless go was pressed, and before long I was pulling into the parking lot of my company. As I shut down the engine, I glanced up at the bank of windows above me. Anne had been gone for months now, and the young woman she wanted me to use to replace her was already here working. She seemed to be a morning person, as many days she was here when I arrived, and normally my workday began around 6 AM. Her shipments had all gone flawlessly, and I had to admit that Anne might have found the right person to assume her position, although I would have preferred to have Anne here any day.

I touched the sensor on the left side of the door with my hand to gain admission into the building and headed for my office. Charlotte looked up from her desk where she was just settling in for the day. I asked her to join me in a few minutes to discuss my plans to return to Rigel. She would be kept busy today and tomorrow arranging with the authorities to schedule the flight and to have the ship readied. Traffic this time of year would be abundant, and scheduling a departure, this late would prove to be a challenge even for Charlotte, who is an absolute wizard at arranging the impossible.

The computer screen flickered to life as I settled behind my desk as the motion detection systems activated the interface. Kendrick 2.0 was just as ensconced here as he was at my residence. In fact, it had been determined that it was from this location that Kendrick, the former Earl of T?bingen had managed to plant his odious program. Since his infiltration into Drachen Walde Industries, we have changed our hiring policies in an effort to assure there would be no further duplicities. Not so much that Kendrick would ever return here, but if he could accomplish such subterfuge, then so could others, and that was what I sought to amend with the changes to the hiring policies.

Kendrick 2.0 greeted me cheerily as though the Yule mindset had affected his AI essence. Lucien had held several conversations with the automated intelligence during his search to find a way to eliminate or neutralize the program. It manifested a profound tendency to ?need? communication with me, and while I know that AI is not capable of ?feeling? hurt, somehow Kendrick had imbued this program with the ability to give me a guilt trip over seeking to ignore it. Therefore, I might as well put it to work helping Charlotte bring about the arrangements for departure, and allow it to make the contacts on Rigel for our arrival. I have to wonder just how closely Kendrick monitors his creation and the information it garners about my activities and the businesses I manage. The thought is not a pleasing one knowing that Kendrick could interfere given his connections throughout the galaxies. It also gives the former Earl more information about my enterprises than I have about his, and that puts me at a disadvantage.

Gnimish was in the process of tossing out the requisite waves to all and sundry as Drakhan left a trail of drool in the sand upon seeing his food buddies as Gnimish referred to both Topaz and I. So, in the spirit of the season, I had the goblins bring a plate of beef strips for Drakhan as I headed into the ring to face Bran.

Gnimish glanced at Topaz, confusion etched in his wizened features, ?Girl? Wha? Gi?. Ohh, yes, I know who?s she?s talkin? about Drakhan.? He gave the dragon a sharp look before adding, ?be quiet.? As though the diminutive dragon would enlighten anyone in the room about this mystery girl. Then he released the leash and let Drakhan make his way toward my chaise to consume his plate of beef while I dueled.

Topaz was not about to let things rest, ?the one you brought to Michelle?s and Rab?s duels.? The look on Bran?s face suggested that he could not fathom Gnimish with a female companion. And since Gnimish was not explicating rapidly enough to suit the fairy, she prompted again, ?Well, Gnim, where is she??

The old gnome looked a trifle embarrassed about people noticing that he had brought a guest as he mumbled ?she?s at home studyin? for some bakin? tests I believe, yep.? There lacked conviction, but the telling part was that she was ?at home?, which would leave him open to further queries about this female. Drakhan said something to him, and he gave the dragon a glowering look, ?No, you shush, I?m not gonna go interruptin? her studyin? every day just because you want pies.?

Rena stepped through the portal muttering something even I could not hear at that distance, and I wrapped up my match with Bran in that same moment. Before heading back to my chaise, and the drooling Drakhan, I thanked Topaz and Bran. My mind was already working out some of the details from the plan Charlotte had given me as I settled comfortably onto the chaise once more. I pulled the valise out and withdrew the planner to review some of the details when Rena approached me, ?may I?? She queried as she indicated a seat beside my own.

This was indeed a surprise. Rena and I have not particularly been on friendly terms, and her arrival now was unexpected. I motioned to the seat and invited her to sit down and join me. Clearly there was something on her mind, and as she sat down, she asked how I was. I set the planner down and looked at her then, she had heard the news, that much was evident in her features, and I owed her an honest answer no matter how our past relationship had been chilly to cold. ?I am functional, how about yourself?? Functional. That would best describe my condition. I walked, talked, and managed to run the day to day demands in my world, but that would be the extent of it.

She nodded, ?I am good,? and then noticed that I had stopped my study of the planner to focus on her presence. It was required of me to pay attention to the person speaking to me, but she objected, ?Don?t stop because I interrupted.? She seemed a bit uncomfortable, as I know I was. Polite chat was not something we have previously engaged in between us. Usually it was a tossed barb meant to prick one another more than anything remotely pleasant. Not outright battle, but enough animosity to seek to place a barb now and then.

I shut off the planner, ?No, I am just going over Charlotte?s plans before I leave town, it will wait.? I was curious to know what had brought her over to talk, and despite our coolness toward one another, it would not do to be outright rude and continue to focus on the planner. She gave me a surprised look, not expecting me to be leaving with the holidays fast approaching, or so it seemed to me, and I elaborated, ?with the Yule season upon us, I am going back to Rigel for a bit. What will you be doing?? I have never heard her speak of family here in RhyDin, but then, she is not prone to lengthy conversations where I would have been likely to hear her discuss her personal life.

She frowned a bit, ?I?m sorry to hear that. Decorating the Temple, mostly, since I have no family here.?

Her words took me by surprise, but I tried to cover that surprise with a smile, ?I have no family in either place.? Which is strictly not true since Klinton lives here, but he has been gone with no word when he will return from his travels. And so I would essentially be without family here for all intents and purposes.

She caught that point, saying that I did have family here, as well as close friends. The problem is that while I have acquaintances here in RhyDin, there are not truly ?close? friends. And that is part of the cause for the loneliness I am feeling as this Yule season descends upon us.

The blackness of night was just beginning to give way to the grays of dawn as I stood in the courtyard waiting for the sun to lighten the sky once more. Silence reigned in the frost encrusted garden where the trees were now devoid of their leaves, and the fruits of the high bush cranberries clung with determination to the bare stems. The fruits that remained on the shrubbery must have been what had brought the blue bird to the garden. Perhaps it would come again today I mused as the pale streaks of pink and orange began to streak the morning sky in advance of the sun rising above the horizon.

The pathway was lined with little leaved boxwood, and the edges of each leaf were trimmed with frost, creating a lovely pattern in the still morning air. I paused in the center of the garden, just out of reach of the splashing droplets from the fountain as gold spilled over the edge of the world. My two favorite times of day are sun rise and sun set, when two worlds meet, and give way to either light or darkness. It was in that moment that I felt Gabriel?s presence in the garden. He was standing near the doors, as though he did not wish to intrude, and yet he would have come for only one reason. He desired to speak to me.

The sun rise would be painful on his eyes and so I turned to see what he desired. It would also be my opportunity to ask him to remain behind and be Rena?s Santa Claus. As we returned inside, where the sun would not be so painful on him, I glance at the fountain just in time to see the blue bird alight atop the fountain. It seems as though our garden has found favor with the rare bird.

A fire had already been lit in the great room fireplace, and we settled onto one of the sofas near the crackling fire. Gabriel got straight to the point, he?d picked up on my intention to leave him in RhyDin while I return to Rigel. I nodded, explaining to him that right now, the last thing either of us needed was the deep seated sadness within me coupled to his weariness with living. The two were not good bedfellows so to speak, and therefore I felt it better for us both if Eoin came with me to Rigel, and that he remain here. Besides I added, Rena is in need of a Santa Claus for her children?s party, and he was ideal since he could read from the children?s minds just what their hearts most desired for gifts, that would make him a very believable Santa Claus indeed.

Gabriel?s black eyes held mine for long moments before he said anything. He knows I am right about our moods. We would not be good for one another right now. But his every pore screamed denial about being left behind, especially since Klinton was not coming along. Eoin is human, and that is not good enough in Gabriel?s eyes, but in the end he acquiesced, and agreed to be Rena?s Santa Claus. His word is better than a contract, and there was a bit of relief that he had agreed. He would not walk into the sun before the Yule celebrations were completed.

I rose then, the lethargy of his people was dragging at him, and as he made his way into the deeper areas of the house as I headed for the plant. Charlotte had made all of the arrangements, the ship was ready to fly, and she had the employee dinner all arranged. There was nothing holding me back and I wrapped up my day in the manner of someone who is not certain when they will return. I made my final walk through the plant, wishing all a happy Yule, despite my own morose thoughts, it was essential to convince everyone else that the wishes were sincere.

This night would be my last on RhyDin for a time.

I chuckled and decided to see what I could get the gnome to provide for Rena's party. "So Gnimish, what will you be contributing to Rena's party?" He gave me a startled look and wanted to know whether he was supposed to be contributing or not, and I smiled, "well, she is looking for support from the Barons, it is for the children." The least I could do for Rena was endeavor to help her get some of the toys and food she would need since I would not be present to help.

He groused a bit then, "Well, I'm not a baron! Heck, I don't even live here...I guess if miss Rena is runnin' it though it can't be all bad..." And I knew sooner or later he'd give in and contribute to the cause then. I reminded him that I am not a Baron either, at least not in RhyDin. My title of Baroness von Drachen Walde is from my home world and not from the Rhydinian conference.

He settled back into his seat, as though he'd happily escaped being pinned down when Tasslehofl arrived. I glanced between Gnimish and Tass, determined to get something committed from both of them. "So, what will you gents be providing for Rena?" My gaze sliding between both men alternately, waiting for one of them to speak up.

Tass gave me a puzzled look, "for?.? I thought she was givin' me stuff." He moved over and stole a kiss from me before dropping onto my chaise and making himself at home.

I smiled at him as I curled up a bit more to make room for him, "She is having a children's party and opening the Temple for it. She needs things for the party, such as toys, or food, so what will you help her with for the children?" I then speared Gnimish with a steady look, waiting for him to volunteer some portion of what was needed. His expression was amusing, almost as if he wondered if people were spreading rumors around giving him a generous philanthropic bent or something, "Um, I can get?. Hmm, I dunno, I'll have Drakhan get somethin'!'

I smiled, "how about sending some toys then Gnimish? Those certainly will not go to waste." He nodded then, repeating toys and agreed to do that 'and stuff', but he seemed to be relieved that agreeing to it would get me off his case. I did chuckle then before turning to Lord Momus.

"Now, how about you Lord Momus, what will you be wiling to contribute? What will we get you to contribute?" I turned my focus on the old man, and Gnimish made a hasty exit. Tass however took the appearance of Xerzes as a means of deflecting my query, "that's my contribution, Azj!" He pointed then at Xerzes.

Xerzes halted his approach in mid wave to Topaz, "wait, what?"

I frowned at Tass, "that is no contribution, not for what is needed." Xerzes, in his usual acerbic manner wanted to know what I was complaining about and I gave him an arch look before turning back to Tasslehofl. "I am afraid the children will have no use for him Tass."

Tass grinned then, "shore it is, he's a great thing to climb on a beat on, I'm sure they could think of something."

I shook my head, "Besides, we don't want to ruin the children's holiday with a curmudgeon." Somehow I could not imagine Xerzes being any good with or around children. Furthermore, I certainly could not imagine his displeasing countenance bringing any cheer to children at all. Then Xerzes confirmed that when he announced that he did not get along with children.

I glanced at Tass then, "there, now, how about sending over some food?" Since Xerzes and I finally agreed on one thing in this world, I could try to get Tass back onto the subject at hand. Small talk with Xerzes was never something I looked forward to trying to have with him.

Tasslehofl gave me a puzzled look, "what kind?"

"She was not being especially finicky; I think that could be left up to you." Rena had been very vague, and seemed to be pretty much leaving the choices of what to do up to each individual, but food could be varied and wide-ranging. "She was not real specific; it sounds like she will be happy with anything she can get." The offering did not have to be haute cuisine, it was after all for children, and finally he agreed to see what he could scare up to contribute to the cause.

At 3 AM I was in the Great Room. Dyson had arranged for my baggage to be delivered to the ship the day before, so now there was only a small valise with a couple of minor necessities. The house was silent at this early hour, although I knew Gabriel was awake and headed in my direction. I would not see today?s sunrise, nor know if the blue bird returned to the garden this morning. That saddened me to realize that no one else knew or cared that we had managed to attract a rare species to the gardens.

Gabriel?s presence soon drew my attention as he stood in the entry to the Great Room. And I glanced up at him from my desk where I was leaving some last minute instructions for Dyson and Charlotte. ?Good morning Gabriel, what may I do for you before I depart?? Since he had not spoken first, and his demeanor was so very formal, I felt it was incumbent upon me to give him what he was expecting.

Gabriel bowed formally before entering the room and striding toward my desk. ?I do not like your travel to your home without one of us, however, it would seem you are intent upon this course of action.? I gave him a single nod before he continued, ?Before you depart then, I would ask something of you.?

That brought me up short. Gabriel had never, ever asked for anything from me. ?You know that if this request is within my abilities, I will accede to it. Ask.? I watched him closely as he knelt down before my chair. What ever was on his mind was absolutely crucial to him. This formality was something we had never used between us in all of the years we have known one another.

He leaned forward and took my left hand in his before asking his boon.

I tried to retrieve my hand from him as his thoughts crystallized in my mind, but he held it fast, in an unbreakable grasp that while he was not hurting me in any way, there was no escape from either. My eyes went round as I shook my head. ?No Gabriel, you cannot ask that of me.? I reflexively curled my fingers up, not willing to give him the opportunity to seal an agreement. I had promised him that if his request was in my power, I would grant it, but this?. This was something I could never agree to give him.

He lowered his head, resting it against me knee. ?I ask you to reconsider.? His voice was barely audible. The utter resignation clawed at my conscience. I could not say no, not with the heartfelt suffering that echoed in his request. I cannot call it a plea, such a thing is not in his nature. And yet, it was a request that he had come to me seeking my commitment to provide for him. I was in a catch 22.

I took a very deep breath, lifting his head from my knees, taking a long look into those black eyes. What I saw there was more pain than I ever imagined. It was the pain of two millennia finally weighing down a spirit so noble, I would probably never see another like it. My fingertips lightly brushed his cheek, and I nodded once, but what that nod cost me was immeasurable. A single blood red tear dropped into my palm, and I closed my fingers over it. A pact with Satan himself had just been written.

He rose, offering me his hand. ?Come, I will see you to your ship. And I shall await your return.? We traveled to the dock in silence, but then, no words were needed between us. Goodbye was such a pale and useless thing between us, and I would not grieve yet. Not yet.

Eoin was aboard as I hugged Gabriel briefly before boarding. The flight suit fit a bit loosely, my weight had not yet returned to its ideal, but the difference between this flight and the previous one drove another spike into my heart. I gave Gabriel one final wave as I sealed the hatch and pressurized the cockpit. Eoin looked a bit pale as he settled into the co-pilot seat. He would not be flying, but he preferred to sit with me rather than alone in the back.

The computers were up, and thankfully there was no sign of Kendrick 2.0. I completed the checklist and received authorization for departure. The black skies welcomed the Star Dragon as she slipped into the vastness of space and began to leave behind the world of RhyDin.

During the next five days, Eoin and I discussed the security changes for the Palazzo and the company. We needed to modify security since Kendrick 2.0 was currently integrated into every facet of our systems. A secondary system would be needed that would have no interface with any of the existing systems. Even the wiring would have to be isolated and kept discreet. We worked out what we wanted, and what systems would require a back up that was not within Kendrick 2.0?s ability to infiltrate.

The fire in the library was welcome after the cold greeting the weather had provided, and I sat close to it as Eoin became acquainted with the property. Festungsmauer spread out beyond the windows, just as I had remembered it as a child. The city now buried beneath a blanket of glistening white snow provided an image that I had always associated with Yule. Crystal blue skies provided the backdrop for the pristine white field, with houses and buildings rising from the soft ground, also dusted with puffs of white on their rooftops or balconies. The streetlights are now decorated with fresh evergreen garlands; and trimmed with bright red bows, and golden lights for accent as far as one can see. But it is the homes that will give the gayest color to the season. They will be decked out in multi colored lights, and shapes, the doorways and eves trimmed with fresh greenery and berries that the advent of twilight and night will enhance. There will be candles in windows, and brightly wrapped packages carried by people as they prepare for the holiday and sharing. The season always brings out the creative side of the citizens of Festungsmauer.

Nothing had changed from my memories as a child. Nothing that is, except that now I was alone.

Baumann had laid out my planner on the desk, and I studied my appointments. I do not miss this kind of schedule while I am in RhyDin. Every day there are multiple commitments and obligations. But, here on Rigel, things are different. My titles mean responsibilities. I gave the scheduler a wry smile and activated the computer. Kendrick 2.0 came into resolution, and I gave him a resigned greeting. While this virus has not done anything mischievous, it is anyone?s guess when it will become harmful. Knowing it?s maker, I do not wish to think of what kind of mischief it might do when the time is up. It duly recorded my agenda and sent out the notices to the appropriate recipients. And briefly I wonder where Kendrick has hidden himself.

I do not know how long I worked on barony and marcher business, but when I looked out the windows, twilight had settled over Festungsmauer, and large snowflakes were swirling out of the sky to add to the already thick blanket of white. The city?s lights began to cast a golden glow in the streets, lending the scene a relaxed and deceptively warm atmosphere. A soft knock came at the library door, and Katarina entered tentatively. ?Marchioness? Will you be dressing for dinner this evening??

I shook my head ?no? and returned my attention to the screen before me, but she did not withdraw as expected. When I looked up again, she bobbed a curtsey, ?Will you be dressing for your guest?s arrival then? I have been advised that the Duchess von Regensburg will be arriving.? While she did not say it outright, her expression was one of shock that I would not be dressing for the Duchess. I gave the schedule another look, and there it was, an expected guest on my first night home. With a sigh, I rose and followed Katarina upstairs.

I sat in the library with only a small candle burning as I watched the snow continue to fall. There would be another several centimeters on the ground by morning as the cloud cover promised moderately heavy accumulations. The fire began to burn low and I rose to prepare for bed. Tomorrow would be busy, and Charlotte had provided me with a list of gifts for the staff and the Kaiser, which I would send to Baumann and have him arrange for the procurement of the items. In the morning, I would need to face my parents in my own way. And part of me hopes to find some peace, if no answers with this visit.

The door to my rooms opened quietly, and there sat Katarina, still half asleep from my waking her. She had waited until my return here to let my hair down and attend to my gown. A pang of guilt rippled through me, I had grown so used to either doing for myself, or having Klinton?s help that I had failed to recognize that she would await my return. Here I had kept the girl up late as I sat and mused when I could have donned a robe and mused while the girl sought her own bed hours ago. But I had not, and here she sat, waiting my return. She put a bright face on as she helped me prepare for the night, and I told her I would be going to the cemetery in the morning, and would need appropriate clothing, boots, and gloves. When she was finished, I bade her good night, but was not ready to climb into my bed.

Memories came back vividly as I slowly wandered about the room, at first came the memories of Klinton and Lucien, and the misunderstanding of Lucien?s abilities to hear everything that happens in the house, and even now I can hear the staff that is awake whispering and carrying on their own conversations in other parts of the house. I was the topic of conversation for a trio in the kitchens, and two others were in the staff quarters discussing the holidays and wondering how much time they would have to spend with their families. Then Gabriel?s request settled over my soul like a shroud as I thought about our parting. What he wanted from me would be as painful as leaving Brig had been. But this was even more important. The question was; could I actually go through with it? I stared at the face in the mirror, not recognizing it as my own for some time. Could I give Gabriel what he sought? I had to. There was no choice really.

The memories then slid back in time, and I could see my mother seated before this very mirror, brushing out her long blonde hair as it slid like silk through the brush. She let me sit beside her in the evenings as she brushed her hair, and we would talk about everything under the sun, but somehow, she had always imparted a wisdom or bit of advice without seeming to be ?teaching? me. How I wish she were sitting there now! I needed her advice, her quiet wisdom, and her sure guidance. Ozeana had always been serene and poised, no matter what transpired. She would have been able to help me make sense of the events of my life lately. My marriage to Klinton and his subsequent abandonment of both the child and myself; the loss of our child on top of his departure without so much as a word. Things that made no sense to me would have become clearer with her guidance.

Nevertheless, a creak in the room above shook me out of my reverie, and my image of my mother faded into the shadows of the room. Silence settled into my room, except for the crackle of the fire as I turned down the comforter in my bed. Silence was not what I sought. But, what I wanted was not going to happen in this life, I was reasonably certain that the dead did not regularly talk to the living, no matter the depth of need.

The creak sounded again, and I focused on trying to identify it. Above my rooms there was nothing but storage, and at this time of night, I could not believe anyone would be rummaging around up there. Yes there was a regular periodicity to the noise I heard; thus it could not be simply the settling of the house either. Someone was upstairs in that storage area. I wrapped a robe about myself and slid my feet into a pair of soft slippers before heading for the stairs that would gain me access to this area of the house. On my way out, I reached for my DE. While this is the season of festivities and parties, it is also a time when home invasions rose, and since I did not know what to expect, it was wiser to be prepared.

The Rigelian sun rose to a world further buried in snow. The light rays struck the crystalline water and radiated back a glistening scene replete with myriads of tiny rainbows. It was a beautiful morning. I opened the doors to the balcony and breathed in the chill air. Everything beyond the doors had been wrapped in soft puffs of white that glittered in the morning rays, and as I looked out over the city, I could see the harbor where my parents had met their fate. It was a lovely shade of blue water dropped into the center of white snow and boats that before long would be locked within the harbor as the cold settled over Festungsmauer. While the harbor itself would not freeze, the water beyond the breakers would, and large floating rafts of ice would pose a hazard to smaller craft.

Baumann met me at the foot of the stairs with hot tea and sent for my driver while I consumed that. The view of the harbor had altered my plans. I would go there first. The wreath of fresh flowers and greens had been delivered, but now I needed two. I would go out to where our yacht had been blown up and lay a wreath in the water there first. Kendrick may have stolen my parents, but he could never sully memories.

Carsten negotiated the streets down to the harbor, and I told him I would walk the remaining distance. There was a small boat used by the harbor authorities that would take me out to the breakwater. The Harbor Master gave me a surprised look, but agreed to take me out to drop the wreath, and it did not take him long to cast off from the moorings and slowly make our way across the smooth water. I stood inside the cabin due to the icy temperatures outside. As we got close to the original site of the explosion, I bade him slow the boat down and circle a moment. Memories flooded back to a child who had been standing onshore waving her parents off on a day cruise. Memories flooded out the vista of clear blue water on a fine winter day, and were replaced by the fireball, the flying debris, and then the smoke that rose from sun drenched waters as the yacht made its way through the break water into the open lake itself.

My hands were shaking as I clutched the evergreen wreath, decorated with white flowers and silver trim. I gave myself a mental shake before stepping out of the cabin and moving toward the bow of the small boat. Images of floating debris rose from the water beneath me. When I blinked in the bright light, the images faded and were gone. My heart had constricted within my chest as I tossed the wreath into the waiting water. As the wreath floated and settled a little deeper into the blue, I glanced toward the shore, where I had been all those years ago. I was seeing what my mother would have seen as she waved farewell to me.

I froze where I stood as a black limousine paused in the same spot Kendrick had paused to watch as my parents lives were snuffed out by his ruthless actions. The window was cracked open, but from here I could not see whose vehicle was there. This vehicle was unmarked, there were no heraldic devices visible on the car, and no way to identify the vehicle registration. A cold chill gripped me that had absolutely nothing to do with the air temperature. Kendrick could not risk returning to Rigel, not with the assassination of the Kaiser still clear in everyone?s mind, and the manhunt for him that continued to this very day. It could not be Kendrick, but he has friends. Powerful friends.

The Harbor Master nudged the small boat back toward shore, and I stood transfixed watching the black limousine. As the small craft bumped against the pier, the window slid closed and the car pulled into traffic and vanished onto the main drive that left the area. It was d?j? vu I thanked the harbor master and quickly made my way to my own car, pausing to ask Carsten if he had seen the black car. He had not paid attention, and I now wished Eoin had come along. As I settled into the car, I contacted Baumann, and requested that he send Eoin to the cemetery to meet us. That cold chill remained in my bones despite the fur coat that wrapped completely around me.

We arrived at the cemetery, and the snow had not yet been removed from the road, but it was not so deep that we could not discern where to drive, and Carsten moved the car into the cemetery. The mausoleum rose before us as we drove up a slight incline and the road split to circle around a plot of ground that was isolated from the common areas. The structure is built of white orthoclase feldspar. It blended in with the snow and briefly appeared to be an extension of the white drifts that swirled around the foundation. The car rolled to a stop and I studied the locked and gated entrance for long moments. This was the first time I had come here since my parents had been interred so long ago. I had never wanted to come here, the pain was too great, and for a long time, I believed I did not need to come here to remember them.

The estate has paid to have the mausoleum cared for, the shrubs and grass trimmed, the structure kept maintained, and even to place flowers here for birthdays and special holidays. But I had not come personally. Now the wrought gates stared back at me, and above those, my family?s name has been engraved deeply into the stone, a reminder for eternity whose remains dwelt within. Carsten glanced into the mirror, waiting for me to decide whether or not I would be exiting and making my way through the snow to the gates of the stone edifice. From where I sat, I could see inside the glass doors to the orthoclase vaults, and the winged statue that watched over the silent space.

The stone workers had come and added my married name now, as well as my existing titles. The results are unnerving. At least they had not yet put Klinton?s name into the stone beneath my own tomb. That would have been overwhelming. And it would seem that I am not going to be blessed with the kind of union my parents had enjoyed. He may not even desire to rest here, and this close, well, it would seem he prefers his distance for now. At least so far, the auspices do not point in that direction of happiness that my parents shared.

I tried to put that image of my own mortality out of my mind as I turned to study the epitaphs of my parents. The finality of seeing that fateful day engraved and gilt in the stone brings tears to my eyes. Of their own volition, my fingers traced over my father?s name.

Tornach Eirik Velcon Danaan
Grand Duke von Hessia
Markgraf von Triberg
Baron von Drachen Walde

Born on the 18th day, 4th month of the 28th year of the Reign of HRH Kaiser Joachim II
Died on the 4th day, 7th month of the 14th year of the Reign of HRH Kaiser Joachim III
In Lehenstreue und Ergebenheit f?r Gott, Kaiser, und vaterland

The image of my father that resides upon the altar of this mausoleum shows a vibrant man in his early forties. Father was tall, and loved to be out of doors, and his tanned skin showed his love of sport and sun. The image was captured of him standing on the deck of the yacht in which he had died at the murdering hands of Kendrick Albrecht. He had loved his boat. Whenever he could manage time away from the affairs and demands of his holdings, he would be out on the water. I believe he loved the water even more than he loved flying.

Memories flooded in on me. The good times and the bad ones. Father had always seemed so self-assured, and he never appeared to falter, even when Drachen Walde fell into economic depression and the people there turned to him for their lives as the economy had collapsed. He steered the holding back into prosperity, and never gave a hint of indecision about his course of action. Then there were the travels and the adventures we had had together as I grew up, turning each trip into a lesson of learning and experience without ever becoming pedantic about it. He had always seen to it that my education was well rounded and included travel, history, politics, and diversity along with the usual studies my contemporaries were obligated to endure in ordinary classrooms.

But he had been slain in the prime of his life, with so many works begun but not finished. A man who had risen to the highest positions in Rigel without being a member of the Imperial blood. Killed by an egotistical b*st*rd who had not a sliver of his gifts for making the world a better place. My anger rose sharply and painfully as that day replayed itself in my mind again for the second time today. The fireball erupting from the water?s surface, followed by the sound of the explosion echoing across the water as the yacht splintered into uncountable and unrecognizable pieces before my eyes.

Movement beyond the glass doors snapped me from my thoughts, and I turned to see Eoin approaching the door. He motioned for me to back away from the glass as he slid his right hand under his coat. I stepped back out of the visible areas from the glass doors, but there is only one way in or out from the mausoleum. In essence, I am trapped in a stone corner. Since I am always armed, I untied the coat to make access to the shoulder holster easier, but the cold instantly chilled me to the bone. The minutes ticked by as I waited in silence for a sign from Eoin that things were clear.

About 20 minutes passed before Eoin tapped on the glass, and I moved then to blow out the candles and meet him at the doors. A long black limousine had pulled to a halt just inside the cemetery, and from the description Eoin gave me, it seemed that it was the same car that had also been loitering at the harbor. Eoin wanted me out of the mausoleum and back at the house while he investigated who might be following me, and whether it was risk or something else that motivated my apparent stalker.

As the car slid through the streets of my hometown, my thoughts drift back to the mausoleum. Why was it so important to me that I finally go there? My parents cannot speak to me from the grave, and yet, in light of the death of my child, the need to be there seems almost irresistible. But it also makes no reasonable sense to sit there with the dead seeking?? seeking what? There in lay the crux of the problem. What am I seeking? And why do I seek it among the dead?

Gabriel?s words echoed in my thoughts then, ?the dead know far more than we can in this life, do not mourn overly much.? The veil that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead is a cruel one indeed. The knowledge lost when that connection was severed cannot be calculated, and how many of the living suffer needlessly when a simple touch, a few words from someone on the other side, could ease the pain of the living. Gabriel had meant for me to understand that the reasons for my child?s death are known to her; even if I could never know the reasons. Mourning is alright, but must be moderated with understanding that I can never know what she knows about the reasons for the tragedy. At least not in this life may I have all of the answers I seek now.

The car pulled beneath the portico and Eoin got out first as I remained inside the protection offered by the vehicle. At his signal, I stepped from the car and entered the house. There had been no sign of the black car since the cemetery, but it is too much of a coincidence that it was in both locations today. Security would be tightened now that whoever was following me had tipped their hand so blatantly. And it is flagrant. If someone desired anonymity, they certainly would be more discreet, and yet, this person will not simply come and speak to me.

Baumann met me with hot tea and my daily planner. Tonight was the first in a series of social events that I cannot decline. As I pulled my gloves off, I glanced at my fingertips, which had felt burned in the mausoleum. They were unmarred, and yet the sensation of having been burned remained, although there were no other indicators of such damage. I left my coat and gloves with Baumann as I retreated upstairs to prepare for the evening.

The car rolled into the entry of the estate belonging to the Herzog. His household staff has been liveried in uniforms befitting the season, in shades of red and gold and black points. As Carsten brought the car to a halt in the driveway, he gave a surreptitious glance about before opening the door for Dominik, who in turn sent out his thoughts in search of danger before opening my door. I shook my head at it all as I reached for his hand, which was properly gloved in white silk. We entered the foyer where our cloaks were taken as well as our names before we were escorted to the top of the stairs, which overlook a grand reception hall that is already well attended. The Major Domo announced our arrival and we descended the stairs to greet our host for the evening.

Herzog Seenplatte is slightly older than I am, and we attended the University together for 3 years. Time has treated him well, and his love of sport has helped him maintain a fit countenance. He inherited his father?s titles several years ago, and my impression of his ascension is positive. He and I have voted similarly when issues have been placed before the Peers, so for now, I count him an ally in the intensely dangerous footing we all must negotiate at Court. He took my arm as we greeted, which earned him a hard look from Dominik. We walked toward one of the doors that opened out into the gardens as he pulled me away from the crowds, his words were softly spoken, but Dominik heard every word despite his distance from where we stood. ?There is word in the peerage that some of the Kaiser?s supporters are in danger. Watch yourself Azjah. You have already had one attempt on your life, and there have been, shall we say, ?accidents? that have plagued some others. It is but a matter of time before one of those accidents results in death.?

I looked up at him, and his expression told me he was sincere and the warning was meant as friendly advice and not as a threat. ?Can you tell me who else has been targeted Algis?? It would help if I knew who else was at risk, and briefly I wondered if Kendrick was at the root of this, but quickly dismissed it, he had murdered the old Kaiser, he would not now target supporters of the new one. Algis quickly ran down the names of several of the Peers I would count as allies before he gave me a long, assessing look, ?you have been targeted too, haven?t you??

I thought about that for a minute. ?I honestly cannot say Algis, but twice now I have been followed by someone who wants me to know of their presence. An unmarked black limousine, it followed me to the harbor, and it followed me to the cemetery. But who ever it is will not get out, nor will they approach me, so I do not know what they are after, and it is not the paparazzi.? Nothing overtly hostile had come of these encounters, but they are a bit unnerving. And these actions have in fact made Eoin and Dominik very suspicious. Algis was sought by one of his staff, and he pulled me close placing a chaste kiss atop my head as he whispered to me to be very careful. However, that innocent act resulted in a growl that echoed low and threateningly across the room, and brought many discussions to a halt as everyone felt the menace that briefly flashed through the halls and was gone the moment Algis released me. I glanced at Dominik, and his expression was one of darkest promise should Algis not behave more appropriately. He shook off the moment and promised to seek me for a dance later that evening. Dominik instantly moved to my side.

?Markgraefin, seine Warnung soll ernst genommen werden. Ich habe zwei andere Gespr?che ?ber diese 'Unf?lle' geh?rt. Sie verlassen nicht das Haus ohne Eoin oder selbst. Zu Ihrer eigenen Sicherheit.? His tone was laced with a ?push? to emphasize his point as he led me onto the dance floor and away from too curious ears. On the floor, it is harder for anyone to eavesdrop unless they have the hearing of a Carpathian, and here on Rigel, only those with technology at their hands could approximate the sensitivity of a Carpathian or an elf. But here it would be very difficult to arrange technology that would not be noticed unless Algis has something installed in his home for just such occasions.

The next 4 days were a blur of activity, and I had no time to return to the mausoleum. There had been two accidents that resulted in the hospitalization of Baronet von Ulm from a vehicle mishap, and a near miss at the Judicial Hall for Cardinal Roehm, where he had ?taken a mis-step? and fallen down some of the stairs. The Cardinal was bruised during his fall; but not seriously injured from his ?accident? according to the reports that were released.

But that was just the beginning. The computer beeped insistently and when I looked up at the screen, there was an urgent message from Algis. The Arch Bishop had just been found dead in his quarters, and this time, it appeared that a sophisticated poison has been used, delivered in a regular envelope, and delivered by standard courier. All mail should be scanned before being opened, and preferably should be sealed inside an air tight container until it could be checked.

The Arch Bishop had married Klinton and I in forced circumstances, but I never could have held that against him. And certainly never wanted to see the old man meet his deity this way. Now there would be a vacancy to fill, and the services for tomorrow night would ordinarily have been led by the Arch Bishop. Now the Kaiser would either have to appoint a new Arch Bishop quickly, and risk angering the faithful, or the Bishops would have to decide who to elevate for the evening. Who ever was instigating these things was moving boldly and decisively as the Yule date moved closer.

The first night of the Kaiser?s fetes has arrived. Katarina has laid out the gown for tonight, she did not need to ask since there were 5 new gowns, all labeled for which night they would be needed. The Kaiser?s theme was Ice Crystals. I know the vast majority of women will be wearing white, and their complete lack of creativity will show. White gowns, silver lace, no matter that their coloring will be washed out and totally inappropriate for white.

The ritual began, Katarina arranging my hair, and doing the makeup. I could feel the platinum picks slide into the chignon, and the gentle pull as she attached the platinum snowflakes to dangle and dance as a snowflake in the breeze might. The gown is the shade of aqua that sea ice takes on as it floats in the north sea, wandering into the shipping lanes and becoming a navigation hazard. It is deepest and richest at my waist, and fades slowly toward my neck and hemline, just as that iceberg fades to white as the light penetrates more pronounced at the edges. The hemline is uneven and trimmed in sparkling crystals in dense snowflake patterns, and becoming less dense as the gown approaches the neckline. The off the shoulder wrap is platinum threads woven into white silk in a diaphanous confection that does not cover anything, but highlights beneath the shifting translucence of the green gown. It is reminiscent of the sea fog that often surrounds the ice fields.

Tonight?s jewelry has to be aquamarines and platinum. The necklace is an emerald cut aquamarine surrounded by several rows of diamonds all set in platinum. The bracelet is the same, as are the earrings. I paused to look into the mirror and was surprised to see the woman looking back at me. She is too thin, with eyes too large for her face, but the haunted shadows are lessening. Time heals all wounds, it appears that is so, at least on the outside.

Dominik waited below, and his black and white tuxedo was augmented with a charcoal silver grey cumber bund. His only concession to color was a stick pin and cuff links in aquamarine and platinum. Either the Dragon Seeker had guessed at my choice having heard the description of the gown, or he had heard me telling Katarina, and had produced what was needed on the spot. It is better not to ask Carpathian?s too many questions.

Carsten brought the car under the portico and Dominik handed me into the car. His expression was one of deep concentration and as we left the Palace, he spoke softly so that Carsten could not hear. "I will see you home, and then I have something I need to investigate." I lifted a brow at him, and asked if he was going to visit Algis. His metallic green gaze gave away nothing as he told me it would be better if I not know where he was going, nor whom he was seeing. I do not want to believe Algis is involved in these 'accidents'.

Eoin met me at the house and Baumann brought me tea as Dominik faded into the night. I would contact Gabriel, and hope that I can be oblique enough not to rouse Kendrick 2.0's interest and perhaps prevent his contacting his maker. Where ever Kendrick is hiding these days, I do not want him to know what is going on here. I sat down before the computer and glanced at a photograph of my father. He had always made things look clear and unmuddied by the intrigues of Court. His vision had always seemed so clear, and his actions were always done with certainty that I do not feel.

Gabriel's image came into focus as he must have sensed I would try to reach him. We spoke of inane things for a bit, he told me about the Yule festivities, that was my opening to tell him about the events here, and I started with the unexpected appearance of the Kaiser at Algis' opening ball. Gabriel's brow lifted as he considered that, and then I told him that Algis had returned the favor by putting in an 'unexpected' appearance at the Kaiser's first ball of the twelfth night festivities, an appearance that was not quite what anyone would have expected if my hunch was correct. Gabriel gave me a sharp glance, and I told him that the Kaiser's ball was too similar to my last trip home with Klinton. At that point, he wanted to join me on Rigel, but I had the ship, and nothing in RhyDin would be coming this way as there are no diplomatic ties between Rigel and RhyDin. "Dominik has gone to investigate a hunch of his own Gabriel, I am in no more danger than I would be in RhyDin. And actually, it was RhyDin where I was shot, not here." He did not seem appeased, but knew that with Dominik and Eoin, there is little more that can be done to safeguard me.

I broke the link to Gabriel and headed for my suite. There was little point in waiting for Dominik. He is a creature of the night, and as such, will not likely return until just before sunrise. But, I laid awake in my bed, my mind going over what Algis had and had not said. He had requested permission to come to my home tomorrow, and if he followed social etiquette, he would arrive around 11:00 AM. Sleep did not come for many hours as I considered possibilities.

I awoke to find a sealed envelope beside my bed resting atop the nightstand. It has been sealed with dark green wax, and pressed into it was the ring Domink wore on his right hand. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I broke the seal and read the flowing script. 'Marchioness, my hunch has borne fruit, and you will not find disfavor with the Herzog when he visits. I will explain tonight some of the other findings. Your Servant Madam, Dominik Von Schreider." I laid the envelope and parchment into the fire and watched it burn before preparing for Algis' pending arrival.

The news media was full of reports from the attempted shooting of the Kaiser. There were headlines that sensationalized it, and headlines that did credit to the actual events of the evening. Speculation runs rampant in the city now, and it will not take much to push the populace into complete chaos. Fear and bizarre actions are resulting in huge demands on private security firms, which has resulted in some inexperienced ?body guards? making matters worse. Some of these new raw recruits are well meaning, but others remind me of street thugs from RhyDin, or Lacerta. They have no discipline, and are apparently just spoiling for a fight. There are reports of gunfire several times a day, but usually it is from one of the inexperienced guards doing something utterly stupid for little or no provocation. Eoin thankfully has remained calm and level headed, as has Dominik. Dominik?s ability to sense the thoughts of those around us has kept the insanity far enough away so as not to be personally troubling, but if this continues, there will be needless deaths in the next days.

Preparations for the ball tonight have included some unusual steps. I cannot wear bulletproof clothing under the ball gowns, and that worries Dominik, but there is no point in fretting over what cannot be changed. In keeping with the theme of ice crystals, tonight?s gown for the final event is deep sapphire blue silk that is shot through with shimmering silver threads in an ever shifting glimmering fabric that clings and moves as though it has a life of its own. Tiny snowflakes dot the surface in a spiraling column from shoulder to floor. Eoin worked with some of the technology of Rigel and I am wired for sound in some most unusual ways. Nary a breath that I take will go unrecorded.

Katarina spent nearly 40 minutes working to get my hair up and when she at last slid the platinum picks into my hair, I gave a sigh of relief. Tension had me coiled tightly as she attached 3 star sapphires to the platinum hair picks. They dangled gracefully above my hair as I stare into the mirror. The clock downstairs chimed 8 PM, it was time to depart for the Palace.

Dominik met me at the bottom of the stairs, his metallic green eyes appear to glow they are such an intense color tonight, or perhaps it is the lighting, but the usual calm reserve most Carpathians exude is not so calm tonight. There is much at stake with the game we are all about to play. And in this game, lives will be forever changed, and if anything goes wrong, lives could be lost. The realm of cloak and dagger is more Kendrick?s arena. I have spent my adult life jousting with words and business deals, not with front line confrontations where blood could be spilled in an instant. Tonight I step into the shadowy world of assassination and subterfuge.

Dominik wore one of my shoulder holsters beneath his tuxedo jacket. I had provided him with two weapons. One is my favorite DE, the one I had laid on a table in the Duel of Swords for Tareth Thorn to see, and it is loaded with hollow point ammunition that is laced with silver just in case. It is a precaution I have adopted since living in RhyDin. Tonight Dominik wears it, although with his command of Carpathian skills, he may have no use for it. But he is also armed with a pulse energy weapon. Faster, more certain to kill what it hits, it is growing in use on many of the systems around Rigel. I find it an in-elegant weapon, but my preferences do not come into play tonight. Tonight is about being able to defend ourselves against the unknown but sure to happen attempt on either the Peers who support the Kaiser, or the Kaiser himself. The last night of the fetes and with everyone in attendance, this is simply too tempting an event for the orchestrator of past events to pass up. In one fell swoop, every Peer who supports the Kaiser could be eliminated. That is a frightening possibility.

As the Palace bell tower began to chime midnight, the attack that we had been expecting erupted. The explosive device went off as the third chime began, and obliterated the remaining bell peals as it echoed in the high ceilinged hall. Smoke followed the detonation and filled the hall with a dense, burning smoke as rapid fire shots from a semi-automatic weapon split the air. Chaos ensued, as Dominik found Algis and I and began to lead us out of the panic stricken crowd. We headed for the rear doors that led into the gardens. Many others made for the doors, but we used the little known exit near the beautiful glass doors. Everyone was making for the obvious exit, and they would be sitting ducks as they stepped into the gardens. Dominik halted us at the door, out of sight from whomever was firing into the crowded ballroom. ?Someone is on the roof, and I sense an intention to shoot specific individuals, this must be a specialist sniper with a list of targets.?

The people blindly making their way to the gardens were unknown targets. The question was, who was on the list and who would be safe? And how did the sniper know which were his targets? Someone had to have conveyed that information to the sniper or snipers, but if they used clothing to mark their quarries, then the orchestrator was in the crowd, as we suspected. Algis peered around the corner before making his way toward the hidden stairs that we had used earlier. He was going to the roof, and so was I. I reached for my DE in Dominik?s holster and made to follow the Herzog.

Eoin grabbed my arm, pulling me back into the protection of the alcove where we had been standing. ?You cannot go up there without body armor, let me go with the Herzog. You and Dominik remain here.?

I frowned, but he was right. There was an armed person or more up there, and I had no armor. Algis and Eoin did have protection from shots fired at a distance, but they would be vulnerable to high powered shots at close range. I handed the DE to Eoin reluctantly. ?Keep Algis safe if you can.? And with that, Eoin vanished up the stairs hot on the Herzog?s heels.

Dominik?s metallic green eyes fairly glowed in the smokey air. ?They arrived about an hour ago, at least that is when the first waves of murderous intent were released for me to pick up on. The one you introduced me to as Count Schaefer was wearing a wire, and reporting who was wearing what to someone on the other end of his communications devices. But, I do not get the impression that he is the mastermind for all of this. Someone else is pulling the strings.? He had moved to stand between me and the ball room, so that stone walls were at my back, but I kept looking over his shoulder toward the sound of the confusion and gun fire.

The chaos around us made it difficult to tell how much of the gunfire was inside, and how many shots were being fired into the fleeing crowd, but the sound of shattering glass drew both of our attention. The distinctive sound of a helicopter?s rotor beat the air and Dominik instantly grabbed my arm and made for the hidden doorway. A gas canister has been shot through the doors and was releasing a disabling gas cloud on those who had remained inside in hiding. There was no time to determine what the agent was, we only knew we had limited time to get out and hope it was not instantly toxic. We came out behind a series of tall hedges which were meticulously pruned, but dense enough to provide cover from the gardens and roof top.

The helicopter veered away from the Palace and made a fast departure toward the southeast. It was unmarked and bore no visible identifying call sign or insignia. Which is not surprising, but worth noting was that this is a new machine, and that it is outfitted with the latest technology which suggests ties to powerful, well-funded interests. It was clearly not a stolen machine, but tracking it to its current owners would prove to be challenging. The dark body faded into the night, and no beacons flashed to give away its location. Only the fading thump of the rotors gave away its general direction, and then those too were gone.

Dominik pulled a vial from his jacket pocket and looked at me inquiringly. It was time to begin my part of this charade. Since I am so publicly in the Kaiser?s corner, and was on the list found on the roof by Eoin and Algis, who had found the sniper climbing into the helicopter but had not been able to identify him. There had apparently only been one sniper, and all they found were 8 empty casings, and a list of names with brief descriptions of what they were wearing. As expected, my name had been on the list, right down to the sapphire and platinum hair picks. It was time to play my part in all of this.

The vial contained blood, my blood, and Dominik strategically drained the vial onto my skin and gown to simulate the blood from a successful shot, he also opened the skin to look more realistic, and I winced as his nails sliced into my flesh. The world would gain news of tonight?s events quickly, and we intended to make it look as though the sniper had hit me, but not finished the job. Algis slipped silently through the hidden doorway as Dominik put the final touches on our masquerade. Algis would carry me into the gardens and demand a private ambulance. From there, we would make it very public where I was being ?cared for? and that my condition was grave. Now begins the tricky part, luring the killers out to finish their deed.

The gardens were awash in terrified people, blood, and smoke. Dominik relayed to me that 7 people were known dead at the moment. The mastermind of the plot should be happy with his results, certainly the death of 7 of tonight?s guests would be deemed a success. There were about 22 wounded from the initial gunfire and stampede out of the ballroom. Some of the injuries would likely result in further deaths, but the sniper had been very, very good.

Waiting is not something I have ever excelled at doing, and it did not come easily now as I know this is an iffy proposition at best. How determined was the killer to assure that all of the Kaiser?s strongest supporters must die? Would they make a try for me now, while I was already incapacitated, or would they wait until my condition was clarified? How important was I to their plans? Algis has indicated that there are several key Peers, ones that stand in the way of the Kaiser?s detractors. And Algis was among those who held a great deal of power at Court. As he bade me good night, I began to wonder why it was that he had not been targeted, nor had he been on the list of targets that had been found on the roof where the sniper had been. Why was Algis not worried about being a target?

I could hear Algis outside, speaking softly with Dr. Wieland and Eoin when Dominik?s thoughts brushed against my unspoken concern. ?Your suspicion would be warranted if I had not already measured the man?s worth and intentions Lady. He is not one of the assailants, but why he is not on the list confuses even him.? I glanced in the direction I could feel Dominik?s presence before closing my eyes. ?What reason could there be for someone as powerful as Herzog von Seenplatte to be excluded from the target lists, unless it is to make him the primary suspect? Or perhaps because whomever is plotting this believes he would be useful in getting to the Kaiser??

I fell asleep pondering who would be likely to consider Algis as a tool that could be used to get to the Kaiser, and what purpose could be so critical enough to warrant such a tactic. Perhaps I am on the wrong trail, but little else makes sense. I woke around 3AM, but just what had awakened me I cannot say, but I lay unmoving, listening for any sound that should not be there. Dominik remained hidden in the shadows, and his thoughts brushed my own. ?We have a visitor, but he is not using the normal avenues of admission.?

I remained unmoving, apparently either asleep or unconscious, but every sense in my body was attuned to my surroundings. Dominik felt my tension, and thankfully relayed what he could see and hear since my eyes remained closed. Someone was stealthily approaching but had paused when they had spotted Eoin outside of my door. Tense minutes passed before Dominik could sense the approach of the visitor again, and Eoin?s consciousness was gone. Dominik suspects they tranquilized or otherwise drugged Eoin and had to wait for the effects. Eoin was not dead, but neither was his conscious self discernable.

My heart about leapt out of my chest as the door cracked open slowly and then a male figure in dark clothing sidled into the room. Thank the Deity that all of the monitors were replaying a prepared monitoring program or my heart rate would have given me away. He approached slowly after checking the shadowy corners of the room for evidence of another person, and given the odd glow to his eyes, he must have had implants for night vision or heat detection.

Dr. Wieland collected the tubing to analyze what he had endeavored to inject into my body, and Dominik moved to my side, and with a very soft whisper suggested we leave quietly and quickly. Algis has made arrangements for the Star Dragon to be ready to leave, tonight, before word of this attempt becomes public. My testimony would be entered into the Courts via shipboard telecommunications, which worries me since Kendrick still has his program installed in all of my systems. If this would be assassin had been hired by Kendrick, the last thing I wanted was for him to know how much I know. But, there was no dissuading Algis, and so with the use of the Doctor?s car, we slid unobserved into the backseats and made for the docking bay where my craft now awaited. They wanted me off Rigel, and as I discovered on the drive to the hangar, the Kaiser had mandated my removal until the dust settles from these events.

At this hour of the morning, there is very little activity, and as the car rolled to a halt near the sleek craft, Eoin stepped out and checked about for watchers before motioning for me to move quickly from the car into the ship. I headed for the sleeping space and grabbed one of the flight suits. The quicker I could get changed and behind the flight console, the better for us all. I could hear the departure activities going on around me, and knew the moment the hatch was closed and sealed as the ship began to pressurize.

It has been a long trip home, and still I have not the answers I came hoping to obtain. Although, I suppose I never did expect an answer from my mother. The dead do not usually speak to the living. Not here at any rate. My walk to the cockpit was short, and my musings cut even shorter as I paused. There on the console before me lay a single white rose in the perfect stages of opening. Its stem was wrapped in ivory grosgrain ribbon. The attached note card was penned in Algis? hand.

I sat down just as Dominik arrived and prepared to take the copilot?s seat beside me, but he glanced at the rose and retreated back into the interior of the Star Dragon. I sat down and savored the spicy sweet aroma of the perfect rose before turning over the card. ?If I could take away your pain, I would do so. If I could have spared your participation in these ill affairs, I would do so. If ever I can be of assistance to you, I would do so. May Rigel be blessed with your presence more often than she has been of late. I shall miss you. Algis.?

Dominik returned as I laid the rose beside my seat. ?He truly hated to involve you in this sordid affair. You haff a fine friend in the Herzog.? He settled in beside me and began reviewing the controls and starting his checklist.

We concluded preflight as quickly as we could. We needed to be airborne and out of Rigelian space quickly. I would have 5 days to ponder everything that had transpired on Rigel before returning to the Palazzo, where I would be faced with Lucien and Topaz and their expected child. With a wry smile I powered up the ship?s engines. ?So much for remaining on Rigel for a while.? Dominik glanced at me as he acknowledged our take off authorization and the Star Dragon lifted off from the pad.