Pictoria (The Ammonite Galaxy Series, Book 4)

Chapter 11

DIVA WAS LOOKING spectacular. Her hair had been brushed until it shone, her Coriolan Ceremonious Robe was shimmering with the gold threads which ran all the way through it, and her teeth could have lit up the whole of the Widowmaker.

"Sacras, Diva! You could have toned it down just a little," Six greeted her.

Her eyes flashed. "Trust a Kwaidian not to appreciate the good life!"

"Yeah. You and I might differ somewhat in our definitions of good life."

"I suppose you think trekking over an icy mountain in a blizzard is more fun?"

"No-o-o. But I wouldn't classify this as exactly fun either. Still, I suppose you look all right."

"Gee, thanks. Is that all you can say?" Her eyebrows clenched together and he held up a wary hand, and stepped back.

"I said you look all right," he said defensively. "What's wrong with that?"

"What's wrong with th—? Oh, never mind. I suppose I can't expect very much from a trogling like you."

Six looked pained. "I had a wine bath in your honour."

She almost laughed at the aggrieved tone. "Wow! A bath! They must have put all the flags up on Kwaide. I hope your Lady of Chamber stopped you drinking it."

He glared. "Very funny."

"What do you expect? You haven't even bothered to put the Ceremonious Robe on."

"I trip over the edges. Don't know how you can walk in these things. Bennel said I could just put it on over these clothes for the actual ceremony."

Diva sighed. "I suppose."

"Hang it all, Diva, you never told me I would have to wear dresses!"

"That is NOT a dress, moron. It is—"

"—a robe, I know. I feel like an Elder."

She had to smile at that. "You certainly don't look like one. All right. Whatever. Just put it on for the ceremony, if you have to. Let's get going."

"There is just one thing I wanted to mention ..."

Diva listened as a bell began to sound throughout the palace compound. "It will have to wait. We are going to be late for the banquet."

"But ..."

"Tell me later ... Come ON, Six!"

He trailed after her with an assumed air of dejection, drudging his feet along the magmite floor deliberately. She gave him an exasperated look, opened her mouth, saw that there were guards listening avidly, and closed it again. Her eyes flashed, and she directed a gimlet eye at him, threatening dire retribution later. Six pretended not to notice, a subterfuge he knew from past experience was bound to enfuriate her.

THE BANQUET AND the following ceremony went off as badly as Six had expected. He was famous for his hatred of speechifying and dull meetings, so the combination of both on Coriolis was agonizing for him. The only thing that made the whole evening bearable was the sight of Vion and Mercy, who looked just as pleased to see him. They managed to catch up with all the news, especially how Ledin was getting along. Vion still seemed concerned, but not unduly worried. Six looked sideways at him. Married life was certainly agreeing with the doctor, but even so, he hadn't been able hide the sudden stillness that had come over his face when he had first seen Grace again on Kwaide. However, Six no longer blamed Vion for his decisions. He had learnt the hard way that decisions involving family were never quite as simple as you thought they were going to be.