eeded it, if you'd given me time to think; I would've realized
what the offer meant for them."

"You accept, then."

"Yes."

"Good." Bradford smiled. "On His Majesty's behalf, then, as well as
from me: Congratulations, Colonel Cortin." He stood, raising his
glass. "Gentles, I give you Her Excellency Colonel Joan Cortin, the
High King's Inquisitor."

The others followed suit. Illyanov and Odeon exchanged glances, Odeon
obviously trying to look solemn but spoiling the effect with a smile he
couldn't hide. Illyanov raised an eyebrow, then nodded, and Odeon
said, "To Your Excellency's continued health and happiness." The
diners drank the formal toast, then sat back down, and Odeon dropped
his attempt to look solemn. "High King's Inquisitor--Joanie, you
couldn't've asked for a better place to hunt those plaguers from!"

"No, I don't think I could," Cortin agreed. "It's still hard to
believe I'd get tapped for it, though--talent or not, I don't have that
much experience." She paused long enough to eat some stuffed shrimp
and take a drink of cider, then she went on. "If there'd been a
position like this earlier, I'd've expected it to go to someone like
Brad or Ivan, with experience."

"I do not know about Brad," Illyanov said with a smile, "but I am not
qualified. I am immediately subject to Czar Nicholas, not to High King
Mark. Since you express interest, however--I have been informed that I
am under consideration for that position on St. Dmitri. I should like
to teach you the advanced techniques we did not have time for earlier,
but I should also like to return to my wife and children in New Moscow.
Despite the climate."

"New Colorado's bad enough in the winter," Cortin agreed. "I'd like to
go to your home world some day, on assignment or leave--but I hope it's
in summer!"

"It is far more pleasant then," Illyanov said, chuckling. "Should I
get the position and require your assistance, I shall try to assure it
is in summer. Should you go there at any time, however, I would like
you to meet my family. You will like them, I think, especially Elena
and the girls, but I must warn you: the boys, especially Pyotr, will
beg you for war stories, and they can be most persistent."

"I think I can handle that," Cortin said, amused. "You'll all be
welcome at the Lodge, of course." She turned to Bain. "That goes for
your brother's family, too, you know."

"Thanks . . ." Bain said, hesitantly. "But I'm