Captain Vorpatril's alliance

The Baronne made an abortive gesture. “The cars are coming to take us all to the shuttleport in another hour. Surely too short a time to make such a permanent life‑bargain in.”

I made it in a minute, the first time… Well, provisionally.

“How long did it take you to decide you wanted Dada?” Tej asked, suddenly curious.

“That is neither here nor there,” said the Baronne. “Circumstances were very different.”

“I see,” said Tej, biting her lip to hide a smile.

“Also, wanting and arranging are two different things. The latter requires planning…action…sometimes, sometimes…

“Flexibility?”

“Yes.” The Baronne, realizing she was being diverted, tracked back. “Anyway, if you won’t‑your Dada and I were thinking‑perhaps you could ride along with us. At least as far as Pol Station. It would give us more time together.”

Tej controlled a shudder at the vision. Her and her entire family, packed into what Byerly had implied was a not‑very‑large spaceship, with less escape possible than from an underground bunker. We just had twenty‑five years together, Baronne. Don’t you think it’s time for a break? “I thought I’d say my good‑byes right here. The military shuttleport isn’t that much of a treat‑I’ve seen it‑and they’ll be wisking you all through, I expect.”

“I expect,” echoed the Baronne, only not‑disagreeing because she couldn’t, at least about the shuttleport. “This all seems so rushed.”

“We’ve had the past four days. You must have guessed something like this was coming.”

“Or some Barrayaran incarceration. Which would have required an entirely novel plan. We’ve not been saying good‑bye for the past four days!”

I was. No one noticed. Although they’d all had a lot else on their minds, to be fair. “Also, I get jump‑sick, and that would be ten jumps. Five each way.”

“You…might decide not to go back. You could choose freely, once you reached Pol Station.”

Yes, I thought that might be your secret plan. “There would be more jumps, going on. And”‑Tej took a deep breath, only partly for control‑“I can choose freely right here. Right now. And I have.” Do I have to, like, yell?

Thankfully not; because the Baronne, after a silence, responded, “I suppose you will be safer here. At least for the immediate future.”

Her family, Tej was reminded, wasn’t exactly going directly home. Although Fell Station, as long as the old Baron was in charge, was going to make a reasonably secure initial base. “You’ll have Byerly,” she offered, then paused in doubt, in tandem with the Baronne. “And a war chest of, what was it, four hundred million Barrayaran marks?”

“That’s only one hundred million, in Betan dollars,” the Baronne was swift to point out. “A few serious bribes, some competent mercenaries, and it will dwindle in a hurry. Five percent, that tricky dealer Gregor got us down to!” This was not, Tej understood, a point against Gregor, personally.

“I’m sure you and Dada will be able to makes ends meet somehow,” Tej soothed her. “You’re both very clever.”

“It will be a challenge,” the Baronne…didn’t quite grumble. “But when I get my hands on those Prestenes, the retribution will be famous.”

“Yes, make them pay,” Tej agreed cordially, glad to give her mother’s thoughts this more positive direction. By her standards.

“What do you see in that Barrayaran boy, anyway?” the Baronne asked querulously, dodging back despite Tej’s best efforts. “He just doesn’t seem very ambitious.”

“Mm,” said Tej. One woman’s defect is another woman’s delight? “I suppose…it’s all the things he sees in me.” That you don’t.

The Baronne peered at her in doubt. “Which are what, Tej‑love? Besides your figure, clearly.” She waved away this as a given, at least with respect‑or lack of respect‑to Ivan Xav.

Everything, Baronne. On the other hand…was it really necessary to bloody her forehead trying to solve a problem already going away on its own? Within the hour, at that. That seemed a very Ivan Xav approach. So restful. The great charm of her and the Baronne living on two different planets, Tej decided, was that they could both stop trying to fix each other. She grinned crookedly, leaned up, and gave her mother a peck on the cheek, instead. “An appreciation of his figure.”

“Really, Tej!” But the Baronne’s hand stole to the kissed spot nonetheless.

Dada and Byerly arrived back then, the Baron with a heartening bustle, and Ivan Xav strolled in on their heels, ending this little mother‑daughter ordeal. Moment. Again. Until the next time. Tej wondered if it would be redundant to think, Don’t ever change, Baronne.

Tej, Rish, Byerly, and Ivan Xav rendezvoused briefly in the living room, as the luggage was staged around them.

“So how did it go with Ser Imola?” Tej asked By.

“Succinctly.” By tilted a hand. “I was sent in part to impede long conversations, but it wasn’t necessary. You could just see the man fold into himself.” He added after a contemplative moment, “And prison‑smock orange is so not Imola’s color. It was all quite, quite satisfying.”

“And you?” Ivan Xav asked.