Fated

‘That was …’ Luna hesitated. She looked different somehow – flushed and wondering, alive in a way I’d never seen before. ‘I’ve never …’

‘I know.’ I took her arm and led her off the floor as a new dance started. I didn’t bother to hurry; I knew Lyle would come to us.

He materialised out of the crowd before we’d even reached it. ‘Ah, Alex,’ Lyle said with a good imitation of surprise. ‘I’m glad I bumped into you.’

‘Hey, Lyle. Thanks for the invitation.’

‘Don’t mention it.’ Lyle looked at Luna. ‘I don’t believe we’ve met?’

‘I hope you’re not trying to steal her from me, Lyle,’ I said with an easy smile, then glanced at Luna. ‘This is Lyle, an acquaintance of mine. We know each other very well.’

Lyle bowed to her. ‘An honour to meet you.’ He straightened. ‘If it’s convenient, Alex, I’ve some things to discuss with you in private. Barrayar, perhaps you could show the lady around.’

A man who’d been waiting at Lyle’s side stepped forward. He looked like a functionary. ‘You’ll have to excuse me,’ I said to Luna. ‘I’ll be right back.’

‘That’s fine,’ Luna said, and gave Lyle a smile. ‘Pleased to meet you.’ Lyle gave another bow, then turned and started walking. I followed. Behind, I heard Barrayar starting to introduce himself.

‘“I’ll be right back”?’ Lyle murmured once we were out of earshot. ‘Seems you still haven’t learned not to make promises you can’t keep.’

‘I wouldn’t get too cocky, Lyle.’ Other men and couples glanced at us as we passed, first at Lyle, then with more curiosity at me. Lyle was a known quantity here; I was something new. ‘I only agreed to listen.’

‘And you think you’ll be getting a better offer?’

I grinned lazily. ‘Oh, you’d be surprised just how many people are taking an interest in your relic lately.’

Lyle gave me a sharp look, then turned away.

Servants were moving through the crowd, white-clothed figures with their faces hidden behind opaque masks offering food and drinks. We passed a crowd around the buffet table and climbed a small flight of stairs up to one of the exits from the hall. The exit led to a staircase, leading upwards and then doubling back. We went up two levels and came out into a smaller corridor, this one plain and undecorated. Windows on the left side looked down into the main hall, but the sounds were quieter up here, the music and conversation from below muffled. The corridor ended in a door, leading into an antechamber. As we walked in, I checked, staring at the figures ahead.

In front of the opposite door, facing us, were two creatures sculpted from silver and gold. They stood seven feet tall on triple-jointed legs, and had two pairs of segmented arms carrying eight-foot-tall ceremonial glaives and devices of tapering metal the size of heavy guns. Their heads were turned towards us, and faceted golden eyes watched us silently as we entered. These were gythka, mantis golems, and their presence meant a Council member was here. Lyle hadn’t been kidding.

‘Lyle Trahelis,’ Lyle said as he walked up; he hadn’t stopped. He gestured in my direction. ‘He’s with me.’ He approached the door and paused, looking back at me. ‘Hurry up, Alex. We haven’t got all day.’

The mantis golems hadn’t moved an inch since we entered, and their eyes watched us, opaque and unreadable. Lyle stood negligently in the shadow of two of them. I knew he was showing off, and I couldn’t sense any danger, but I’ve lived on my wits too long to ever be comfortable about exposing myself. Even though I knew the guards weren’t going to touch me, the thought of passing beneath those shining blades made my skin crawl.

I took a breath and walked forward. One of the guards swivelled its head to watch. Up close it smelt of sweet oil and polished metal. I couldn’t see any joints in its body; it looked like an insect crafted in silver. Its future held no choices, a solid line instead of branching forks. Gythka are constructs with no will of their own, programmed to obey Council members absolutely. According to rumour, they’re almost indestructible. I’ve never seen the rumour tested. Lyle pushed open the door and we stepped inside.

The room within was dimly lit, with a high ceiling and a dozen widely spaced chairs. The entire left wall was a giant window, a transparent panel looking down onto the great hall. Below was the arena and the buffet table, and to one side I could see the dance floor and the band. It was an impressive view, perfectly placed to see and be seen by the people below … except that when I’d looked up from floor level, this spot had looked like a blank wall. The window was one-way glass. We could see the people below, but they couldn’t see us.