Intrepid

The steak was as good as promised. Smothered in mushrooms and peppers and a sauce that did not overpower the beef but brought out its flavor and expanded on it, Kris ate it with a fork. Mr. Preston dominated the table conversation. He knew business. He and Grandfather Al would have enjoyed the time. Kris enjoyed the steak.

When Morley did invite Kris to carry the conversational ball, she talked about what the boffins wanted to do in the coming voyage of discovery. Kris hadn't realized she'd captured so much of what the scientists told her until she realized what she was saying was boring her dinner partner if not to tears, at least into changing the conversation.

Mr. Morley Preston enjoyed talking about Mr. Morley Preston and he knew his topic endlessly. But among all the dross he threw her way, there was an occasional gold nugget.

''You're not really planning on jumping to Birridas, are you?''

''Is there a problem? It has a half dozen jump points and the shortest one to a nebula that most fascinates my boffins.''

''You might want to take a detour. It just joined the Greenfeld Alliance. A rather sudden arrangement. Poor fools placed a contract for a full space-defense system before the breakup. A half dozen firms on Cuzco formed a consortium to bid on it, too, but Peterwald undercut us.'' He almost spat that.

''Turns out there was more riding on the contract than just money. The defense system started late and stayed behind schedule. So there was nothing to present a counterargument when a Greenfeld battle squadron showed up last month and suggested they join the Alliance.''

''That's a story we hear a lot,'' Kris said, thinking detour.

''Strange thing is, I understand Henry Peterwald was very excited about the new addition to his empire. There's the red-striped hornlizard that roams South Continent. A real nasty beastie. Henry's already off to hunt it. I hope they get that planetary defense up before he gets there.''

Kris didn't give much thought to the space-defense system. If a battle fleet took it, it was likely still in orbit. But a new planet, just occupied and not fully broken to its slavery? And a fast, deadly monster to hunt? How many ways can a man die?

And if you threw in a few dozen young kids on a suicide mission from their Guides …?

Kris swallowed a bite of steak and let her lawyer talk of anything he wanted to. She'd learned early on to ignore mere noise. Now, sharp edges, bullets, and lasers. They were real. Those she did not ignore.

Somehow that flat stomach of his didn't require him to pass up dessert. While he enjoyed a magnificent confection of chocolate and nuts, Kris paid tentative honor to a fruit dish.

And got down to business.

''I assume you recall the matter of the pirate ship we brought in under prize crew last time we visited?'' brought a chuckle and ''I've done little else but deal with it since last you were here. Do you have any idea how old the admiralty rules of prize are? They've never been applied to space.''

''I believe they were applied a bit ago. By a court on Chance if my memory is right.''

''Yes, yes, I know about that. My clerk had the devil's own time looking up that case. Chance is not the center of the law. Or center of anything. Their case law hardly sets precedent. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that to you. I'm just telling you what the lawyers of a half a dozen involved parties are telling me.'' And he proceeded to exhaust a quarter hour telling her all the things that she did not want to hear.

''So when do you think this will be settled?'' she finally got in edgewise.

''I have no idea, though a trial balloon is being floated about. What with so many interested parties, maybe the best thing would be to sell the ship and distribute even portions from that sale to all the parties,'' he said with a brilliant smile.

For the next ten minutes he expounded about the splendor of this idea. One that, if Kris was right about the price of ships and the cost of lawyers, would probably yield enough to pay off all the lawyers' bills and not much more.

Kris spent the time reviewing her options and modifying her action plans. The Feathered Serpent must not present its papers to the port master of High Cuzco. Between Abby and Drago, they ought to be able to reflag that ship over the next day or so.

The papers needn't be perfect, just good enough to get the ship a load of fuel and on course for Wardhaven territory.

Colonel Cortez was another problem. She'd planned to turn him and his legal problem over to the fine fathers of Cuzco. When Morley finally ran down, she tentatively asked his advice.

''Oh, you crossed swords with a filibusterer. And lived to sit here in such a lovely dress and tell me about it. You must have some brilliant Marines to handle your dirty work for you, Your Highness. Absolutely brilliant.''