"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 not sure they'd be comfortable in the capital." "I'm not sure I'll be comfortable there," Cortin said, then turned to Bradford. "Brad, all any of us know about life in New Denver comes from the news and--if we read them, which I sometimes do for laughs--the society columns. What's it really like?" "I don't want to disappoint you," Bradford said, "but most of the time it's actually quite ordinary. You'll wear dress uniform more often, you'll be expected to attend important Palace functions, and your team will act as bodyguards any time you leave the Compound; otherwise, except for taking orders only from His Majesty--no one else can do more than request--you should find things fairly normal." He grinned. "You'll find out, starting tomorrow . . . if Your Excellency cares to join Their Highnesses on the return flight." Cortin swallowed. That shouldn't have surprised her, but it did--a flight to New Denver with the Crown Prince and Princess wouldn't be unusual for a member of the Royal Household, and she would get used to it, she supposed. Right now, though, it was a shock. She brought herself under control and said, "I'd be honored. Arrangements will have to be made, of course, to return our horses and pick up our personal gear. Oh, and we'll need proper insignia." "All taken care of," Bradford said. "We had plenty of time while you were under treatment." Cortin absorbed that, starting on her dessert. It sounded at first like Bradford or His Majesty had assumed, even before asking, that she would accept--and maybe they had, she couldn't know--but a little thought told her that wasn't necessarily the case. Bradford could carry all the insignia in a pocket, all of their personal gear wouldn't strain a single packhorse, and if she refused, they could all be returned to Middletown with only a slight loss of time. "Thanks--that was kind of you." "Call it enlightened self-interest," Bradford said. "And I do have something to ask, when and if your primary duties permit." "Of course, if I'm able." "You are; you've done it. Act as auxiliary confessor and spiritual advisor to the Detention Center Inquisitors--I heard how much good you did."