The Mech Warrior's gray eyes smoldered as he surveyed the crowd. Spotting his quarry, he tightened his grip on the long black cloth bag in his right hand. Light rippled along the bag's silver brocade as he brandished the satchel.

He had barely taken a step forward before Tiepolo's voice rang out over the assembly. "You are most welcome here, Colonel Wolf."

Wolf's head turned almost mechanically to slash Tiepolo with a harsh stare. Dan was startled, almost frightened by what he saw, Wolf looks at the Primus with such contempt!

Wolf gazed from Tiepolo to the people crowded between them. As though moved by force of the mercenary's will, people slowly began to drift through the doors and into the room beyond. Dan, too, turned to leave, but Morgan's strong grip on his elbow broke Wolf's spell. "Wait, Dan."

As the crowd thinned out, Jaime Wolf descended the stairs. He backed two Acolytes away with one of his molten stares, then crossed to where Takashi Kurita stood amid a circle of retainers. One by one, the MechWarriors surrounding the Coordinator withdrew until only Yorinaga Kurita stood between the mercenary and his master.

Wolf appraised Yorinaga with a frank stare, then nodded almost imperceptibly. Yorinaga bowed his head to the mercenary Colonel, but did not give way until Takashi laid a hand on Yorinaga's shoulder and guided him aside.

Wolf slipped the corded knot at the head of the bag. Sliding the black fabric down, he revealed the hilts of a katanaand wakazashi.With contempt in his eyes, the mercenary cast the two swords down at the Coordinator's feet. Then Wolf lashed out at the Coordinator in a voice that had the fury of some nightmare storm. Though Wolf's flawless Japanese was too rapid for Dan to follow completely, there was no mistaking his intent.

The Coordinator listened for as long as his honor would tolerate. Though he had looked uneasy at first, he soon had complete control of his expression, which was a truer sign of his own anger building. When Takashi opened his mouth to speak, Wolf cut him off with more angry words and gestures. Like a ship in some storm, the Coordinator had no choice but to weather it.

Words spent, but fury unabated, Wolf finally turned from Kurita. The few people still standing about quickly removed themselves from his line of march, fearful that he might direct his fury on one of them. The only exception was Morgan Kell, who moved toward Wolf, clearly intending to intercept him. As though in a dream, Dan could not keep himself from following.

By the time the two men came face to face, Wolf had dominated his emotions, for not a trace showed in his expression. His eyes narrowed as he studied Morgan's uniform and the decorations it displayed. "Morgan Kell," he said, as recognition sank in. "After all these years, Morgan Kell."

Dan was now totally confused. He says Morgan's name with... respect?

Morgan nodded and extended his hand. "I have long admired and respected your abilities, Colonel Wolf. Indeed, I have always held the Kell Hounds to the same high standards you set for your Dragoons."

Wolf shook KelPs hand heartily, though his expression remained impenetrable, "I'd used to hope," he said, "that our regiments might have a chance one day to test their mettle against one another in the field." Wolf shrugged as though to say, that hope had not disappeared forever. "Unfortunately, your Kell Hounds were reduced to battalion size after Mallory's World. Not much of a challenge for one of my regiments and without you"—Wolf looked directly into Morgan's eyes—"no challenge at all, for me."

Morgan nodded slowly. "There was a time, Colonel, when I would have offered a meet to answer the question of which unit, which warrior, is superior." Weariness tinged Morgan's voice. "It seems that I've learned not to enjoy such games."

Pain washed over Wolf's face. "Many people have died ... sometimes I think it is toomany."

"I was sorry to hear of your brother's death in the Marik civil war. You have my deepest sympathy."

Wolf again accepted Morgan's hand. "And I regret your brother's death on Styx. Though it does nothing to ease the pain or loss, you must realize he died happy, knowing he had saved his command."

Morgan barely whispered his reply. "I trust it was so."

Releasing Morgan's hand, Wolf turned and looked Dan over. He closed his eyes for a half-second, then nodded. "You are Captain Daniel Allard, New Avalon Military Academy, Class of' 15."

"Yes sir," Dan said. "I've been with the Kell Hounds since then." It gave him an unpleasant start to realize that Wolf was not asking,but telling Dan that he already knew about him.

The trace of a smile worked its way onto Wolf's lips. "Yes. And how's the shoulder?"

Shocked even further by the question, Dan hesitated. How the hell does he know about my injury?He swallowed hard to force his heart back down from his throat. "Excellent, sir."

"Good. I'd hate to think that a MechWarrior of your caliber would let a broken bone keep him down for long." With a smile, Wolf turned to Kell. "Now a question for you, Morgan."

"Ask," Morgan said, returning the smile, but cautiously.

"I've often wondered if the Kell Hound name was, in some way, a play upon the Dragoons' name."

Shaking his head, Morgan chuckled to himself. "No, Colonel . . ."

"Call me Jaime."

"No ... Jaime. The Kell Hound's name comes from something far older than Wolf's Dragoons." Morgan narrowed his eyes. "Wolf's Dragoons, as I recall, first appeared in the Federated Suns back in 3005. I remember it well because I was just out of Nagelring myself. Anyway, the name originated before the turn of the millennium and almost seventeen years before we formed the unit."

Morgan smiled broadly. "Arthur Luvon, Melissa's father, was my cousin. One summer, when Arthur had come to visit our family on Arc-Royal, he saw Patrick and me running around, baying at the moons, and generally terrorizing a neighbor's flock of sheep. He tagged us the Kell Hounds, drew up our crest, and said we'd be great MechWarriors some day." Morgan's smile laded a bit. "Patrick and I formed the unit with the money Arthur left us when he died."

Wolf held up his hands. "Just wanted to satisfy my curiosity. No offense ever taken, really." He smiled easily now. "Actually, the Dragoons always appreciated the fact that the other unit with a wolf/hound crest fought so well."

Quintus Allard appeared at Dan's side. "Excuse me, gentlemen," he said. "Colonel Wolf ... Colonel Kell, Prince Hanse Davion has asked me to invite you to join him and Archon Katrina Steiner." Quintus waved a hand toward the doorway leading out of the reception room.

Realizing that the invitation did not include him, Dan bowed his head toward Wolf. "A pleasure meeting you, Colonel Wolf. In fact, the dream of a lifetime."

Wolf smiled. "We should have met on a battlefield."

"No," Dan said, as he withdrew with a smile. "I said it was a dream, not a nightmare."

With a nod to Morgan and his father, he turned from them to enter the reception hall, now crowded with people. The tall windows running from floor to the two-story vaulted ceiling gave the room an airy feel. Though the couples swirling gracefully over the dance floor cut off his view of the other side of the room, Dan assumed that the long row of tables laden with food and drink also ran the length of the room's far wall. Combined with the pleasing music and the gentle hum of conversation, the festive atmosphere was most welcoming.