Next came the bridesmaids. All tall, slender beauties, they wore matching gowns cut from a deep green silk. In their hands, they carried small bouquets of mycosiablossoms that matched the color of their gowns.

Justin licked his lips. He knew that the mycosiaflowered only once a year on Andalusia. The Prince must have set up a Command Circuit of JumpShips to get the flowers here in time for the ceremony. The image of one DropShip passing from JumpShip to JumpShip along a string of jump points to reduce a long interstellar journey to mere hours sent a shiver down Justin's spine. Hanse honors his bride with such extravagant expense.

Behind the half-dozen bridesmaids came Misha Auburn. Wearing a gown similar to, but more beautifully embellished than those worn by the bridesmaids, she smiled radiantly as Morgan Hasek-Davion offered her his arm. He led her to the foot of the altar, then both of them genuflected and moved in opposite directions. Instead of joining the bridesmaids, who were seated beside the Archon, Misha proceeded on to the altar and stood beside the Cardinal from Tharkad. Morgan took up his place opposite her on the groom's side of the altar.

Justin felt Candace clutch his arm as Melissa drifted into view. "Justin, she is so beautiful!"

Justin nodded. Despite Melissa's veil, he could see the love shining in her gray eyes. Her expression was grave, but it was clearly that of a woman who very much wanted to marry the man waiting for her.

Morgan Kell stopped Melissa a pace shy of Hanse Davion. He enfolded her in a fierce hug, which she returned equally, then he turned to the Prince. Offering his hand, the mercenary Colonel murmured something to Hanse Davion. The Prince shook Morgan's hand warmly, nodding in silent reply to whatever the other man had said.

Morgan placed Melissa's hand on the Prince's arm, then drifted down the aisle to sit directly behind the Archon. Arm in arm, the bride and groom completed the walk to the altar. As the processional's final notes trailed off, and their echoes died in the ceiling's vaults, the bride and groom knelt before the altar.

Both Cardinals stood, but it was the bearded, black-haired cleric from the Federated Suns who came forward first. In a rich, warm voice, he greeted the congregation. "In the names of Prince Hanse Davion and his bride, Archon-Designate Melissa Arthur Steiner, I welcome you here within the sight of the one merciful God. Their wish is that you join them in celebrating this most holy rite and that you add your blessings to this union."

39

ComStar First Circuit Compound

Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra

20 August 3028

As Cardinal Flynn made the sign of the cross, Justin's own lifetime of training started his own hand moving in imitation, but he stopped himself abruptly. He glanced over to see if Candace had noticed but she seemed raptly involved in the ceremony's quiet reverence. You do not betray yourself, Justin, in doing likewise.

Cardinal Maraschal of Tharkad, his hands folded in prayer and pressed to his chin, smiled as the couple rose from before the altar and parted company to come around it. Hanse took his place between Morgan Hasek-Davion and Cardinal Maraschal, while Melissa stood between the Cardinal from New Avalon and Misha Auburn.

Cardinal Maraschal opened and raised his hands. "Let us pray." After a moment of silent reflection, his strong voice rang out through the cathedral. "Father, you have made the bond of marriage a holy mystery, a symbol of Christ's love for His Church. Hear our prayers for Hanse and Melissa. Make their marriage a true joining of man to woman, heart to heart and soul to soul. Bless them and all who love them so that they may serve as witnesses to your divine love for the universe. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, one Spirit, for ever and ever."

"Amen," Justin murmured. Smiling reassuringly, Candace reached over and patted his right hand. Justin returned her smile, then looked up as Flynn approached the pulpit.

The Cardinal motioned the guests to be seated, then raised the leather-bound red book on the podium enough for the audience to see it. Light reflected from the gold-embossed letters on the spine, but Justin could not read them. "A reading from the Book of Revelations, chapter nineteen." The Cardinal licked his lips, then began in his sonorous voice. "I heard what sounded like the roar of a vast throng in heaven; and they were shouting: 'Alleluia! Victory and glory and power belong to our God.' "

Justin stiffened involuntarily. This hardly sounds like text suited to a wedding. I wonder if Hanse chose this passage to convey another message. It's true that victory, glory, and power will be his if he uses the combined might of the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth to crush the Draconis Combine.

Justin smiled as the Cardinal finished the reading with the words, "Happy are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb." He was certain that many of the guests here were less than happy. Chuckling to himself, he could even imagine more than one rewriting those lines to say, "Happy are those invited to the funeral of the Fox."

Cardinal Flynn returned to his place, then both Cardinals invited the bride and groom to come forward. Hanse and Melissa joined hands, with eyes only for one another. Cardinal Maraschal whispered something to the couple, making both of them smile.

Cardinal Maraschal looked toward the Archon. "Who gives this woman to be wed to this man?"

Katrina Steiner stood proudly. "I, Archon Katrina Steiner, in the name of her father, myself, and the Lyran Commonwealth, give this woman to be wed."

As the Archon seated herself again, Hanse's deep, strong voice filled the church. "I, Hanse Adriaan Davion take you, Melissa, as my wife. I promise, from this moment forward unto forever, to love, honor, and cherish you with my heart and soul. Forsaking all others, in good times and bad, in sickness and health, and in prosperity or poverty, I will be yours alone for as long as I shall live."

Melissa took a deep breath, then answered the Prince's vows in a clear, resonant voice. "I, Melissa Arthur Steiner, take you, Hanse, as my husband. Openly and freely, without hint of reservation, I vow my fidelity to you and affirm my love for you. In adversity or happiness, in sickness or health, in security or beset by enemies from within or without, I shall be yours alone, now and for all time."

In unison, the Cardinals pronounced their blessings. "You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with the strength to keep your vows. What God has joined, men must not divide. Amen."

Morgan Hasek-Davion handed the rings to Cardinal Maraschal. The cleric nodded thanks, then joined with his counterpart from the Federated Suns in blessing the rings. "May the Lord God bless these rings that you give to each other as a sign of your love and fidelity."

Hanse cupped Melissa's left hand in his left hand. Taking the ring from Cardinal Maraschal, he held it up so that all could see the light glinting from the golden band. "Take thee this ring, Melissa, as a visible sign of my promises to you." Smiling, the Prince of the Federated Suns slipped the ring onto Melissa's finger.

Melissa accepted the other ring from Cardinal Flynn and held it up for all to see. "Take thee this ring, Hanse, and know my vows to thee will remain as pure and unchanging as the gold herein." Melissa slid the thick gold band easily onto Hanse's finger.