Chapter 11

Talia

There were fewer men than women who'd registered for the event this decennial, which gave rise to a thick tension among them as couples broke away onto the dance floor for the evening's final stretch.

In her youth, Talia had enjoyed the guilty pleasure of reading the last masquerade's results, the who's who, what their lives looked like before, after, and all the gossip in between. Orion's Masquerade was a gossip column's biggest dream come true.

She wondered what they'd say about her.

It was probably best not to think about it.

Talia joined the wallflowers who drifted along the outskirts of the ballroom. She watched as they shifted from foot to foot, toyed with their hair, or wrung their fingers, waiting to be chosen. Occasionally, Talia would see one who looked detached or even proud for not being coupled off. She'd wonder if they'd been forced by family or political expectations, or if there was a secret lover they wished to return to like the girl from the parlor. Whatever it was, Talia cheered her on in silence, praying for her victory.

Chancellor Abernath was enjoying the willing attentions of another woman. He had her cornered, leaning over her with one of his arms propped against the wall above them. It was the severe woman who'd mocked the crying girl. Talia recognized her by her dress. Her veiled head bobbed, nodding obligingly to whatever he was saying, and Talia thought that perhaps they deserved each other. The woman let out a sharp chuckle which rose above the rest of the chatter. Talia knew there was no way Abernath said anything funny enough for that type of reaction.

She took a step toward them but stopped herself. She looked around and was surprised to see the widowed Ambassador Lovelett lounging alone at a table in the dark, swirling her glass with one hand before tipping her head back and draining it. Perhaps they'd all been too harsh in judging her for moving on from her husband's passing so quickly. Maybe Talia shared more in common with Ambassador Lovelett than she'd thought.

"May I join you?" she asked.

The ambassador nodded. Talia perched on the edge of the chair across from her, not quite as relaxed as the woman in front of her.

"I lost my husband, too, and wanted to say that it's difficult to decide what's better. Honoring their memory or moving on for the greater good. Especially when the masquerade only comes once every ten years."

Ambassador Lovelett waved a waitress over and motioned for drinks for the both of them. Two glasses of deep red wine came, and Talia tasted hers, relieved to find that it was bitter and definitely not from Abernath's special collection.

"I hated mine." She returned Talia's shocked expression with a slow, sly grin. "Oh, don't be so naive, Chancellor Steele. My husband was a great politician. He did many great things and was so upstanding and flawless in the eyes of our constituents, but when we were alone, he was cold and cruel. He poisoned my mind until I hated myself. I'd rather be stripped to nothing and run the corridors of Heaven's Pearl ten times over than marry again."

Talia sagged in her chair. It seemed love was the last thing on anyone's mind tonight, except for that brief conversation she had with Ambassador Montclair earlier when he'd spoken of forests and love and poetry. It was too bad that Jules made some legitimate points about what his planet lacked earlier. Dawn would flourish on Xiridian IV, Abernath's planet, while Montclair's planet was a gamble.

Ambassador Lovelett cleared her throat then asked, "How long ago did he pass?"

"Oh, it's been almost six years. We held the five-year memorial earlier this year."

"I'm sorry to hear that. It seems like you really loved him."

Tears stung Talia's eyes. "I—still do." Her voice broke and she used the table napkin to wipe her eyes. "And I met a man tonight who feels so much like my Ryker, but he isn't, and I'm so sorry because I don't why I'm dumping all of this on you tonight."

The other woman reached across the table and took Talia's hand. "It's all right. Please, let it out. You'll never make the right choice if you don't."

"My council voted for me to be here, and I thought, well, I thought that I'd mingle, avoid Chancellor Abernath, and hopefully know what to do. That another solution would come to me before the night runs out. Then I met Ambassador Montclair, and now I-I don't know. Everything's changed but I want none of it, and what if they knew that I threw their futures away because I couldn't decide?"

"Your life matters, too." The Ambassador squeezed Talia's hand tighter.

"They don't see it that way. I used to see my council as my family, but as our outlook has gotten worse, they've started treating me more like an asset than a person. I feel used."

"What about the one who feels like your husband? Could you be happy with him? Satiate your people and your own heart?"

"Maybe, but it would be a risk. There isn't much information on him, not even in the dossier, and I have a daughter to protect. She's in statis and I've been waiting for the right time to finish my pregnancy, but if his planet ends up being nothing but a big ball of trash, then what?"

Ambassador Lovelett shook her head with empathy in her eyes, the droplet pearls dangling across the top trim of her veil swinging with the motion. "I know Chancellor Abernath has his sights set on you. His planet is one of the best."

"It feels wrong because I spent so long hating him. Taking advantage of his desires anyway would just make me feel selfish, too."

"Your parents taught you too much empathy. They accomplished some beautiful things, don't get me wrong, but it's time that you learn how to be a little selfish. Everyone here is expecting to be used in one way or another."

Talia's eyes drifted to where she'd last seen Chancellor Abernath with the other woman. They'd swapped places and now it was him leaning against the wall, but his gaze was locked on Talia despite the woman eagerly chatting at him. She caressed his lapel with her fingers, then pulled herself closer to him. A glint of light reflected from his golden mask as he angled his face toward the other woman.

Dawn.

Talia pushed back from her chair. Its legs screeched loudly against the flooring. "Thank you, Ambassador Lovelett, for letting me sit with you."

"Call me Maria and please," she said as they shook hands with the barest grasp of the fingertips, "if there's anything that I can do for you, reach out. New Earth-9 is filled to the brim, but I have a good network."

Talia found the closest exit and slid back into the corridors, maintaining eye contact with Chancellor Abernath the entire time. He took the hint and disengaged from his admirer. She didn't have to wait long until he appeared, a crooked smile painted across his face.

"My little star bird," he drew the words out slowly.

"There isn't much time left in the night," she got right to the point but tilted her head and spoke softly, to lessen the formality of the conversation, "We haven't really touched on contractual details or marital expectations."

He clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward her. "You're not going to like what I have to say."

"And what's that?"

"Jules has already showed me a copy of what you've drafted."

"Well, there might be a couple of changes she's unaware of." Like the addendum to keep Jules out of her personal life and remove her from New Horizon's council.

He motioned his hand forward. "Would you like to walk while we talk about it?"

They wandered the corridors together and discussed details like where New Horizon's population would stay, how they could integrate into Xiridian IV's society, and what their rights as new citizens would be. He wasn't giving up much in terms of political positions or power to New Horizon's councilmembers, but he was generous with his offerings to their general population. Education, housing, financial assistance until they could establish their new lives, he already had everything sorted out.

"Once a quarter I'd like for you to spend two weeks with me. Alone."

Oh. She massaged the back of her neck with her hand and stared at the wall closest to her as they continued walking.

"There are no expectations other than you giving me a chance, Talia. I know that you aren't doing this because you love me, but I don't want to be lonely forever. I don't expect you to fall in love with me overnight, but I expect you to try and open your heart."

She supposed that was fair, but words failed her.

They paused in the middle of the corridor. All that was going to be said had been said. It left Talia feeling awkward and she wished that the organ would chime, because she didn't know how else to disengage from this moment.

The sound of heavy footsteps running toward them broke the silence. Ambassador Montlcair rounded the corner. His vest had come undone and his billowy top clung to the sweat across his chest. Chancellor Abernath pushed Talia behind him, but she inched forward.

Montclair was winded by the time he reached them. He bent over to catch his breath, steadying the bulky wolf mask which threatened to slide off of his face with his hand.

"Ambassador," Abernath began, "this really isn't the?—"

"Talia," Montclair straightened, "you didn't tell me that you have a daughter."

"That detail would be revealed in my marriage proposal. Would that be a problem for you?"

His dark eyes darted all around, looking at anything but her. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and backed away, leaving as quickly as he'd arrived.

The bizarre encounter left her unsettled. Ambassador Montclair seemed genuinely shocked. It seemed like an overreaction to the possibility of a stepchild, so exaggerated that it made her wonder if there was something else going on.

"I want you to stay away from that man for the rest of the night, Talia. He's been odd ever since he arrived," Chancellor Abernath spoke up. He gently took her hand and placed it into the crook of his elbow, then led her in the other direction.

"You already knew about Dawn, didn't you? That's why you weren't surprised when I brought her up in the dining hall earlier this evening."

He nodded. "Jules told me."

"That wasn't her place."

"No, but she wanted to make sure that it wouldn't hinder an agreement between us."

"That, also, was not her discussion to have. Thank you for telling me." Maybe Talia should add into her marriage contract that Jules wouldn't even be allowed to reside on the same planet as her.

The organ resounded. From the corridor, they heard it through the open doorways that led into the ballroom as well as from the intercoms hanging above.

"I guess it's time to select my candidates," Talia told Abernath.

He bowed respectfully and watched as she joined the crowd of women who poured out of the ballroom to gather in the hallway. They were led back to their suites by the staff, so that they could make their decisions alone, as well as to avoid any arguing or fighting that might arise if they shared their thoughts in the ladies' parlor. Talia arrived back at her suite to find Jules already seated at the table with her data pad.

"Leave," Talia demanded.

"We need to do this together."

"No, you need to leave."

Jules leaned back and adjusted her glasses. She laughed as if Talia was being unreasonable, then spoke calmly, as if she could reason her way back into Talia's trust. "We need to make the right decision for New Horizon, then we need to review your contract terms. Come and sit with me, please."

"You accused me of treason."

"I know, I'm sorry," Jules' voice softened and she wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "I shouldn't have said that. I'm scared, Talia, please underst?—"

"You spoke out of turn and addressed my business with Chancellor Abernath. That type of meddling is prohibited! Companions and chaperons aren't allowed to speak to any of the other contestants. Leave now or I'll call security."

Jules looked down at her data pad on the table. She bit her lip, then picked it up and left the room. Talia locked the door behind her, twisting an interior bolt that couldn't be unlocked from the outside. Finally, she grabbed her own data pad from the table, then collapsed onto the sofa in the adjoining room.

She spent some time adding in the addendums that she'd hidden from Jules, then refreshed the dossier and swiped to the page where she'd rank her top two choices. The men wagered for their spots at the encounters, especially the first spot, but it was the women who initiated the marriage offers. Each woman was allowed a first and a second choice. The first choice would receive a list of all of the prospective wives who chose him first, and he'd select one. He also had the option to decline them all and wait for the next round.

If a woman wasn't selected by her first choice, then when the next round began, her name would be given to her second choice, provided that he was still available. Anyone who couldn't reach a marriage arrangement after the first two rounds moved on to the unmasking. It was a ceremony where they gave up their fine robes and jewels to the masquerade, as compensation for the event's coordinators' time and effort, then left. Talia always thought that part was ridiculous and too theatrical, but Orion's Masquerade was filled with traditions that were older than her family tree. The unmasking probably had a different meaning once, but it'd been lost in translation all these millennia later.

On her data pad, Ambassador Thorne Montclair's name sat in the first slot. Talia had placed it there earlier in the evening.

She dragged Chancellor Ysander Abernath's name over, pushing Montclair down into the second slot.