“Ah.” He smiled. “Let us have peace between us then, Lady.”

“Of course,” said the Right Noble. “How else?”

Anthora’s fairlove leaned over, whispering in her ear. She laughed softly and linked her arm in his; waving at her eldest brother as they moved off toward the pleasure-tents.

Shan raised his glass in salute; lowered it to drink—snapped his eyes to Val Con’s face as he felt the younger man start.

“if the family will excuse me,” Val Con murmured, sketching a bow toward all. “I am reminded of a previous appointment.” He was gone, slipping through the crowd like an orange wraith.

Shan, watching from his tall vantage, saw a lady start forward—a blur of dark hair and bright eyes; hand outstretched in welcome. Val Con’s arm slid around her waist and he began to turn her toward the pleasure-tents—then his cloak swirled suddenly wide, hiding both from Shan’s view.

He glanced down to find Nova’s eyes on him.

“The reason Lady Kareen heard of Val Con frequenting a tavern in spaceleathers?” she murmured. “Is he courting a barmaid, brother?”

He sipped. “She seems a very nice barmaid.”

“Shan—”

He sighed and tried to break her gaze, without success.

“All right,” he said grumpily. “I’ll talk to him.” He raised his glass. “Later.”

Fellow Travelers 

Adventures in the Liaden Universe #2

Where the Goddess Sends

TIME AGO ONE went out from Circle, sent by the Mother’s Own Word. The one was called Moonhawk, and she knew neither the face nor the name of what she went seeking.

The course of Seeking wound through the land and through the seasons and brought Moonhawk to a place that stank of Evil.