Appointment at Bloodstar: Family d'Alembert Book 5 by Goldin Stephen & Smith E.E. 'Doc'

Author:Goldin, Stephen & Smith, E.E. 'Doc' [Goldin, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Published: 2013-06-24T00:00:00+00:00

Originally, Pias and Yvette had planned to stay on Newforest for six days, and had return reservations on a ship that would take them back to Earth just in time for the Princess’s wedding. But this new turn of events left them little reason for staying the additional few days; indeed, an oppressive feeling was building up within them, and the sooner they were off this world the sooner that feeling would go away.

Newforest was an out-of-the-way planet, and was not visited as frequently as most others. Fortunately for Pias and Yvette, however, a chartered passenger ship carrying a group of nobles to Earth for the festivities had developed a minor malfunction nearby, and had stopped on Newforest to have the damage repaired. Yvette learned from calling the spaceport that they would be able to cash in their previous tickets and purchase space on this vessel.

The Bavol manor house seemed almost deserted as they left. Carrying their own bags down the hallways they met not another living soul; the house’s occupants were going far out of their way to avoid any contact with them. Pias wanted very much to stop by his father’s room and say goodbye, even though he knew the old man would never acknowledge it; but he knew that it would only deepen the pain for both the Duke and himself, and so he forbore doing it.

Outside, a copter was waiting for them, with Yuri to pilot it. The old servant said not a word as he flew them to the spaceport but, as the young couple stepped out, Yuri said, ‘Goodbye, Pias.’ The two men embraced tearfully and kissed one another; then Yuri got back into the copter and flew away.

Word of the kriss had traveled quickly; everyone at the spaceport seemed aware of it. Yvette could see that Pias had been right; whereas yesterday he had been greeted with smiles and enthusiasm, today people turned their heads to avoid seeing him. Yvette had to speak to the ticket clerk; no one would admit that Pias was even there. Pias accepted their behavior stoically, but Yvette could guess just how deeply he was hurt.

Pias stayed in his cabin until the ship, the Querida , lifted off the surface of Newforest. Then, with the easing of the heavy gravity, his own cares seemed to ease as well. He emerged from his cabin full of his old gaiety and charm.

‘I’m no longer weighted down by responsibilities as the Marquis of Newforest,’ he explained to a startled – and delighted – Yvette. ‘From now on, I shall be the same carefree, gallant gambler you first met, with a rose in my hatband and a cape around my shoulders. I’ll keep the name Pias Bavol, though – I’m damned if I’ll let them take that away from me, too.’

They quickly introduced themselves to the rest of the passengers on the cruise. Virtually all the others were nobles from the farthest reaches of Sector Twenty-Two, traveling to Earth for the express purpose of seeing the Princess marry her consort.

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