Darius shrugged and turned to look out at the crowd. “A shame. You should learn the language. Imperial opera has some of the most genuinely emotional sagas I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience.”
I nodded politely and waited for him to move away, confident he could have nothing more to say to me, but Archduke Darius stayed where he was, leaning casually against the pillar with his drink cradled in hand. I could have moved myself, but I needed to stay close to Prince Aureli, and this was the most convenient location I could find.
Finally, I turned to the archduke. “Excuse me, Your Grace, but do you need something from me?”
“Some pleasing conversation would be nice.” I raised my eyebrow, and he continued, “Nobody here will talk to me.”
“I’m not surprised,” I said before I could think twice about it.
The archduke’s shapely black eyebrows drew in. “What do you mean?”
I was stuck in it now. “Well, everyone on the Allied side thinks you a traitor, while the Imperials look down on you for being an ordinary human. Assuming you are human and not part-demon or celestial or something.”
“I wish,” Darius replied. “Imagine the conversation starters.”
“Most people in the Allied star systems take pride in their pure human heritage,” I said in return. I did not, in particular, but it interested me to see someone who wished to possess heritage from the pre-Fall bioengineering projects.
“Most people are idiots,” the archduke shot back darkly. “Who wouldn’t want wings or gills or the ability to survive in hellish environments? I see no nobility in honoring one’s genetic weaknesses for the sake of illusory purity.”
“An interesting counterpoint,” I conceded, then exchanged my empty glass with a fresh one from a server’s tray to give me time to think. “The way you raced today, I would have thought you had something extra in your genes.”
Darius laughed. “Nothing except a misspent youth racing hoversteeds. But you enjoyed the races?”
“Very much. I wish I could have participated.”
“I was expecting you to. I would think a battle-hardened cavalryman could outfly a bunch of aging senior officers,” Darius responded.
“Possibly, but I ride a military hoversteed. Your machines would leave mine in the dust.”
Darius gave a cavalier wave of his hand. “So borrow another machine.”
I gave him a patronizing look. “Your Grace, you are too good a rider to say such foolish things. It takes time to mold a rider to their steed. Besides, my current mount would get jealous.” Darius gave me a quizzical look, and I explained about Tilly’s SI.
“Fascinating. And you say it’s imprinted on you?” he asked.
“Tilly won’t let anyone but me ride her.”
“Where I’m from, that would be considered a serious defect,” Darius remarked.
“Yes, well, we in the Commonwealth have a greater respect for emergent SI,” I said, a hint of acid in my voice.
“As you should. It’s something I hope to change in my tsardom once I ascend to the throne. I wish I could share a bond with my mount the way you do.” As my chest swelled with pride, Darius threw back his drink, then signaled for another. “But enough about me. What about you? The Royal Commonwealth is a big place. Where are you from?”
“My family estates are in the Perthian system,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral as my pride deflated.
I watched as he mentally consulted a star map. Then his eyes went wide. “Perthia. But that’s…”
“In Imperial-occupied territory, yes,” I confirmed. “The system fell during the initial blitz. We didn’t have much in the way of orbital defenses or any garrison to speak of out near the frontier.”
“I hope your people are doing well,” Darius began, but I waved him silent.
“I’m certain they’re fine. I come from a family of landowners, not nobles, and even the Empire, brutal as they are on the battlefield, treat civilians with tolerable care. Still, it would be nice to know for sure. Everything behind Imperial lines is on a communications blackout. Maybe if the invasion had taken a little longer, they could have gotten off-world.” I gave the archduke a level look. “We expected the League to last long enough to prepare for an invasion.”
Archduke Darius had enough conscience to look chagrined. “Look, old chap, I’m sorry about all this, but the fortunes of war and all…”
“Indeed.” I let my icy reply lie.
Darius frowned, looking away from me for a moment. “It’s truly a tragedy we must stand on opposing sides of this conflict. I never wanted to fight the Commonwealth. I have nothing but respect and admiration for your government and your people. I wish we could have been allies, but you chose to stand beside an antiquated agreement with Yezhidia’s most intractable enemy.”
