for
anything else."

"Probably true," Cortin agreed. "I enjoyed helping, but if I'm going
to do a good job as King's Inquisitor I may not have time to do that
very well. And I'd rather not do it if I can't do it right."

"You'll be keeping busy, all right," Bradford told her, "with a whole
Kingdom to draw from. The whole Systems, if your skills are necessary."

Cortin smiled. "Good!"

"And it might interest you to know that His Majesty doesn't interfere
in his Household's private lives," Bradford said. "I don't know your
preferences that well, but as long as you don't flaunt them, what you
do is between you and your partner or partners. With the security
provided at the Palace Compound and Harmony Lodge, you won't have to
worry about outsiders who might be offended."

"No flaunting," Cortin promised. "I have very basic tastes; the only
thing most people would frown on is the amount and variety of partners
I like."

Bradford smiled. "Such as this group?"

Cortin returned the smile. "Exactly."

"And is Her Excellency interested now?"

"Her Excellency most certainly is."

* * * * *

When Cortin woke, shortly before dawn, she was still awed by her new
position. That sort of promotion and transfer simply weren't supposed
to happen--but all the Kingdoms would have Sovereign's Inquisitors,
according to Brad; soon she'd be one of a dozen, different only in that
she worked directly for the High King. That made it a little less
daunting--and they were supposed to leave for New Denver today. She
got up, bathed, and dressed, unable to suppress a thrill when she
fastened the Colonel's eagle and the Household badge to her tunic.

12. Flight

Sunday, 01 Mar 2572

The flight started out as interesting, if uneventful. Cortin exchanged
courtesies with the Royal couple, then joined her team, taking a window
seat. It was her first flight--well, she thought, the first one she'd
been awake for, anyway--and she wanted to see everything she could.
She'd had a passing interest in archaeology once, so she was aware of
pre-war population statistics, and knew the unnaturally straight lines
of vegetation in the areas they flew over marked roads or buildings
that no longer existed. For the first time, the two came together and
became real for her. There had been so many of them! Dear God, it
must have been unbearable, especially in the cities, crowded so closely
together! But it w