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ever actually read the contract. Only scholars knew how to read, after all, and only the most gifted knew ancient Iotaca. Most people considered the scroll a fertility prayer. Kamoj had her doubts; Airys had managed to translate a few parts of it for her, and to Kamoj it sounded more like a legal document than a poem. She supposed lovers preferred to see matters in terms of moons and fertility, though.
    In any case, the groom always returned the scroll. Then the wedding couple spoke a blessing they had composed themselves. Kamoj hadn't written anything and she doubted Lionstar had either, so they would simply go on with the ceremony.
    Except they didn't. Lionstar read the scroll.
    As his voice rumbled, indrawn breaths came from their audience. Kamoj doubted anyone in Argali had ever heard the blessing spoken at a merger, let alone with such power. Lionstar had a deep voice, with an unfamiliar accent and the burr of a vibrato. It also sounded slurred.
    When he finished, the only sounds in the temple were the faint calls of evening birds outside.
    Finally he said, "This ceremony, is it done?"
    Airys managed to recover. "The vows are finished, if that is what you mean."
    He gave her the scroll. Then he untied the vine joining his and Kamoj's wrists and draped it around Kamoj's neck so the roses spilled over her breasts. She stiffened, jarred by the break with tradition; they weren't supposed to undo the vine until they consummated the marriage. Before she had a chance to speak, he took her elbow, turned her around, and headed for the entrance, bringing her with him.
    Murmurs came from the watchers, a rustle of clothes, the clink of diskmail. Belatedly Kamoj realized he had misunderstood: he thought the ceremony was over when it had hardly begun. But the rest was only ritual. The vows were said. Argali and Lionstar had their corporate merger.
    They came out into a purple evening. It happened so fast Kamoj barely had time to catch her breath before they reached Lionstar's coach. Lionstar stopped, looking at something over her head, and she turned to see Maxard coming up to them, flanked by Lyode and Gallium.

    Lionstar spoke to her uncle. "Good night, sir."
    Kamoj wondered what he meant. Was "good night" a greeting or a farewell?
    Maxard bowed to him. Lionstar nodded, then motioned to his men. As he raised his arm, his cloak parted and revealed his diskmail, a sapphire flash of blue. What metal he did use, to create such a dramatic color? One of his stagmen opened the coach door, and Lionstar put his hand on Kamoj's arm, with the obvious intent of passing her into the coach.
    It was happening too fast. Kamoj balked, turning from Lionstar, and went over to Lyode. As she and Kamoj embraced, Lyode murmured, "You're like a daughter to me. You remember that. I will always love you." Her words had the sound of tears.
    Kamoj's voice caught, muffled against her shoulder. "And I you."
    Stepping back, Kamoj turned to Maxard. But before she had a chance to bid him farewell, Lionstar took her elbow and drew her toward the coach. She almost pulled away again, but hesitated.
    Antagonizing the man who had just taken over Argali would be a poor start to their merger. She gave Maxard a farewell glance and he nodded, his and her eyes both wet with unshed tears.
    Then Lionstar passed her to one of his stagmen, who handed her up into the roaring lion. Its interior was somber, panelled in black moonglass wood and upholstered in dark leather. A window showed in the wall by her seat. Turning to watch Lionstar enter, she saw another window in the door behind him. Yet from outside, no windows had shown at all.
    As a stagman closed the door, Lionstar sat next to her, his long legs filling the car. His cloak fell open, revealing ceremonial dress much like Maxard's, except in darker colors. The coach rolled forward, and Kamoj looked out the window, to catch a final glimpse of her home. But the
    "glass" was fading into a blank expanse of wood. Alarmed, she