Jora'h forced himself to smile. "Even a son of the Mage-Imperator doesn't get everything he wants. My brother should know that."And Thor'h as well.

The Adar lowered his voice. "If I may say so, Prime Designate, it is good that you are bringing your son back to Ildira. He has had a fine time here, but I believe he holds a skewed, and soft, impression of our Empire. The weight of responsibility has not yet touched him. Yet, like you, he is destined to serve as Prime Designate and then Mage-Imperator-though I hope that day is far in the future."

Jora'h felt cold inside. "Thor'h will serve when called upon. That is how he has been taught. That is why he was born."

By unwavering tradition, the next Prime Designate had to be a purebred noble rather than a hybrid military officer, like Jora'h's true firstborn son. Zan'nh had performed well in the Solar Navy, rising in rank because of his genuine innovation and skill. Thor'h, however, had never demonstrated any penchant for leadership or skill in diplomacy... but he was still young.

Hyrillka resided in a double-star system, one of many binaries and trinaries inside the glittering tiara of the Horizon Cluster. The large blue-white primary lit the sky during Hyrillka's long days, while the orange secondary drove back the night enough that Ildirans need never fear the dark. Drawn by the planet's temperate weather and verdant beauty, Ildirans had developed Hyrillka into an opulent, peaceful world.

Kori'nh brought his seven warliners down into the plaza spaceport, an area paved with hexagonal heat tiles arranged in a complex mosaic so that descending ships could see Hyrillka's beauty. Cheering crowds waved reflectorized pennants to welcome the septa.

Observing from the command nucleus, Jora'h frowned down at the spectacle. "I told Rusa'h this was an unofficial visit. I asked him not to draw attention to my arrival."

Kori'nh looked over at him with a wry smile. "You are the Prime Designate coming to take your son away. How could the Hyrillka Designate resist such an opportunity?"

On the ground, Designate Rusa'h sent a parade of colorfully robed escorts, rememberers, dancers, and singers to receive the visitors. Side by side, Jora'h and the Adar disembarked, while the people continued to cheer. The Prime Designate's gold-chain hair flickered about his head like a corona, and his star-sapphire eyes caught the light of Hyrillka's bright blue-white sun.

Kori'nh ordered his trained honor guard to march down the ramps in a precise clockwork formation. The stream of soldiers struggled to maintain order as they encountered the swirling performers on the landing grid.

Trying to keep the stern tone out of his voice, Jora'h greeted his brother. "This unexpectedly fine reception was unnecessary, Rusa'h."

The Hyrillka Designate noticed no criticism in the Prime Designate's tone. "This is just the beginning!" He sported a bright smile and a vapid expression on his chubby face. With casual familiarity, he clapped his brother's shoulder. "I cannot begin to list the banquets we have prepared, the presentations, and the performances. We have a historian who rivals even Vao'sh back at the Prism Palace. I have installed a new gallery of dancing fountains. You will be amazed."