She nodded vigorously. “Oh yes! We’re both the oldest in our families, and we each have four sisters and brothers, so there’s a lot of pressure there to do well and set a good example. My mother would be so mortified if I came to the city and didn’t do something distinctive with my life. And Colt’s father—he’s told me his father would disinherit him. Which means even more to the gulden than it does to us,” she added thoughtfully. “For us, it means losing money and land and—well, prestige. A place in the community. For them, it means losing family, becoming—I think he called it a ghost. Someone who is no longer alive. I didn’t quite understand it. But I knew what he meant.”

“I don’t think you’re alike at all.”

She laughed again. “Oh, we are! We were both brought up to believe we’re the most important person in the room and everyone should do whatever we say, whether or not we say it nicely. The only reason Colt doesn’t completely lord it over everyone else in the lab is Pakt—because he was brought up to respect the dominant male. And the only reason I’m bearable is Cerisa. Same reason.”

“You and Pakt,” Nolan said, shaking his head. “You make it all sound so complicated. Like there’s more going on than just a few individuals in a room.”

“There’s always more going on than that,” she said wryly.

Nolan wasn’t sure how to reply to that, but there was never any need to strain for conversation with Melina. “How’s Leesa?” she asked a few minutes later. “Are you going to see her anytime soon?”

He nodded. “As a matter of fact, she’s coming to the city in a couple of days. Business, she says, but I think she really wants to attend Corzehia Mallin’s big event.”

“Oh, are you going to be there? Good! You can meet Julitta. We’ve been invited, of course. I think even Cerisa will be there.”

Nolan grimaced. “I thought she’d been invited, but I was hoping she wouldn’t go. The crowd will be a little young for her, won’t it?”

“Actually, I think Corzehia’s invited everyone—all the Higher Hundred in the city. So you’ll have to come in formal dress. Which I know you love.”

“Anything to impress Cerisa,” he said, and she laughed again.

They headed back to the Complex together, but Melina veered off to stop at a public news monitor. He waited a moment while she scanned the screen, her finger on the “hard copy” button in case she wanted a record of anything.

“What are you looking for?” he asked when he got bored.

She shrugged. “Just looking for news of the day. Go on, I’ll catch up with you later.”