And there in the middle, of course, were Jalamar and Morandia. Jalamar wore a fully covering bodysuit, and his face was swathed in make-up, the better to reduce the scaly appearance of his skin. High-ranking socialites on a world as cosmopolitan as Vorlese were unlikely to take offence at the minor mutations of a senior Navigator, but a little grease to the wheels never hurt. Beside him, liquid reflections of flame washed across the dark lenses of Morandia’s eyeglasses. Chetta suppressed a smirk at the petty realisation that, between bright fires and darkening night, her sister-in-law would be essentially blind.

‘Speaking of Lord Xudine,’ Taranthis continued, and Chetta pulled her attention back to ver, ‘I wondered if I might have a few words with you both? And perhaps Lady Vass as well, since you’re here.’

‘Of course, governor,’ Chetta replied, deliberately not glancing at Vittariel. Such a request from the planetary governor was no request at all. Taranthis nodded gratefully, as though it had been, and turned to the rest of the nobles.

‘Pray excuse us for a moment. I will be back shortly – in the meantime, refreshments are being served in the orchard.’

The assembly broke up in ones and twos as it dawned on them that they were being dismissed. Chetta caught sight of Jalamar’s face as he turned to go, but couldn’t read his expression. Was he angry at them getting to be alone with the governor? Or was he happy? How exactly was this conversation about to go?

‘Walk with me, please,’ Taranthis said, turning away from the largest bonfire and beginning to stroll across the grass. Chetta obliged, glad that the ground was at least firm underfoot. Vittariel flanked her on her right, while Vass, now looking all business, walked on her left beyond the governor. Ahead of them, two gymnasts turned backflips in the grass, apparently so lost in their art that they cared not whether they had an audience.

‘I was very sorry to hear of the death of Lord Azariel,’ Governor Taranthis began. ‘You have my condolences.’

‘Thank you,’ Chetta murmured, hearing herself echoed by Vittariel.

‘I was, however, very glad to hear that the enmity between House Brobantis and House Xudine has finally been brought to an end,’ Taranthis continued, with perhaps the slightest stress on the word ‘finally’. ‘I commend everyone involved in that decision. Such friction rarely benefits anyone.’

Chetta said nothing. She felt that praise was more for her than Vittariel, since she had agreed to Xudine’s offer, while her brother-in-law was merely hashing out the details of it. But did Taranthis see it that way? A new bloom of light ahead signalled a fire-eater: a woman in a double-horned hat sending out great gouts of flame higher than the fires themselves.

‘But now, of course,’ Taranthis said with a sigh, ‘I hear of a new problem. This disagreement between House Brobantis and House Dukarr. That won’t involve any… unpleasantness… will it?’