Chương 18

They entered the Hall of Remembrance. Dark panels along the walls carried the names of the Collective dead. The veterans stood beneath the flag at the far end, several dozen in green jackets with silver citizen-soldier insignia. The leaders took their places. A senior officer called the room to attention. A clerk began reading names and service histories. Each veteran stepped forward when called and stood before the flag. Then one name made Louis look up.

"Sergeant Gladice Simington, 5th Longhorn Cavalry Regiment. Three years active service. Two campaign stars. Honorable discharge." She stood in the third row of the New Orleans contingent. Her black hair was pinned tight at the back, with a few short strands lying near her temples. The dark jacket sat close through the shoulders and waist. Brass buttons and service tabs broke the cloth in hard little lines. Above the stiff collar, her face looked small: smooth pale cheeks, a straight nose, soft lips held flat.

Her green-brown eyes glanced around. When her name was called, Gladice stepped out of the row. She covered a yawn with the back of her hand, glanced at her palm, then rolled her neck once as she crossed the floor. The officer at the flag waited for her. Gladice looked past him toward the front rows. Her eyes found Louis first, then Angelique beside him. One corner of her mouth lifted. Then she winked at him. Serana noticed her too. She leaned toward Louis.

"Daughter of the mayor of New Orleans." She sounded unwillingly impressed. Louis did not answer. He kept watching her. Beside him, Angelique had seen it too.

"She looks like she's already planning something," she murmured. Before he could answer, the Commissioner of Civic Service stepped to the lectern, and the room quieted.

"Today you leave one form of service and enter another. You have earned the right to stand before us. You have earned the right to wear the badge of a veteran and to return to civilian life." The commissioner looked down the lines, his voice hard.

"This oath does not end your service to the Collective. It transforms it. You are now our reserve strength. You are our reminder to our enemies that the Collective never stands down." He raised his hand.

"Repeat after me." The oath began. The oath-takers answered as one. Gladice seemed half a beat late. Her mouth stayed still through the first words, her eyes fixed on the flag without focus. Then she blinked once and joined the rest.

"I swear to uphold the laws, honor, and common peace of the Free State Collective." The answer came back.

"I accept, in full, the rights, duties, and burdens of citizenship." Again.

"I will stand equal among citizens, faithful to the Collective, and answerable for the freedom I now bear." Louis heard the words, but his attention moved back to Gladice. She was looking at him again. Their eyes met for one second. Then she looked back to the flag. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"I will not betray its people, abandon its principles, or take lightly what was earned through service and sacrifice." The commissioner paused.

"From this day forward, I stand as a full citizen of the Free State Collective. So I swear." The commissioner lowered his hand. The oath-takers lowered theirs. Applause followed. Families moved forward to greet them. The veterans broke from their rows. Some went to their families. Others crossed to uniformed officers with folders and forms. Judith stayed seated a few seconds longer. Then she stood and came toward Louis.

"Come, Louis," she said quietly.

"We'll greet a few, then let them have their time." They were guided toward the Simingtons. Mayor David Simington stepped forward first. He wore thin glasses, a trimmed goatee, and a plain dark suit with a small fleur-de-lis pin on the lapel. Judith offered her hand. David bowed over it and brushed his lips against her knuckles. Then he straightened and shook Louis's hand, then Serana's. Jessamine Simington stood beside him. Gladice stood at her mother's shoulder, one thumb tucked under the edge of her cuff.

Jessamine smiled first. Gladice followed a second later, watching Louis as she did it.

"Mrs. Collins, Mr. Collins, Miss Collins," the mayor said.

"Thank you for coming. It's an honor." Thank you, Mr. Simington," Judith said.

"Your daughter has done you proud."

"David, please." He glanced at Gladice.

"She has." His hand settled at Gladice's back and brought her half a step forward.

"Gladice, you know the Collins family." Gladice dipped her head to Judith. Her eyes moved to Louis and paused there before she gave Serana the same small nod.

"Congratulations," Judith said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Collins." Gladice smiled for Judith and dipped her head. The smile was gone when she turned to Louis. She looked him over, face first, then jacket, then back to his eyes. She paused at his collar before looking back up. One corner of her mouth lifted.

"So," she said, low enough that it barely reached past him, "you're the Supreme President's son." Louis smiled.

"I am. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sergeant Simington."

"Likewise." She licked her lips.

"I hope we'll see more of each other in New Orleans." He kept his face still.

"I look forward to it." Her father's hand tightened slightly against her back. She ignored it. She brushed her hair aside.

"Welcome to the Collective, then." she looked into his eyes.

"I'm sure it's very different from home." Louis heard Serana shift behind him. When he glanced back, she had one hand over her mouth.

"It is," he said.

"So far." He inclined his head.

"Congratulations again, Sergeant." She nodded, then turned back to her family to greet the others. Judith was already moving. Louis followed her through a side door, past two Dominion Guards, and into a small lounge off the hall. The door closed behind them.

"... look at your fucking face!" Harvey pointed at Constantine and burst out laughing. Constantine stared at him for half a second, then slapped his thigh and laughed.

"What's so funny?" Judith took the seat beside Constantine. Harvey was still laughing. Constantine tried to answer, failed once, and waved a hand at him. Louis and Serana sat on the smaller sofa near the wall.

"I'm not repeating it in front of kids," Harvey said, barely catching his breath.

"I've heard worse." Serana rolled her eyes.

"How's it going, Harvey?" Louis gave him a nod.

"Those Dixies and New Orleanians are giving me headaches." Harvey waved a hand.

"Your dad is my savior."

"I can tell." Louis smiled.

"We just met the Simingtons. They seemed interesting."

"Interesting is one word for them." Harvey shook his head.

"Especially the daughter."

"What did she do?" Louis asked.

"Besides blowing up a Dixie checkpoint by herself?" Harvey counted on his fingers.

"Five censures and one court-martial." He paused.

"You know what? I'll put her at your table. Ask her the rest yourself."

"Good idea." Constantine smiled.

"You kids should know each other better. Miss Bourbon could use good company too." Louis looked at his father. Constantine winked. Judith chuckled.

"I'm sure Miss Bourbon will appreciate that." Serana leaned back into the sofa and laughed into her sleeve. Harvey grinned.

"Careful, kid. That one bites." Louis kept his eyes on Constantine.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Now, who's in for a round of blackjack?" Harvey pulled a deck of cards from the drawer.

"Winner gets first pick from my private armory." Constantine held out his hand for the cut. Louis looked from him to Harvey and shook his head.