“You know them well?”
“No. That’s the point. But I have known of them for a long time,” Marena said. “They will be safe.”
Colonel Gerocie called Quint up from the basement.
“Sit, Captain.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Quint said.
“There is a reception tonight at the Council Palace for Fedor Danko. General Obellia has designated you as an attendee. Secretary Lucheccia and the general will also be in attendance. As will be Grand Marshal Tracco Guilica, the head of the military and a council member. Avoid him if possible. Your role as aide and escort begins tonight. Are you ready?”
“As long as my black uniform is presentable.”
“It is. Arrive at the Council Palace fifteen minutes before seven-thirty.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“And captain. Look smart. Dismissed.”
Quint furrowed his brow on the way out. He didn’t know if the colonel meant to look orderly and well-groomed or look like an intellectual. Quint couldn’t go back and embarrass himself by asking, so he would do his best to do both.
Marena helped Quint with his appearance. His uniform needed brushing, which he had missed. She made him shave, a weekly occurrence, and helped him with his hair, although Quint always wore his uniform cap when he was away from the international quarter.
The time had come, and Quint headed over to the palace. He arrived a few minutes early and was shown into a large dining room that had the tables removed.
“Don’t drink yourself into a stupor, captain,” one of the servants said as Quint was ignored by the attendees, as usual. “The liquor is free.”
Quint wasn’t a drinker and asked for fruit juice as he waited.
Ten minutes before eight o’clock, people rushed into the reception. Henricco Lucheccia spotted Quint and motioned him over to him.
“The Dankos have just arrived. Stay with me so I can introduce you.”
“Yes, sir,” Quint said.
Two hubites, a middle-aged father and a much younger woman, presumably Danko’s daughter arrived. They were announced. Henricco shuffled over to them.
“Fedor, this is your escort while you are in Bocarre. He even lives in the international quarter where you will be staying. Fedor, this is Captain Quinto Tirolo of the wizard corps. He is a Level 3 currently working in the military diplomatic corps as an analyst.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Doctor Danko,” Quint said. “I’ve read your book on empires.” They shook hands.
“You’ve read all of it?” Danko asked. “What did you do to merit such a severe punishment?” Danko curled his lips.
It was a joke, Quint told himself and he took it as that he shouldn’t gush about the publication. “I’m keeping an eye open on the emerging Gussellian Empire,” Quint said.
“Henricco said you’ve met Pacci Colleto.”
“A few times,” Quint said.
“We will have to discuss it, but not here,” Danko said.
The reception had devolved into clusters of people who knew each other. A few had come over to Fedor Danko to introduce themselves. A few appeared uncomfortable. Quint was used to the look.
“I’ll take you around and introduce you to the council members and a few others whom I know,” Henricco said. The secretary of foreign affairs looked at Quint. “Why don’t you accompany Calee? We will find you.”
Calee gave Quint a pained smile as she watched her father ushered to meet another embarrassed willot.
“I knew South Fenola countries didn’t like hubites, but it comes through loud and clear. Are the other countries like Racellia?”
Quint nodded. “I’m afraid they are.”
“How do you stand it?”
“The antagonistic attitudes? There isn’t much I can do about it. I was pressed into the army two years ago. I can’t leave the wizard corps for another three years.”
“How old are you?”
“Seventeen,” Quint said.
“One year older than I am, and you are a captain? How did that happen.”
“Evidently, I have a talent for magic. They couldn’t restrain my learning and by the time I was trained, I was almost a Level 3 wizard, which I am now. They put me to work with a mop, a bucket, and a dusting cloth for my first assignment because they didn’t know what to do with me.”
“How did you become an analyst? What do analysts do?” Calee asked.
“My superiors didn’t know what to do with me, so I was assigned to strategic operations in the wizard corps and did fine with what I was given. I can provide some insight into problems. I ran afoul of General Baltacco’s daughter. He is one of the leaders of the wizard corps. They put me into the military diplomatic corps, which works under Henricco Lucheccia. I was assigned to a delegation to Nornotta, the Gussellian capital. I had to be a captain to become a military advisor in the group. So that is why I am a captain.”
