Dinah, mounted on Quinn, Marc beside her on Cola, slipped through the portal Quinn had opened to the ministry. The place looked the same as it had a few days ago.  Just as governmental and uninspiring, just as stony and grim, the same tapestries and rugs where they'd been, the same flunkey, or perhaps a twin, bowing Dinah into the main reception room. It was late in the day, and the room was darker, what with the sun setting. The fire blazed more brightly and elaborate candelabra were lit with something other than candles but not quite electricity.

The door to Kevin's study was closed and servants dressed in fancy livery brought Dinah refreshments and gave her a seat by the fire.  Marc was near, she could sense his presence. He'd followed her through the portal but elected to have a look round the town, surmising that Kevin would be more forthcoming without him there.

Dinah nibbled on the luscious cakes and drank a cup of tea, and then the door to Kevin's office opened up. With Kevin was a man she'd have least expected to be here.

Seeing her, the visitor walked over, while Kevin conferred with a flunkey, a smile playing on his chiseled features. He bowed gracefully to her and then said, as he took her hands and kissed them, "Signorina Dinah. It is a surprise and a pleasure to steal a moment alone with you."

"Ah, Carmine.  Quick, call me signorina again, while I steal a kiss from your cheek."  Dinah demanded, laughing.  "They're always better stolen, you know."

He not only obligingly lowered his cheek for her but also wrapped her in a hug. "I understand you are the feature event at the ceremonies scheduled for ........"

"Four days from now, I'm told."  She eyed him speculatively.  "You know Carmine, "she began confidingly, "You might be just the man I need."

"How can I be of assistance?"  He motioned for her to take a seat and then sat once she had.

"Well, I'm told that I may invite who I wish to the events, not just the ritual but the Dragon Games and the dinner and ball.  Not only would I love it if you'd come, but I'm thinking if you did, then Nicco could come for the games, and you two might consent to bring Asher and Celie...they work for me at the hotel, if you recall...with you for the games and then see them back safely.  I've an idea about them that may help with their...timidity.   I promise to dance with you if you come," she added twinkling up at him with mischief.  "And introduce you to all the most beautiful women, too."

He smiled at her and said, "Mi dispiace, but most of your festivities are during the daylight hours. But, if you like, I will attend in the evening. And I will be delighted to have Nicco fetch your friends from the hotel."

"Why is that all the best men sleep all day," she teased.  "I'll just have to endure your absence."  She glanced at Kevin, waiting politely out of ear shot.  "Uhm, so, you get out here often?"

His eyes danced. "I have many business as well as personal interests in widely flung areas. Not unlike Stephen. But I perhaps should confess to you, given the circumstances around your presence here,  that I have been dealing with Kenget'Ster for quite a few years.  They are, I am given to understand, seen as enemies to Sere'Ster."

"I, however, am not at all sure that because they are Sere'Ster's enemies they are also necessarily mine.  Being in business, I'm sure you understand."  Her speculative look returned.  "I have to speak with Kevin, who I should tell you, was the first man who ever danced with me, but if, uhm, you're in no rush to leave, might I impose on your good humor and ask if it would be possible for us to speak more of Kenget'Ster when I've finished.  Any information you could share or insight into this culture...well, I'd be very grateful."

"I am meeting Signore Calum in a few minutes. Would you like to join us and get to know him in a comfortable setting? Afterwards I would be honoured to share with you my thoughts."

She kissed his cheek again impulsively.  "Carmine you're a treasure!  Marc came with me.  He's sightseeing, as it were.  Would it be okay if I brought him a long?"

"I look forward to getting to know him better. Ask Signore C'Tal to direct you to the public house where I am meeting Signore Calum. He knows it."

"I will and thank you so much.  And, uhm, if in my new, uhm, position, I can help you, you've only to ask."  She grinned at him and stood.  "And to think that dancing would lead to this. Thank you again."

He bowed and kissed her hand. "It is my great pleasure, signorina."  He took his leave, giving Kevin a nod on his way out.

Dinah watched him leave and then turned to Kevin.  "Thank you for seeing me.  I appreciate it."

"It's my pleasure.  You, ah, know Mr. Abrizzi?" he probed gently.

"Yes, he's my best dancing buddy.  I asked him to the ball."

Kevin laughed and led her towards his office.  "So how can I help?"  he asked when she was seated.

"Malec, when pressed, directed me to you on the subject of what I could expect from the ritual. But really, I'm hoping you can fill me in on a few things surrounding the situation between Sere'Ster and Kenget'Ster."

"If I can, Dinah, I'd be happy too.  A lot of it's public record.  What do you want to know?"

"Why is a negotiated settlement seemingly out of the question?" she asked, plunging right in.

"Ah, I see."  He templed his hands in front of him, leaning back in his seat.  "Well, it isn't, per se.  The trouble is Malec thinks, or so I gathered when last we tried for one during the truce, that there isn't much difference in the long run between losing everything and the price to settle.  He is eyeing, among other things, the loss in prestige and the impact on his trading status.  Plus, then and perhaps now, depending on your decisions, he no longer has Mac's assets to bargain with.  But mainly, Dinah, I think it's pride and the fact that Calum's father held Mach prisoner for almost a year before he escaped, trying to force him to surrender, then killed him in the battle at Caer Katon.  Malec felt, and had something of a case, that Kenget should have been sanctioned for both things, but in the end he lost his petition."

She considered his answer for a minute before asking, "You know Mac left me a bunch of licenses to some worlds?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Do you know why he didn't leave them with the House?"

He hesitated.  "I can only speculate he felt they would help you end this thing.  Dinah, he understood that I was in a difficult position and didn't want to make it worse.  I am supposed to be neutral in all this, a disinterested referee.  By asking me to grant status to the hotel to protect you and then send Mule, and give you the letter he knew, and I knew he knew, that I could be prosecuted, but that those things in themselves wouldn't be enough to win the case, so long as I had no knowledge of his plans.  I could plausibly say I thought he was trying to help you, an innocent bystander who was at risk because he loved you.

"He had no idea he was going to die so suddenly.  So it was a reasonable thing for him to do.  Calum's father was a ruthless man.  He'd have used you if he could have gotten to you."

Dinah agreed.  "He almost killed both of us once.  So he never told you anything else?  Anything you can tell me that would help?"

"No.  He trusted me, I am sure, and would have if he felt he could, but the situation..."  He let it trail off as he thought for a moment.  "He trusted you, he told me that.  He also told me once, strangely enough, that he trusted the dragons.  By that I suppose he meant that he knew Kalie would give her life for him, as she would have, having chosen him.  He and Malec were so different and Malachi was with the order that he really had no close confidante within the family for a long time.  Or anywhere really, but then he wasn't the sort."

Dinah nodded absently, knowing exactly what he meant.  "So, uhm, the ritual?  What's that about?"

"Very ceremonial, highly structured, but in the long run it's all about investing you with Mac's power and establishing you officially as his heir, the repository, as it were, of his presence still among us.  You will also formally become a member of House Sere'Ster."

"Malec said that if I wanted I had the right to challenge him for leadership of the House."

"You do," he agreed.  He would still be the Mael'com, but the rest would be yours if you wanted it, along with all of Mac's other private holdings and assets."

"Excuse me," she said.  "There's more besides the worlds?"

'Mac was an enormously wealthy man in his own right.  He had relationships through out the unimensional worlds and used those to invest his share of the profits from the House itself.  Some of it he put back into the licenses you have, the rest will transfer to you after the Ritual, along with his share of the profits from the House from the last twelve years, and any personal property he left, such as his jewels which are extensive.  Malec has already put the paperwork through.  I saw a copy of it this morning."

Dinah gaped at him.  "He's said nothing to me about it."

"He most likely wouldn't have.  It went into the hands of a trustee when Mac died while they searched for his heir.  The trustee will meet with you after the ritual, probably the next day, given the events planned."

"Who's the trustee?"

"The Father General of the Knights of St Azael, the order of warrior monks Malachi belongs to.  His name is Dominic d'Brazos.  He's also one of the scrutineers for the ritual along with the heads of the other three orders."  He stopped, puzzled when she burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry Kevin, but you mean the angel Azael, don't you?"

"Yes."

"It's just I know him.  He parties at my hotel."

Kevin laughed too.  "Don't tell Dom, it'll crush him."

"So that's it, then, for the ritual?"

"Yep, very tedious, mostly you'll stand there and nod at the right moments and produce the amulet when asked.  Calum and Malec will handle the rest, and Malachi has been chosen as your sponsor I believe.  He'll get you through it fine.  He's a good man.  Mac thought a lot of him.  Caused some problems with Malec I'm told."

Dinah nodded.  "Thanks Kevin.  I'm grateful  This whole thing is so murky, you've been a great help.  You can have three if you want, as my thanks."  She smiled at him, extending her hand.

"I'll claim them all.  I'm anxious to dance with you now that I know about Carmine.  But I'm glad to help Dinah.  For Mac's sake and for your own.  If I can do anything else don't hesitate to ask.  I'll be there the night before, so if you've more questions you can ask without having to make the trip."

"I will, and now, if you could direct me to the public house Carmine's at?  He said he'd meet me there when I was finished here."

He dutifully directed her and then showed her out, saving his speculation for when he got back to his desk.  From what he could tell, things were progressing nicely, even with the wild card that was her friendship with Carmine Abrizzi, business associate and friend of Calum MacCoun.

Dinah left the ministry and headed for where Marc's presence in her head told he was.  She found him watching the sea crash against the cliffs, the wind blowing wild through his hair and felt the frisson along her nerves the sight of him always gave her.  She slipped her arm through his and kissed him.  "Miss me?"

"Not at all. I've transferred my affection to Cola," he said with straight face.  "She openly adores me."

"Well, I'm not sure I'm the open adoration sort," she lamented, "so, if that's your preference, I suppose I'll just have to make do with Quinn then.  He can keep my feet warm on cold nights alone.  If Cola's who you want, I won't stand in your way."

"Such a noble creature you are," he laughed brushing his lips across hers. "I've seen someone here who might surprise you."

"Would your surprise be better than mine, which is a meeting with Calum MacCoun, head of House Kenget'Ster?"

"I knew there was a reason I adore you. How did you manage that?"

"Carmine Abrizzi was with Kevin when I walked in.  But uhm, could we rewind for a second?  That word you used?  The 'a' word...?"

"Don't read too much into it. My head's been turned by my jealousy of Quinn. Once I have you to myself again, maybe I'll regain my sanity."

"Quite possibly," she said complacently.  "While depriving me of mine, an experience I'm looking forward to, I promise you, so it seems a fair trade."

"Will I seem too poor a lover if I bring the conversation back to business?"

"I'll allow it,"  she replied with a regal nod of her head.

He grinned at her. "So, young Nicco Tieri eating something that looks remarkably like gelato shouldn't surprise me as much, then."

"Nope, but the best part is, after Calum, Carmine who trades among the worlds, and with Calum, has agreed to let us pick his brains."  She went on wickedly, "He's coming to the ball and I promised him a dance and other unspecified future considerations in return for his efforts."

"Ah. So. He's fought duels you know. I'm worse with a sword than I am at dancing."

"I promise to restrain any action on his part to harm a hair on your head.  That work for you?"  She waved at a pub just ahead, "'Cause that's where we're meeting him and I need to be prepared...just in case I have to leap into the breach."

He rolled an eye down at her. "I'll do my best to restrain my jealous masculine nature."  As they made their way into the bar area of the house, he added, only for her ears, "But it is interesting that Carmine is doing business with house Kenget and not Sere. Let's find out why."

Dinah grinned ferally at him and led the way over to where Carmine was sitting.  His companion was a tall, sandy haired man whose appearance put him in his late thirties or early forties.  He had an easy smile and brown eyes that studied them, she noticed as she shook hands with him again.  She introduced Marc ad took a seat between him and Carmine, leaving Marc the chair directly opposite.

"I hope," she said, "that you don't my importuning Carmine to arrange this meeting.  But it seems to serendipitous to pass up."

"No, Lady.  I was in fact, just thanking him, by way of trading concessions, for doing so," Calum replied.

Carmine, prince of the expressive shrug, shrugged. "Everyone needs olive oil," his voice hiding any hint of humor, making Marc nearly choke on the ale he'd just gotten.

Calum laughed openly.  Looking at him, he didn't seem to be someone whose father Dinah would suspect of capturing Mac, torturing him possibly, then chasing him once he'd escaped across several dimensions.  But then Carmine didn't look all the fearsome at the moment either.

"I am pleased to meet you, Lady. I only wonder what it is I can do for you," Calum replied looking from Dinah to Marc and back again.

"Well," she said candidly, flashing him the same smile she used to use with the building inspector in the days when he wanted to condemn her hotel, "I'd like the hear your side of the story.  And please, the name is Dinah.  I've no idea who the lady is everyone keeps referring to."

His eyes sparkled with amusement.   "Dinah, then, when informality is allowed.  And I am Calum."  He gazed at her serenely, as he sipped some ale.  "Have you heard the other side, then?"

"No."

"The Maelcom never told you what he was dropping you into?  How very like him." Calum reflected smoothly.

"You being a far more open and above board head of House involved in a vendetta that has spanned centuries," Marc commented, looking mildly amused as he toyed with his glass.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to mislead you.  I am often just the same.  I suppose it is the shared genetics."  Calum reflected.  "Runs heavily through both branches of the family.  Well, the men anyway," he amended.

"Ah, so this is a family dispute at base?" Marc asked. "That explains it then."

"A woman and money, that'll do it every time.  Which is, if you'll forgive me, why I find the current situation so exquisitely poetic.  Mach'Maelcom using a woman and money to try to end it.  But he was a remarkable man in so many ways."  He saluted Dinah with his mug.  "Poor Malec must be beside himself over it.  But it has certainly raised the ritual to the level of the major must attend social event of the season...at least."

"So, uhm, it started over a woman and money?" Dinah prompted, ignoring the rest for now.

"A man," Calum began, in the manner of a bard telling a moral tale, "had two sons who loved the same woman.  She loved the younger and was promised to the elder, whom she married dutifully when the time came, and equally dutifully provided him with a son a sufficient number of months later that his lineage was not ever in doubt."  He refreshed himself with a drink.  "In due course the father died and when his will was read it turned out that, instead of naming a single heir as was usual, he'd named both his sons, splitting his property between them.  That property is what is now known as Sere'Ster.

"The elder, perhaps suspecting his dutiful wife of being less than dutiful now that she'd done her duty, refused to split the property and claimed it all for his own.  The younger, as young men sometimes are, lacked the patience for a protracted court case and challenged his brother to single combat."  Calum took another drink and waved for a fresh ale.  "I personally have always felt that his impatience carried over into his skills at the duello, but that is only supposition.  In any case, he was mortally wounded, or so it was thought and his brother rejoiced at having arranged his affairs so fortuitously and well.

"His dutiful wife however rescued the younger son and compounded her undutiful crimes by also raiding the gene pattern banks and, leaving her son behind escaped with both the wounded young man and the gene patterns.  In due time the younger son was healed of his not quite so mortal wounds and she, not unexpectedly, did her duty by him and had a second son.

"Years went by and the second son built a rival House, now known as Kenget'Ster and headed by my humble self.  But between then and now the two sons, raised to despise one another went to war to assuage the blows to the family honor.  Eventually my grandfather and the Maelcom's, children of the dutiful woman's sons, seeing the senselessness of it all attempted to reach that oh so elusive holy grail of the personal vendetta, the peace treaty.  And they were close, they were so close they could taste it.  But fate took a hand and through malice or misadventure, I have never been clear in my own mind which it was though I lean towards the former, my grandfather was killed and the Maelcom's grandfather blamed, which re-ignited the entire thing.

"After years of further senseless slaughter, the Maelcom's father offered my father another shot at the holy grail.  But alas, my father was a some what less than honorable man in many ways and used the negotiations to take his revenge for the death of his father by assassinating the Maelcom's father and then did further outrage to the adjudicated protocols by, eventually, it is said anyway, capturing the Maelcom and refusing to ransom him back.  The Maelcom eventually escaped somewhat worse for the wear, to the surprise and amazement of all, and escaped, we now know, to your fair self.  He returned, as you know, and was killed, it is believed, by my father in the battle at Caer Katon.  There were some who felt at the time, Malec among them, that the manner of his death at the hands of my father was somewhat less than as swift and painless as it might have been.  Certainly the body that was returned to Sere'Ster was not what one would have expected in a battle of that sort."

He took another long pull of his ale and meet Dinah's eyes.  "It is also known, now, that the dutiful wife was never dutiful at all and that the elder son had been cuckolded by her from the beginning, which is of course why the elder son raised him to despise his mother and hate his father."

"It's all very Italian. I sometimes believe them to all to be my kin," Carmine commented, sipping delicately at his wine. "And you are right, caro," Carmine added, looking at Marc. "A vendetta of this nature requires a passion to fuel it. And there is passion enough here for 10 operas."

"Operas and passions aside," Marc replied carefully, "neither you, Calum, nor Malec are unreasonable men. Surely the two of you can find a way out of this."

"Reflecting on what I perceive to be the strategy the Maelcom chose, it is possible I think.  But my father has not been dead all that long, less than a decade and his crimes are still somewhat fresh, and Malec, while a reasonable man in many ways, has sworn he will accept nothing less than total victory as recompense for the sins of my sire particularly the last one.  As well, now that Mach has named an heir outside of the house, it would be difficult to find a settlement that wouldn't put them penniless in the streets with only their talents to sell, or so I am given to understand, Malec believes.   I have as yet no opinion on the matter, not being privy to his financial affairs at that depth.  On the other hand he is not privy to mine..."  Calum gave a very Italian sort of shrug.  "Until he is willing to come to the table, there is no way to know.

"The other difficulty is that while I would set the terms under which we would negotiate, thereby establishing the playing field as it were, I am not certain that I could do so in such a way as to entice him forth and still remain head of my house, because you see, there are some who feel that my father's death should be laid at his door."  He proffered Marc a feral smile and finished his ale.

"So," Marc summarized, "neither of you are willing to trust the other, or forgive the other, to take the necessary steps to end a senseless, expensive and futile war, even if it is couched in so civilized a manner as an adjudicated vendetta.  Stop me if I'm wrong," Marc paused. Not getting no more than a half smile from Calum he continued, "So the future of both your houses is hostage to your stubborn pride. Being myself a fellow with considerable amounts of stubborn pride, I can relate. To a degree."

Calum agreed cordially with his summary.  "I am the first to admit it.  But you forget something and perhaps are unaware of one or two other things.  Your lovely and very delightful woman is now the wild card we must all beware of.  I myself am personally not convinced that the Maelcom, a man of magnificent and endless Machiavellian subtlety has played his last card, given this fact.  Further, I am seriously considering rejecting the adjudicated protocols and reentering the fray with a single objective...that of winning."

"I repeat my remarks of earlier, Calum. If you are still considering a return to all-out warfare, then Malec is only wise not to trust you long enough to lay his cards on the table."  Marc sounded calm and uninvolved, but Dinah saw a certain tension in his body.

"You speak of course from what I discern to be a vast experience of both war and diplomacy and if I were Malec such would be my response.  To do such a thing would not, I assure you be my first or even fifth choice."  His eyes swept the table.  "Now if I have satisfied your curiosity, perhaps I might be allowed to ask you to satisfy mine."

Dinah, on whom his eyes rested nodded warily.

"Do you know yet what you will do?  Are you for instance considering challenging Malec for leadership of Sere'Ster as the Maelcom's heir?"

Dinah chose her words very carefully.  "I don't know.  There are still many things I either don't know or do not understand.  You have clarified a number of points and for that I am grateful and, I suppose, in your debt to a degree.  In recognition of that I will make every effort to ensure that both you and Malec learn of my decision simultaneously.  Perhaps in that event the two of you could simply switch to single combat and let the rest of your houses live to see another generation being born."  She said the last waspishly.

Calum exploded into laughter.  "Lady, the Maelcom chose well.  You have given me hope."

Carmine smoothly moved into the ascendant position, thanking Calum for his kindness with regard to their personal business and similarly thanking him for answering Dinah's questions. The vampire eyed Dinah, apparently to assess whether or not she'd object to his oh so diplomatic dismissal of Calum but she was busy thinking and seemed to have no objections. All wished each other well, and Carmine excused himself for a final word with Calum.  The two of them walked off, Carmine making it clear he would be back shortly, leaving Dinah and Marc thinking deeply.

"What a bloody mess," was Marc's assessment. "I'm glad my own war with my brother was cleaner."

Dinah expressed her unqualified agreement with his summation, "But I give the bloody man hope!  Jack-ass!"

"Of course there is much he's not telling us. And somehow I doubt Malec will sit down and spin you a yarn regarding his version of events. That version of the tale we'll have to piece together in an entirely different manner."

Carmine was walking toward them then. He paused near the bar, clearly asking if he were wanted back so soon, or did they prefer to talk of what they'd heard first. Marc looked to Dinah and at her sigh, signalled Carmine to come back.

The Italian slid easily back into his  seat beside Dinah and waited, in that entirely discomfiting way that vampires had. No movement, no breathing, not even a blink.

Dinah toyed with her empty glass smearing sweat circles into puddles.  Finally she met Carmine's gaze and took a plunge.  "You do business with him and not Malec?  Might I ask why? Or if I am prying please don't hesitate to tell me it's none of my business."

"My business ventures are not always, strictly speaking, of a highly moral nature, as some might say. That which Calum asked of me I was willing to supply, to open up the doors for further business ventures which I might prefer. Malec hadn't, nor has he now, any interest in that particular line of inventory. Given that Malec is aware of what I've agreed to with Calum, Malec has decided I'm unworthy of his association. I do not blame him in the least, cara. It is his right."

"Indeed.  Wonder what he makes of our friendship, then.  Carmine if it'll bother you coming for the ball..." Dinah offered.

"I would not dream of missing the ball. And perhaps if he sees and recognizes our friendship, Malec will think twice on any Machiavellian plots he's hatching. "

"I'm glad.  Carmine, one of the biggest problems I'm having understanding all this is that I haven't got any grasp of the culture or the social structure.  I mean it seems like some strange amalgam of medieval and modern, with a smattering of the Vatican thrown in."

He smiled. "It is very close to that. If you'd been alive during the Renaissance you'd feel at home here. All the elements of such a society are here. The Guilds and Houses that ran Florence, the wealthy patrons who mostly tried to keep above the fray, or at least hide their part in the wars fought between houses, over business and trade. My own family was murdered by a rival House, so it is quite familiar to me. And I too, spent years on vendetta, not because I cared so much for blood-letting but because it was a duty. I could not hold my head up, if I did not avenge the deaths, you see. I know, it is not exactly civilized, but it is very Italian."

Are there behind the scene alliances that I don't know of that are impacting this significantly?" She asked and then shook her head.  "Of course, there have to be.  And what about our mutual friend C'Tal?  What's his deal in this?"

"C'Tal has favorites amongst the Houses. And friendships. But he dare not do much as other Ministers have their own favorites and friendships. And Cabals are rampant. it is quite like the Council of Princes," he added with a smile. "And like it, the membership of the cabals change based on who is powerful at the moment, and what the issue might be. There is at least one House actively working to block any end to this conflict between Sere and Kenget. But I think most Houses would not wish their vendetta to end, as it weakens them both, making room for the others to rise in power and influence."

"Carmine, did you know Mac or do business with him at all?"

Carmine met her eyes and replied, "Yes, but do not request me to tell you that which I cannot share."

She grinned suddenly.  "I won't but I promise you my imagination is running rampant."

"It is, perhaps, the best way to consider many threads all at once," he replied agreeably.  "And you, caro Marc, what do you make of this society.  I somehow think it is very familiar to you as well."

Marc nodded. "Like you, I've my own understanding of such conflicts.  And cabals."

Dinah reached across and touched Carmine's hand.  "Thank you, for everything.  If I find myself in need of your help in this may I impose on your kindness again?"

"If it is within my power, I shall be most pleased to help you."  He lifted her hand to his lips. "Now, I should go. Please, stay if you like. The tab, as you say, is covered."

She sparkled for him, rolling her eyes dreamily.  "You're a dear sweet man.  Thank you."

Marc rolled his eyes and Carmine winked back, and then took his leave. "He may be a dear sweet man but you can be sure he'll make certain he ends up with a foot in all available doors," Marc commented.

"Maybe.  But you've got your foot in one he hasn't a shot at and maybe, now that business is over, we could focus on that for a while?" she asked her smile hopeful.

"Is that a proposition, he asks hopefully?" Marc replied with a grin.

"Oh yeah, baby.  You think he got us a room?"