A Time for War, a Time for Peace - Keith R. A. DeCandido [17]
“Little One, it’s so good to see you! And you too, William, especially in light of the wonderful news you sent me! Congratulations to you both!”
The first thing people noticed, of course, was the voice, a remarkable instrument that could penetrate duranium—all the more impressive for a member of a telepathic species that generally used vocal communication only with offworlders and prepubescent children.
“It’s good to see you too, Mother,” Troi said.
“Very good,” Riker added, and he even mostly meant it. “And thank you. How’re things going on Betazed?”
“Quite well, I’m happy to say. The new housing development on the Emrin River was finally finished last week, and there’s a lovely plaque dedicating it to the people who died during the occupation. Most of the structures have been rebuilt, and the ecological damage is being—well, repaired anyway. I don’t think it can ever really be fixed, but we’re doing our best.”
“That’s wonderful to hear, Mother,” Troi said with a warm smile. Riker slipped his hand into hers. Betazed had been through so much during the war, it was good to hear that its recovery was proceeding well. “How is Barin?”
Lwaxana rolled her eyes. “Oh, he’s quite a handful. He’s growing so fast, the clothes replicator can’t keep up with him—and frankly, neither can I. The new valet—”
“Mother,” Troi cut in, “you haven’t fired another valet, have you?”
“Now, Little One, stop playing personnel manager. I should think you had enough of that on that ship of yours without doing it in my house, too.”
Troi closed her eyes. Riker squeezed her hand. Based on this latest news, Lwaxana had now gone through nine valets since the war. And that’s just the ones we found out about. Looks like Mr. Homn isn’t as easy to replace as we’d thought.
“In any case, I am so thrilled to see that my precious girl is finally getting married. And to think, it only took me fifteen years to find the right man for you after that disaster with the Wyatt boy.”
Riker shuddered. His bride-to-be had once been betrothed to a human named Kevin Wyatt thanks to some arcane Betazoid ritual that Lwaxana, in a fit of lunacy, decided to impose on her daughter. That marriage had been avoided, a fact for which Riker was happy then, and downright grateful now.
“As I recall, Mother,” Troi said with an impish grin, “you didn’t find Will, I did.”
“Yes, of course, Little One, whatever you say. The point is, you two are finally doing what you should’ve done twenty years ago, and I couldn’t possibly be happier. And you getting your own ship, too, William—that’s marvelous!”
“Thank you,” Riker said. “The Titan’s a very good ship, it—”
“That’s fine, dear, I’m sure it’s wonderful, but what I really need to know is when Jean-Luc can get you two to Betazed.”
Riker blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“Well, naturally, you two will get married on Betazed. It won’t take any time at all for me to set up the ceremony and put the guest list together. Of course, I’ll have to bring the new valet up to speed, but—”
Angrily, Troi asked, “Mother didn’t you read our message?”
“Of course, I did, Little One, how else would I have known about you two getting married and William getting to command the Giant ?”
“It’s the Titan,” Troi said in a tight voice, “and if you know that, you should also know that we just want to have a simple ceremony on Earth.”
“Well, you’re certainly welcome to do that, too, if you want, Little One, but I don’t much see the point when you’re going to have an extravaganza on Betazed. After all, you are the Granddaughter of the Fifth House and Heir to the Sacred Chalice of Rixx.”
Riker tried and probably failed to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “And Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed, don’t forget that.”
“No, dear,” Lwaxana said in a patronizing tone, “I’m the Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. If Deanna was the Heir, I’d be the Holder, like I am of the Sacred Chalice. Really, if you’re going to marry into the family you’re going