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'No, Robb. The Eddies got their butts kicked here. The Roamers hid like rabbits and stayed safe. The name is symbolic of recovering from adversity, just as you did.'

'Explain it all you want. I still don't like it.' Robb slipped his arm around Tasia's waist and pulled her close. 'Not that I'm superstitious or anything.'

Tasia playfully rubbed his wiry hair. 'Brindle, it's a celebration! Don't go all gloom-and-doom on me.'

'Taking off in a luxury liner for a resort world like Llaro - and with my favourite sexy but bossy Roamer girlfriend. What could be better?'

Denn had liberally distributed spare packaged meals, along with fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables he had scrounged from Roamer traders passing through Yreka. From the Golgen sky-mines, Del Kellum had shipped a case of his private-stock orange liqueur. Caleb and Denn, each with a glass in hand, sipped and argued, trying to one-up each other.

'I always get in trouble when I drink with you Tamblyn brothers.'

'You get in trouble whether or not you drink,' Caleb snapped back.

Tasia sauntered up to them. 'My uncle can be awfully abrasive, Denn, but I'd consider it a personal favour if you helped him out on Plumas. Believe me, the place is a wreck. Robb and I were going to do it ourselves, but we've been called to service for the Confederation. The water mines do still belong to my clan, even if my uncles don't take very good care of them.'

'Don't take care of them!' Caleb blurted so forcefully that a fine mist sprayed from his mouth.

'I can't do it myself. Tomorrow I'm off to see the Mage-Imperator,' Denn said. 'Lots of trade negotiations to tie together. With the Confederation growing stronger and all the orphaned Hansa colonies producing surplus goods for additional markets, the Ildiran Empire is going to be a huge customer for us. Rlinda Kett's already heading there.'

'But what about my water mines?' Caleb said.

'Our water mines,' Tasia broke in.

'I can send him one or two bags of patch seal, a couple of workers, maybe a shovel, though I'd have to make sure he knows how to use it.' Caleb made a great show of grumbling, though Tasia could see he enjoyed the banter. 'I'll expect reduced rates on water shipments to Osquivel from now on.'

'For five years.'

'Ten years.'

Tasia left them to haggle. Even as the party continued, supplies, clothing, and some traditional Roamer treats were loaded aboard the Osquivel. Once news of their mission had gotten around, Tasia had so many volunteers that the Osquivel could have been full before it set off. 'If we take all of you, we won't have any room to bring your families back,' she said, turning them all down. She and Robb could probably handle any of the EDF babysitters left behind on the colony, and Nikko insisted on coming along, as well.

Though Robb made conversation with the Roamers, he seemed sad. Tasia said, 'All right, out with it. Something's eating you, and it's not just the name of our ship. Nightmares about the drogues again?' :

'I'm done with the drogues. This is more personal. I--' he looked down, then turned his honey-brown eyes back to her. 'I've sent messages back home with traders, but… nothing. I expected my father to stew over my decision to stay with you and the Confederation, but I thought my mother would at least talk him into keeping in touch. No such thing. He's refused any sort of communication. I heard that he was with Admiral Willis when she brought her Mantas to bully Theroc'

Tasia snorted. 'And do you still feel your decision was the right one?'

'Of course. I'm with you, aren't I?'

'Right answer.'

'But this silence seems so cold, so unnecessary. It worries me.'

'And you feel abandoned.' Tasia placed her hand on his arm.

He nodded. After a moment, she punched him in the shoulder like an ill-behaved little sister. Then she held him tenderly. 'Come on back to our quarters, and I'll take your mind off your worries. Once we leave for Llaro in a few days, we'll be doing something