When the annual charity ball for the lost world of Constantinople is held in orbit of Seraphime Prime, headquarters of the Order of the Harmonious Heart, the master and commander and their first officer of prominent privateer ships are invited.

Aries had not been to a formal event in twenty years, not since her parents died and her noble house was burned to the ground. But she wanted to be there for Catherine, whose homeworld was the one being mourned and uplifted by the charity event.

Her dress was made by one of Argonaut's clone crew, who had been given part of the 'Optional' package of skills into her set of inbred abilities. That being tailoring. She wove for Aries a dress from silksteel, which captured Aries' passionate nature in its use of colors.

She arrived that night on the order's space station, walking onto the promenade and ballroom. She knew how to dance, but she had not done much of it lately. Drawing a nervous breath, she strode out as her name was announced.

'Lady Aries Passadar...' She rolled the words over in her head.

'Nobody's ever called me that before...'

[Artwork by the amazing  toughset ]