Notes: I'm sad to report that the author of the series, David Drake, has passed away in Dec, 2023. RIP.

David Drake's RNC

An Unexpected Discovery...

Adele Mundy met the man's gaze calmly, then sipped her tea, as the first flurries of snow began to fall outside.

"If you'll excuse me," the man got up, then hurried off, leaving the cafe and departing down a snowy street..

"Blind date went poorly?" Tovera asked quietly.

"I wish Daniel and friends wouldn't keep setting them up," Adele sighed. They meant well, which was the only reason she put up with it.

"Then tell them to stop," Tovera shrugged.

Tovera had been sitting nearby, the former assassin/agent shadowing her. Adele had managed to make factions in the Alliance VERY angry with her, and there was some concern they might try to have her killed.

"Is that Deidre Leary?"Tovera mused.

Indeed, Adele had seen the woman almost as soon as Tovera. The attractive woman was alone, and tad taken a cab yo her destination. She was... oddly furtive for a noble woman, and looked around warily before entering the building.

'Huh, interesting,' Adele took out her computer, using it to quickly research the building.

"You're frowning, Mistress?" Tovera noted after a moment.

Adele put the computer away, "It's apparently a private club. However, actual ownership of the building is hidden behind multiple shell companies."

"Do you think there might be cause for concern?" Tovera wondered.

Tovera was, of course, just being a sounding board. She was professionally paranoid, and assumed everyone was out to get her. Which, really, wasn't actually WRONG and had saved both of them several times...

Adele shook her head, "No, it's just ... interesting."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The lead up to Christmas was a period that Adele didn't enjoy. Her family was all gone, and there was no one she wanted to spend it with. Yes, there was Daniel and his crew, who invited her out for events, and she went, reluctantly. But she couldn't say she enjoyed it much.

Plus the Sissies kept trying to set her up.

You would think with her cool nature and being a deadly shooter, they'd decide it was a poor idea. But no, they seemed to find willing men to ask her out. Thankfully no one had been horrid, but certainly no one she wanted to see again. The tapping on a fork on a glass drew her attention back to the Christmas party.

"A toast!" Daniel raised a glass, and his sister and the other guests followed.

Adele followed, and drank as she covertly studied Deidre Leary. She was older than Daniel, and at this point was the presumed heir. She worked in business, and in addition to handling Daniel's money, she invested and maintained Adele's as well. The prize money was a tidy sum, and she was a frugal spender.

"Adele, I'm glad you came," Daniel smiled warmly.

"Thank you for inviting me," Adele answered calmly. "I sent Tovera off to see Hogg... hopefully they won't get into TOO much trouble."

Daniel just grinned, taking it as a joke.

Adele noted Miranda Dorst, Daniel's paramor, looking at them a bit nervously. She knew she had explained to the young woman that she had no interest in Daniel, but apparently it hadn't quite registered on her...

"Will you be coming for New Years?" Daniel; wondered aloud.

Adele didn't wince, she was too well mannered for that. "New Years is a bit... loud for me," she admitted wryly. "I'd rather settle in with a good book."

Daniel nodded, conceding that.

"I will make sure to go out at least once," Adele anticipated him, taking a sip of her drink.

Daniel laughed, shaking his head. "Right, well, I'll see you in the new year," he noted.

"You too," Adele smiled.

Deidre Leary had left while they talked, and as she collected Tovera Adele found herself considering that private club she had visited. She had dug a bit deeper into the club and it's owners, but nothing alarming came up.

The shell companies were ultimately traced back to several older women in high society. The club membership was, obviously, not listed publicly, but she had accessed security cameras near the site, and observed merely more rich women, many of whom were considered to be held in high regard.

'And there's no sign of anything untoward in Deidre Leary's life,' Adele mused. While not a financial expert, she was confident she hadn't recieved funds from a foreign power. And the membership she could find made her doubt treason was involved. So why...?

"Oh," Adele blinked as realization hit.

"Mistress?" Tovera asked.

"Just feeling mildly stupid," Adele admitted as she added, "I forgot we were on Cinnabar, not out in the galaxy."

"Hmm," Tovera made a noise indicating she heard, but didn't necessarily understand.

"We'll need to stop by that club when Deidre is there," Adele mused, "she'll probably be more comfortable if I reassure her there."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Frankly, security at the club wasn't terribly good. Yes the door woman had barred her way, but all Adele had to say was she was a guest of Deidre, and they let her in without verifying anything. All anyone wanting to breech their security was to do what she had done, watch the comings and goings and claim friendship of a guest.

Tovera was NOT happy that Adele went in alone. As a nod to her aide Adele had picked a seat in view from the cafe across the way. Not that Adele expected trouble, of course, but she knew Tovera would feel better.

Deidre Leary entered as usual, and the hostess told her about her 'guest.' Deidre went so pale Adele hoped she had no medical issues. She swiftly recovered, though, and then went to where Adele sat waiting, her expression grim.

"Don't be concerned," Adele decided it was best to jump right in, "I am not bothered that you are of the sapphic persuasion, nor do I intend to use it against you."

Deidre had thankfully sat down, as she looked stunned. She recovered soon enough, shaking herself slightly.

Adele continued calmly, "I'm so used to living out on other planets, I had honestly forgotten it was frowned on on Cinnabar."

Deidre puffed out a relieved breath. "Thank you," she said quietly. "how did you...?"

Adele explained about the all woman club, the absence of men in Diedre's life, and other factors that she had noticed.

Diedre sighed, "I suppose I'm lucky no one else has noticed."

"Yes," Adele agreed, though she made a note to bring up the security issues later. Gently, for her, she asked, "Your father knows?"

"Oh yes," Deidre replied flatly. "He's made it clear that if it becomes known, he will disown me," she added.

"I'm sorry," Adele reached out and squeezed her hand gently.

"You're taking this better than most," Deidre noted quietly.

Adele shrugged, "It's not THAT uncommon, off planet. I've worked with people who were same sex couples."

Deidre puffed out a breath. "Would it offend you if I had hopped, a little, that you had a similar interest?" she admitted.

Adele hid her surprise as she looked across at her. She had not really expected Deidre to be interested in her that way.

"No?" Deidre smiled a bit sadly.

"I'm... well, what most people call asexual," Adele admitted.

"I see" Deidre nodded, "that must be difficult at times."

Adele shrugged slightly. "It would be nice if Daniel would stop trying to get me dates," she noted.

Deidre snorted, "Me too."

Both women laughed, and Adele was surprised how nice just sitting there was.

With some regret Diedre noted, "Well, work calls. There's always SOMETHING that comes up before New Years."

"Agreed," Adele got up too, deciding it was time to go.

"I would enjoy us meeting here again, if it wouldn't be uncomfortable to you," Deidre said tentatively.

A bit surprised Adele answered, "I'd like that."

To be continued...?

Notes: Well, probably not continued. I find Adele a interesting character. She's PROBABLY the first asexual character I've read, even though it seems David Drake didn't deliberately set out to make her one.

As Drake had pretty much retired last year as a writer, we'll probably never get another RCN book. Unless he appointed another author to take it over, which has happened once ot twice. Still... anyway, RIP to a great author.