I was startled. ‘What? I didn’t know about …’
‘We picked Epsilon of course,’ he continued, ‘since it allows instant marriage.’
‘Amaz! You got married at the base then?’
‘Yes,’ said Drago. ‘Marlise bribed the Colonel into giving permission. She offered him first chance at kissing the bride.’
‘I did no such thing,’ said Marlise. ‘Drago threatened him.’
‘How do you threaten a full Colonel?’ I asked.
Marlise sighed. ‘Drago threatened to strip during his next interview with Earth Rolling News, so the Colonel surrendered.’
Candace looked shocked, but I was sure Drago would never have actually carried out his threat so I giggled. ‘The laurel wreaths were for the wedding then?’
Drago nodded. ‘We were married under Epsilon law, but we had a traditional Betan clan ceremony with laurel wreaths and togas. We changed out of the togas before coming here to avoid attracting too much attention.’
‘Did you know only men wore togas in ancient Rome?’
Drago ignored that, seemingly as uninterested in history as Issette. ‘We did the whole thing in style. We had a vid link to the clan hall on Zeus, so we could recite our odes and proclaim our union for the traditional three times to bind it under clan law.’
‘What clan hall on Zeus?’ I asked.
‘All Betan clans have a clan hall, Jarra. Tellon Blaze founded our clan, and he was from Zeus, so our clan hall is there. I know you can’t visit it, but there are plenty of vids in the family archives that will show you what it’s like.’
He paused. ‘Incidentally, clan council asked me to mention they’d like to formally welcome you as a clan member as soon as possible. They didn’t want to pressure you into contact after your parents’ death, but they’re currently in an awkward situation. They get automatic notification when you have a serious accident, but have no right to offer help. This is the second time it’s happened, and they’re getting a bit restless.’
I frowned. ‘I’d no idea they’d be told, but … They can’t really want me in the clan, Drago. My Betan classmates have to hide the fact they have a Handicapped baby, because it would make their clan lose status. I’d just be an embarrassment to the Tell clan, so …’
‘Our clan doesn’t have to worry about status, Jarra. We’re not just patrician, but of the gentes maiores itself. How can you possibly doubt that a Military clan wants you wearing its banner next to the gold of the Artemis?’
Drago sounded as if he believed what he was saying. I’d grown up a ward of Hospital Earth, with no knowledge of my family. Despite my prejudices against Beta sector, it had been amaz to discover I’d been born into a Betan clan and was descended from Tellon Blaze. I’d gone from having a blank canvas, to having a whole family heritage, but I’d never thought it possible my clan would want contact with me.
‘Drago, that’s … that’s zan. I can’t do anything right now, but …’
He nodded. ‘We couldn’t hold the ceremony yet anyway. We have to wait until the period of formal mourning for your parents is over.’
I was going to have a family. I’d had that dream held out to me before when I contacted my parents, only to have it snatched away when they died. Now it was back. I’d be part of the huge extended family of a Betan clan.
‘I don’t understand why my Betan classmates, Lolia and Lolmack, never mentioned my clan,’ I said. ‘They’ve known my name is Tell Morrath ever since my grandmother’s Honour Ceremony.’
Drago laughed. ‘Those names … They’re plebeian, Jarra. They belong to a gutter clan that doesn’t even have the right to use a true clan name. They probably think you’re generously ignoring the difficult social situation.’
‘Really?’ I obviously didn’t understand the rules of Betan society. I’d have to learn them and …
‘I’m sorry to cut this short,’ said Marlise, ‘but we’re due back at the base soon.’
‘Of course,’ I said. ‘You mustn’t go absent without leave.’
‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea,’ said Drago. ‘They might slap me back down to Major.’
Marlise sighed. ‘Behave yourself, Drago. You may want to get demoted, but I don’t.’
I laughed. ‘I wish you a long and happy marriage.’
Drago grinned. ‘It had better be. I’m no poet, so writing the required ode in praise of the virtues and beauty of Marlise nearly killed me. If I divorce her, I have to write another ode, and I couldn’t stand that again. Marlise got the rest of our team to help with hers, but that’s cheating. As an honourable Betan, I had to write mine solo and not include sarcasm.’