"The rain is ending, des Shira." The sentry gave his report with a deep bow.
Lilliasa looked up from the table. She picked through a dish of exotic fruits, selecting a thick skinned purple globe. She tossed it to the sentry. "Very good. Have the army ready to march at dawn."
The man nodded and left.
"Is that wise?" the other occupant of the tent asked.
"To hunt them in their nest?" Lilliasa turned on the man. "I've made you my general, Kolvon. Don't give me reason to regret it."
"A favor for your brother," Kolvon said coldly. "After you had your other brothers and your father and your future husband killed. I am flattered."
"You should be." She smiled seductively. "If you were not my brother, would you find me pleasing now?"
"I prefer my women with fewer aspirations to power. What is your plan, sister?"
She turned her attention to the maps spread over the table next to the fruit. "Kill them. All of them. These humans are trouble."
"And what of the ship we found last night? It is much more advanced than we were led to believe. How many stories of these slaves are true?"
"You've heard of their Empire? It was a lie, told to frighten us."
Kolvon frowned. "You do not take them seriously enough. These slaves were supposed to be incapable of using our equipment or flying our ships. They stole every flyer they could. And they flew them here."
"We shot most of them down," Lilliasa snapped.
"And what of your pet? She flew a starship. What else can they do that we know nothing about? You underestimate their intelligence and their skills."
"And you are frightened, Kolvon. They are aliens. They cannot live off our lands. They must have special foods. They will die soon enough."
"Then why are we risking our lives chasing them? Why don't we just stay here and wait for them to die?"
"Where is the glory in that?"
Kolvon laughed, sharp and bitter. "You are using this to consolidate your power. You want to set up your own Triad."
"No." Lilliasa smiled at her brother, a lazy smile that had nothing of joy in it. "The Triad is finished, along with the Code and the Electoriate. I learned a few things from my pet. When we finish here, on our triumphant return to the space port, I will make myself queen of the Hegemony. And you, my most loyal brother, will be my commander."
"If you can defeat these slaves."
"Do you doubt me?"
"Not your ruthlessness. You are truly our father's daughter."
"Then tomorrow, at dawn, we march to the slaughter. They have no weapons and little food. They will offer small resistance." She placed one slender finger on the map. "They are here, in this valley."
"They can defend it with rocks," Kolvon pointed out. "If we come up the canyon here, we are vulnerable."
"To what? A rabble of starving slaves? You would climb all the way around? It would take days."
"You underestimate them, Lilliasa."
"We go up the canyon, Kolvon. At dawn."
"As you wish, des Shira."
"No," Lilliasa corrected him. "Not des Shira, des Ro-Shera."
Kolvon's smile went brittle. She'd named herself queen, supreme ruler of the people. The title had not been used for centuries.
"As you wish, des Ro-Shera." He bowed and left her tent, hiding his anger at her arrogance. There would be time later to arrange an accident for his sister. He marched through the camp to meet with his commanders.