THE EVENING ILLUMINATION FROM MARA SET THE FIELDS AND VILLAGE ALIGHT with a celestial orange glow. A light breeze blew across the golden fields. The villagers had lit the lanterns hanging from their houses, drawing out the insects that chirped in the warm light. Kora and Gunnar walked at a languid pace towards the home she shared with Hagen.
“Do you think they’ll learn to trust one another? I thought the village would be excited to see our return,” said Gunnar.
Kora looked at the path ahead as she spoke. “They’re frightened. Of outsiders, of fighting an uncertain battle, for their lives. Trust? I don’t know. I just hope they have the courage to stand and fight if it comes to that.”
“I had no idea what it would be like to fight. And how much it would scare me.”
Gunnar and Kora stopped in front of her home. She turned to face him. “You were afraid to die. It’s okay. Everyone is.”
He stepped closer to her. Close enough to see the reflection of the low lantern light in her eyes. “No. I didn’t even think about dying in the moment. If you had asked me before how I’d feel, I would’ve said I’d be petrified. And I was scared, the most afraid I’d ever been in my life. But not of dying.”
Kora held his gaze. “So what was it you were so afraid of, if it wasn’t death?”
Gunnar remained silent, looking into her eyes, searching for the right way to say what he felt. “It was you… It was losing you.”
Kora opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t find the words to react to this revelation, the tenderness in his honesty and vulnerability in that moment. She stepped closer to him and kissed him. He pulled her to his body by her hips and kissed her back with heated urgency as their tongues slipped in and out of each other’s mouths. She pulled away. “Wait.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t…” said Gunnar with worry in his eyes.
“Don’t be… just not here.” She touched his chest. “Take me to your bed.”
Gunnar caressed her cheek. His eyes blazed with an intensity Kora hadn’t seen before. “Whatever you want.”
Once behind the closed doors of Gunnar’s house they fell into each other’s arms. Their secret passion for each other could now be fully unleashed. Kora lay on his bed, with Gunnar following her. She pulled her thin top over her head. She wanted to feel his skin on hers. Their bodies glowed in the firelight as they kissed each other with a slow sensuality. Savoring the taste. She cradled his face to pull him closer to her. This moment turned to a hunger that needed to be satiated from the inside. And it wasn’t just her body she wanted to give to him, it was also everything else.
His lips and tongue moved lower to tease her breasts. She unclipped and removed her bra to allow him to have more of her. She moaned softly with her eyes closed, as his hands massaged her breasts, as he kissed her nipples. Her body relaxed into sexual bliss as she allowed him to take his time exploring her body. His mouth moved towards her belly, where her scar could be seen and touched. Still he moved lower where she was as hot as the fire that heats the room.
Her back arched with the ecstasy only his lips and mouth between her legs could incite. She writhed without care to the movement of his tongue. Gunnar could explore her body in ways she wouldn’t allow Den. Her thighs became wet and slick from his stimulation, as she sunk deeper into the abyss of lust, perhaps love. All that existed was the pleasure Gunnar gave to her effortlessly as she gave herself the freedom to receive and enjoy.
He moved back towards her for another kiss, his hand cradling hers. His emotions were no longer hidden as he touched her face with a smile. The hardness of battle and Gondival seemed a lifetime away in that moment of fire, breath and skin. She touched his hand tenderly and gazed into his eyes as he kissed her again. She wanted more and twisted her body to move onto her belly. His hands slid across her body as he remained behind her.
She cried out as he entered her from behind, their bodies melting into each other, rocking in sync with every thrust. Kora reared her head back, kissing him with feral abandon. He steadied his body with one arm while cradling her with the other, thrusting harder and deeper, like their kissing. She moved to her back so she could face him again with her legs spread. She rested her legs against his thighs as they continued to make love.
He lifted her up into the lotus position, still inside of her. Kora straddled him as he sat upright. Face to face, she ground her hips. Both moaned as they gazed into each other’s eyes. His arms were around her waist as she cradled his head. His pleasure was giving her pleasure as he watched and felt how her body reacted whilst riding him harder. He steadied himself by leaning back into the bed as she continued to take the lead until she kissed him again and their arms found each other. Exhausted, they fell into the bed.
They lay in bed in each other’s arms. His hands caressed her bare skin and she touched the hair on his chest. “What Noble said about you being the most wanted criminal in the known universe… You don’t become that simply by running away.”
She gave his chest a light kiss and paused before speaking. “I told you how I was raised by Balisarius, Regent of the Imperium. And that I was the bodyguard to the Princess Issa.”
“Yes. That you were a decorated warrior and friend to the royal family. What happened to them?”
“Under the healing influence of his daughter, the king had begun to see many things in a different light. Word had reached him that his most celebrated general fought without honor, and that his main weapons were slaughter and cruelty. And so the king knew he must not let him retain his command. He should have destroyed Balisarius, and then me along with him… but the king loved him, and even through his rage saw him as a son. And so for his sins, he was made a senator.”
* * *
Kora kneeled in the opulent and vast throne room. The heat shining through the colossal stained-glass window behind the thrones made her feel hot in her uniform. The rays were intensified by the moment. She lifted her chin and stared at the image on the glass. The great warrior queen of long ago—Issa’s namesake—seemed to stare back. A large wolfhound stood next to her. The light filtered through her image like a holy warmth. For a moment she felt safe looking at those painted benevolent eyes until she shuddered with fear. The king’s shouts at Balisarius shook her to her core. All she could do was kneel and remain silent. She had grown accustomed to orders. She didn’t dare look at Balisarius or interrupt.
“What have you done? What have you done?! I trusted you! I gave you everything,” shouted the king, who leaned forward in his throne. His face and neck appeared red from his anger. “When I was told you were a fraud and a liar, I defended you. And like a fool I defend you still. And yet you betray me, with each act of dishonor you slap my face, you spit on my trust, my loyalty, my faith. I loved you like a son, and like a son I gave you everything. But can a king love a butcher? I think not. And that is what you are… a butcher. Now leave my sight whilst I decide what to do.”
When the king finished speaking, she looked up to see as much hurt as there was rage in the king’s face. Guards moved to stand next to Balisarius and Kora. She stood and allowed herself to be escorted out of the throne room. Balisarius did the same, except there was no hurt in his eyes. He had a look of disgust. The large doors of the throne room shut behind them with an echoing bang, leaving them alone. Kora moved towards Balisarius. He snapped his head towards her, giving her a daggered look. “Not now.” His eyes narrowed before storming off.
Kora didn’t know what to do or where to go. She returned to her room feeling like her world might come to another abrupt end. If the king banished them, she didn’t know what other type of life there could be for her. This was all she knew and Balisarius was her only family.
Kora kept her distance and remained silent, knowing the precarious ground she tread on with Balisarius. She was only part of the royal court because of him. Not long after, he called for her to meet him at his villa. She always knew the king was merciful. Instead of banishing or executing them, Balisarius was stripped of his military duties and placed in the Senate. Kora continued on in her usual duties. Her nervousness kept her awake the night before; the morning as she traveled to see him, her entire body felt tense, just like the first time she stood on a warship waiting for the doors to open to face an enemy. She didn’t know what to expect after his cold treatment the last time they saw each other outside of the throne room.
He met her on the steps of his home with a wide smile. Something had changed: perhaps he had had a private meeting with the king. He opened his arms to embrace her. “Thank you for coming. I know you are busy with your duties.”
“I am always happy to answer your call.”
“Good. Let us have tea.”
They walked into the villa and into the main sitting room on the left. There were only paintings of him in various suits of armor in different war campaigns. “Please sit, Kora,” he said as he poured them both a cup of tea. She didn’t like the smell and never drank it. But she would today. “Thank you.”
“I would like to invite you the Senate for a special session. You can see firsthand what our future holds.”
She took a sip of the hot tea and managed a smile. “I’m glad you are enjoying your new position.”
“I think I may be able to do more here than in war. You wait and see. Next week all you have to do is arrive promptly.”
“I will. Thank you for the invitation.” Kora finished her tea without him asking how she had been or how she felt. But she excused it as him being preoccupied with his new position.
* * *
On the day of the visit to the Senate, Kora stood at the very back with the other non-senators only allowed in by special invitation. Balisarius stood with his eyes blazing with the intensity of a battlefield. His silence held the audience captive before his voice exploded with passion.
“With my own eyes, I have seen the horrors and degradations far from our own. Day in and day out I strode into battle on those worlds expecting a bullet to find my head or heart, caring not. I would give my life a thousand times for our most sacred Mother. I know that I would, for I made it time and time again, for that is what it means to be a true soldier. Yes, my days on the battlefield may be behind me, but I would still give my life, nay my very soul, to protect our world from the darkness that creeps in from the outer worlds. And it does creep towards us. I have seen it. We cannot lower our guard, we must raise it as we continue into an uncertain future, in the name of those before, and those after.”
Kora was mesmerized by his vigor, as he pounded on the lectern, and his ability to speak eloquently while also knowing what to highlight with every inflection. For all his ferociousness on the battlefield, it was nothing compared to his skill and cunning as a politician, and in the echoing marble halls of the Senate did he find his true calling.
The entire room erupted into cheers. His face beamed as he watched them stand—for him. She glanced over to the king and queen, who neither applauded or smiled. They had a look of worry as they scanned the Senate’s reaction. The princess was not there because she was still a child. Kora felt conflicted. She was from one of the “outer worlds”, but her loyalty was to Balisarius and the king.
After the Senate session, there was a reception at the palace gardens. Spring brought the gardens to life with every blossom in full bloom and their scent filling the atmosphere. The sun felt warm without the harshness of summer heat. Violas played beneath a tent. Kora and Balisarius strolled towards a queue of politicians and foreign delegates waiting to meet the king, queen, and princess Issa.
“You did well today, Balisarius. Congratulations,” Kora said. His face was stoic before he glanced around their immediate vicinity. Most of the guests spoke amongst themselves or had drinks in their hands.
He spoke in a hushed tone, but kept his calm as if all was well. “Daughter. The news is dire. I have learned the king plans to abdicate and pass the kingdom to the princess. He also plans to disband the empire. He said Issa had looked into his eyes and forgiven him. But now he must make things right.”
His face twisted in disgust. “Can you believe that… She forgave him? I have never heard of such nonsense. A daughter should know her place.”
That last sentence pinched something inside of her. “If what you say is true, Issa will rule with wisdom and reason. All the time I spent with her gives me that hope.”
His expression hardened to a glare colder than the frozen lake at the winter palace when he looked into her eyes. “That all may be true, but when the cleansing begins, you and I would be the first to go. Everything we sacrificed for will be for nothing. We can’t allow that. The Realm is more than you or I, or some little girl, and it won’t be sacrificed by the guilt of a spineless king who, instead of ruling in his bloodstained chamber, hides behind the innocence of a child.” The rage he felt was palpable. Kora glanced around, wondering if others noticed or heard. They still smiled and mingled in oblivion. No one else seemed to possess the same rancor.
“What can we do? It is the king’s wish.”
His eyes remained hard as he watched the crowds fawn over the royal family, but his lips curled to a sneer. “The king is just a man. Every general and half the Senate have their positions because of me.” He looked into her eyes. “When I am Regent Militarium, you won’t be a servant to the princess. You will take her place.”
A shiver ran the length of her spine as the ice in his words covered her mind and thoughts.
“Senator, may I speak with you?”
He turned from Kora. “Ahh yes, Senator. We have much to discuss.”
Balisarius left. She stood alone, trying to process his words. The brightness of the sun and music irritated her senses. As she scanned the crowd, looking for a way out, she locked eyes with Issa. The princess gave her a warm smile. Kora managed to return the gesture, but felt like a fraud. Her heart and loyalty divided. She touched her weapon, engraved with My Life For Hers, and prayed she would never have to choose.
Just as Balisarius had told her, the king made it known he would pass his responsibilities to his only child, Issa. The first event would be held on the newest and final Dreadnought. Both Balisarius and Kora would be present.
The yet-to-be-completed Dreadnought hovered above the clouds of the Motherworld, still attached to a construction platform. This was meant to be a moment that would change the course of history for the Realm. It was the dedication of what would be the last Dreadnought-class battleship. A symbolic end to an age of expansion started by her father and that would now be ended by his daughter in her first official act as leader. Before her coronation she would dedicate the ship’s power source as was dictated by tradition.
For the secret to the Motherworld’s domination across the universe was an inexhaustible source of energy derived from an enslaved creature called a Kali. At the core of every Dreadnought, these ancient female humanoids were kept in a half-conscious state, their bodies hardwired to the ship to drain them of their massive energy, fed on the organic matter of conquered worlds. And each blessed by a culpable king. And now this child would be the last.
Unimaginable distances and worlds became within reach. Piles of matter from destroyed worlds lay in heaps in the boiler rooms of the Dreadnoughts. In the heat, soldiers shoveled it into furnaces that traveled through pipes and fed directly into the bound Kalies’ open mouths. In giant metal casings the same shape as their body, with their eyes half open, they stared into the mysterious void of space and time. In their state of half consciousness, they fed and bled energy to fuel war.
The royal dropship docked with the unfinished Dreadnought. The king, queen, and princess Issa disembarked. The young princess greeted Kora and an elite delegation of generals in a dusty rose pink dress and white gloves. Kora bowed her head and the generals did the same. “It is an honor to escort you to the engine room.”
“Thank you, Arthelais.” The princess appeared calm and poised with such a momentous occasion about to occur. The generals turned on their heels and the entire party followed Kora down a low-lit hallway. Only the light hum of the Dreadnought beginning to funnel power could be heard. They walked deeper towards the center until they could see Balisarius standing at the end of the hallway. He gave them a large smile upon seeing them. He held out his hands in welcome before kneeling. Kora didn’t like this pretense. He had made it very clear previously how he felt about the princess.
“Princess.”
She looked down at Balisarius. “You may rise, Senator. I’m not queen yet. But I can assure you that when I am, I will decommission every Dreadnought and set all the Kalies free.”
Because Kora knew him as well as she did, she could see the contempt he harbored behind his forced smile as he looked up at her. He rose to his feet.
“I would expect nothing less when you become queen. And on that day, I will give my life to defend whatever order you in your wisdom would choose to decree. But ’til then, I would only hope you respect your father and the Realm and fulfill your duty this day.”
Princess Issa and Balisarius held each other’s gaze as if locked in a battle of wills. Neither blinked, neither showing real warmth or betraying their true feelings towards each other. The hallway seemed to close in as everyone had eyes on the two individuals who could not be more different. She gave him a nod but did not speak. Balisarius returned the gesture and moved towards the king. “My liege, when the music begins, you and the queen will enter first, followed by the princess, giving her the proper symbolism. Then she will dedicate the Kali by opening the main power valve and pulling the veil from her plaque. The generals and senators will bow, completing the ceremony.”
The king placed a hand on his shoulder. His eyes possessed a kind fondness. “I am proud of you. I thought you would have a hard time with this transition, but I see you understand the world must evolve, we must evolve.”
Balisarius’ lips stretched to a smile. “I do, my king… I do. I’ll go in and check everything is ready.”
“Thank you, Balisarius. We have had our disagreements; however, that has come to an end too.”
Balisarius paused as he absorbed the king’s words and presence. His expression softened into a brief but ineffable moment of sadness before he snapped back to his previous demeanor. “Wait for the music.” His eyes glanced towards Princess Issa before he pressed the keypad to enter the darkened engine room. It automatically shut behind him.
The king crooked his arm for the queen to enter the room with him. They both gave Princess Issa warm smiles, their eyes shining with pride. The princess paused, her eyes roving around the hall before giving them a forced smile, then shifted her eyes towards the door with a nervous glance. The queen noticed her daughter’s hesitation. “It’s alright, darling. You only have to do this once and there is nothing to fear.”
Kora stood back trying to remember the faces of her own parents, but her mind was blank. It didn’t matter anyway. The silence of the moment was broken by the sound of string instruments. The low vibrato was the signal for them to enter. The door opened and the king and queen walked through first, followed by Princess Issa, then Kora, behind at the respectful distance. The musicians wore black sacks over their heads. In the center, there was a large open eye with a single tear. The room went silent as they entered. The king looked around in confusion. Before him stood a group of senators and generals. The king scanned the room and raised a hand to the air. He took three steps and touched a pipe. “These boilers are cold. And where is the Kali?”
Balisarius stood in silence next to the musicians. His face had the appearance of metal and malice, a chiaroscuro of deceit. The king and queen turned to see the senators walking towards them with unsheathed blades in their hands. The king whipped his head towards Balisarius, who also had a blade in his hand. The light reflected its sharpness. They locked eyes. Any emotion the king had for Balisarius was as cold as the boilers. “She warned me about you,” said the king.
Balisarius said nothing. He looked towards Princess Issa, who had terror in her eyes as she tried to back out of the room, but the door was blocked by the generals. His hand tightened around the blade he lifted higher.
“Wait! No!” the king shouted to him. “She is only a child.”
Balisarius looked at the king with eyes devoid of any humanity. Every moment they had shared together meant nothing to the traitorous senator who only had one care in the universe—his own glory. The king’s face dropped knowing this was truly the end. He reached for the queen’s hand when the generals set upon them and began to gouge them to death. The king attempted to shield the queen from the blows, but it only sped his own demise. Her strangled screams echoed through the boiler room, as did the king’s shouts for help.
A general yanked her limp arm away from the king, who was on his hands and knees trying to speak. Only hoarse croaks escaped as he held a bleeding gash on his neck. His robes were soaked with blood. The queen tried to reach for him when the general wrapped an arm around her waist and slit her throat from ear to ear in front of the king. The deep gash went through her throat to her spine. Any further would have decapitated her.
Tears welled in his widened eyes as her body fell to the ground in front of him. Her head flopped back and dead eyes stared back at the king. Balisarius placed his boot on the back of the king’s neck before lifting it up again and bringing it down until a snap could be heard. The king lay face down with eyes wide open next to his wife. Balisarius sniggered. “I am not the death of you or your bloodline. Your stupidity is.”
Princess Issa whimpered as she stared at the bodies of her dead parents. She turned to Kora, who had taken off her leather glove and drawn her weapon with a trembling hand. It pointed directly at Issa. The two held each other’s gaze. Princess Issa looked at the gun then back into Kora’s eyes.
“Do it! Do it now! It is us or them,” snarled Balisarius with blood spatter on his face and spittle at the corner of his mouth.
Princess Issa didn’t look in his direction or at anyone else in the room. Her fate was sealed. Calm surrender crossed her tear-streaked face. “I forgive you,” she said to Kora.
Kora’s hand still quaked. She knew she had to do this, but didn’t anticipate how difficult it would be to do. She trusted her adoptive father. Sweat dripped from her temples. “Don’t…”
“Kill her!” screamed Balisarius.
Kora’s lips parted as she sucked in a breath of stale air smelling of copper, before pulling the trigger. Issa reached for her chest. The gaping hole released a bright light. The blinding flash caused Kora to wince and shield her eyes for a moment. She looked back to see the princess lifeless on the ground.
Memories of the princess as a young child flashed in Kora’s mind. The life-giving light from her hands, her laughter, the walks with the king. Kora looked back to Balisarius. His face was a puddle of blood and tears. “What have you done?”
His eyes strayed from Kora to the generals who had just committed murder. They stared at her, still clutching their blades. Like a well-rehearsed symphony, they each called out, “Betrayer! Assassin! Murderer!”
She shook her head with pleading eyes. She looked back to Balisarius for reassurance or answers, anything to explain this. He slowly lifted his finger like a dagger. “There she is… the murderer of the royal family. An ‘off-worlder’, a cancer of ethnic impurity. The very thing we must fight! Seize her.”
The generals moved towards her. Kora continued to shake her head. “No,” she whispered with her weapon raised towards Balisarius. She couldn’t pull the trigger. Her eyes scanned the dead bodies and pools of blood of those who had trusted her. Her heart exploded in that moment with a sorrow and bitterness she only felt when she saw her own dead family. The day she met Balisarius. And now he had betrayed her in the most evil, vile way she could imagine. To use her love and trust for his own gain and make her a sacrifice.
She clenched her jaw before pointing her weapon directly at the murderous general. One clear shot struck him straight through the forehead. Blood and brains sprayed the approaching traitor generals. She aimed at another and hit him in the left eye. He screamed as he clutched his face. The door behind her opened. Kora could hear the footfalls of soldiers: one crossed the threshold. As they began to enter the engine room, she didn’t hesitate to shoot each one in turn while dodging their bullets. Her mind raced as she tried to comprehend the situation.
She backed away from the generals and soldiers whilst still shooting to clear her way. Just behind her, she could access an elevator to take her to the dropships and shuttles. She sprinted to the elevator and slapped the keypad.
Before she could enter, a bullet grazed her left arm. She screamed out before turning towards a soldier barreling towards her. As she raised her pistol, he swiped her in the ribs with the butt of his gun.
The blow sucked the wind out of her chest. She fell to the ground, hitting the back of her head against the cold floor. Her ears rang from the impact as she lay there stunned. He kicked her in the same spot. As he leaned down to lift her up, she managed a kick to his groin. His body curled forward. Kora lifted herself high enough to aim her gun and shoot him in the belly. With a bleeding arm, a throbbing ribcage and head, she entered the lift.
She had to get into a dropship. It was the only way out. She held onto the wall of the lift until it stopped and the doors opened. She jogged to the nearest ship and entered. Her fuzzy head scanned the bridge computer. She didn’t know where she was going. The ship roared to life and jetted out of the Dreadnought. Kora leaned back into the seat on the control deck. Her entire body radiated pain, but it didn’t come near to the pain of this betrayal. Now she was truly alone in this universe. She didn’t care if she lived or died. Fate would make the decision in the end.
* * *
Kora lay in Gunnar’s arms after she told him her tale. She loved the feeling of his chest rising and falling. The sound of his heartbeat. He remained silent. She propped her herself up with one arm. She searched his face for a hint of what he might be thinking. “I fought my way to the shuttle and have been living life as an outlaw ever since. That’s me. The heart of my fall from grace and how I eventually found myself on Veldt.”
He touched her cheek and moved strands of hair from her face. Before speaking he gave her a tender kiss on the lips. “I see now why you lied to Titus. He never needs to know the truth. I don’t know what he would do if he knew the truth. I don’t know what he would do if he knew what part you played.”
Gunnar’s warmth and understanding embraced her like his body. The love he exuded made her feel safe. He was a safe place to fall into, something no lover before him had given her. “It was all I knew. I thought about letting them kill me or just not fighting. But somehow the last words of the child… her forgiveness… I felt the only way to honor her was to run. To try to be… I don’t know. More than a weapon.”
He kissed her on the lips again. “You are. You are much more than that to me and the people here. Definitely to Hagen. What he went through seeing his wife and daughter’s health deteriorate. Life can be cruel and unsettling.”
She smiled. “More than a weapon. It’s what we are all trying to be.”