ã€ŠInter-Planar: Ashara&#x27;s Storyã€‹


 Victims and Circumstance

    On Ilithir only the great and the grand move up in society, and Maron had decided long ago that he would climb to the top or die trying. Luckily for Maron, he was born quite skilled. Skilled enough to carry himself swiftly up the ranks of Ilithirian society and almost overcome his low birth. Almost.

    It was that word which haunted his dreams, almost. It reminded him of the one inadequacy he could never overcome. The woman he came out of. In Ilithir, that was the most important aspect of a person¡¯s life, the woman they came out of. Women dominated society, they ruled in the council, led worship, governed the planet, and administered the law. The part a woman played in this world determined her status, and the status of her family, of her children.

    Maron¡¯s mother was a common laborer. She had no affiliation with any of the major families, no high standing in the church, and no real discernable skills. In the eyes of society, she was little better than a man, fit for nothing but hard labor and menial tasks. What was worse, she lacked ambition.

    This made Maron¡¯s mother one of a kind on Ilithir. It was nearly unheard of for an Ilithirian to lack ambition and it wasn¡¯t where the woman¡¯s strangeness ended. She held no interest in the viciousness of their society and never turned her nose up at any of the men she lived beside, or the sorry creatures Ilithirians kept as slaves. Maron thought she was a kind person, but he didn¡¯t know for sure because he had never experienced kindness from anywhere else in Nizea, and he doubted he ever would.

    From this realization Maron developed his own strangeness in the form of familial love, something even more unheard of than a lack of ambition. He possessed a deep-seated pride in his chest for his mother and for the man he was and wished to become, this pride gave him strength. This was what he believed in, his way of life. It was also the reason he had thrown in his lot with a young Ashara Demora in the hopes of becoming something greater, an honored sire of a noble family, or at the very least a war master.

    The little Princess had eyed him up and down following his graduation from the Kennel and decided she must have him. Shortly after his return home he received a formal summons from the Demora family. After arriving at the family¡¯s palace, he endured a grueling month of lengthy interrogations, tests of physical strength, and even a few challenges from jealous Demora soldiers. He overcame each obstacle and was rewarded with a spot in Princess Ashara¡¯s own personal guard.

    Years and years of hard work and Maron had finally done it, or so he thought. The reality was that he¡¯d been pulled onto a sinking ship, and its captain was Ashara. The Princess easily had the lowest position of any of the women in the noble family and as such suffered constant challenges and attacks, both from within and without. The constant day to day struggle of serving the Princess easily dwarfed any of the hardships Maron faced training in the Kennels or living in the slums. His food was constantly poisoned, his patrols were constantly harassed, and on top of all of that, his status as a commoner was always in contention at the palace. It was a wonder he ever survived the first few months in the Demora stronghold, never mind four whole years.

    Recently, things were reaching a fever pitch in the palace as the sibling rivalries grew fiercer and fiercer. The attacks on Ashara¡¯s life had become more brazen, and as such Maron had ended up spending significantly more time with the Princess in order to keep her safe. Beside and behind the little woman was now where Maron spent most of his time, and recently the princess had been spending more and more time with her father, likely in hopes of currying favor with the powerful consort.

    Maron couldn¡¯t complain, aside from the obvious benefit of having her father¡¯s support, it was awe inspiring to see a male hold such power in a noble family, especially one who married into it. It inspired Maron, as well as made him jealous, the consort had everything Maron lacked. A born magician, a noble upbringing, and a face handsome enough to catch the first Princess¡¯s eye.

    ¡°My time will come,¡± Maron muttered to himself as he and Ashara travelled to the Hand, where her father and the other powerful mages worked.

    ¡°What was that Maron?¡± asked Ashara, her eyes still on the path before them as they hurried along the city¡¯s busy streets.

    ¡°Nothing Princess. My apologies.¡± Maron said quickly, embarrassed that he had spoken his thoughts aloud. Luckily, it was too noisy for Ashara to have heard his little musing, she surely would have chided him for it otherwise.

    ¡°Focus, fool. We could be attacked at any moment.¡± Ashara said brusquely.

    Not likely, Maron thought to himself. They were disguised as common soldiers, indistinguishable from the crowds of regular folk milling about the high gardens. Not as low as Maron had been in his childhood, but low enough that Ashara turned her nose up at the idea of disguising herself as one of them when Maron first brought it up. A few crossbow bolts and the odd laser from a line gun quickly changed her mind on the subject, and they had successfully maneuvered their way from the Demora palace to the Hand countless times since Ashara had begun her quest to curry favor with her father. The ploy¡¯s success had also further cemented Maron¡¯s place as her own personal guardian and he believed if he continued to distinguish himself, he could go even further. Or find himself poached or eliminated by the Princess¡¯s mother, the social ladder in Ilithir was such a perilous thing.

    ¡°It¡¯s crowded today, more so than usual.¡± Ashara mused aloud as they crested a hill that gave way to a large market square completely packed with people.

    Ahead of them the five towers of the Hand loomed over the High Garden like the fingers of a wicked god. Likely the architectures intended design.

    ¡°Strange, today isn¡¯t a holiday.¡± Said Maron just as intrigued, and even more suspicious. ¡°We¡¯d best be quick, something unpredictable is bound to happen with this many people around.¡±

    Ashara nodded and they slid and shoved their way through the tight crowd, Maron trying to discern what had so many people in the High Garden as they moved. It seemed everyone was waiting for something, and whatever it was seemed to be in the direction he and Ashara were headed, if the crowd¡¯s gazes were any indication. This further stoked Maron¡¯s suspicions, and he made sure his crossbow and throwing knives were all ready to fly from their sheaths if something happened.

    They passed through the high garden without any trouble, save for the odd curse and shove as they moved through the crowd. The pair emerged at a stairwell that took them down to a winding path that led to the back entrance of the tower Ashara¡¯s father worked in. It was late in the night and no moon filled the sky, instead the city¡¯s own lights illuminated the sky, and the Hand¡¯s light was the most oppressive to Maron and Ashara¡¯s eyes. Wicked crimson light seemed to emanate from the jet-black towers, occasionally becoming distorted from some explosion of magic bursting out of one the five towers¡¯ many windows. It made the already imposing structures even more intimidating.

    Out of the crowd and with no one else in sight, the two upped their pace and quickly made their way through the small forest that separated the High Garden from the Hand. Occasionally they saw mages heading down some of the other paths in the forest but ignored them. They likely had their own wicked business to conduct and had little care for Ashara and Maron, Princess and protector or not.

    ¡°Almost there.¡± Ashara said quietly as they exited the forest and made their way up the western approach to her father¡¯s tower.

    Up close, the towers seemed even bigger than from afar. Tall and wide, each tower was hundreds of feet long each way. Ashara¡¯s father¡¯s tower was covered in ornate gothic carvings and adorned with multiple balconies and nooks for gargoyle sentries and mages to stand guard in. The entrance Ashara and Maron were walking up to was similarly guarded, six sentries stood at the bottom of the stone steps leading up to the tower¡¯s back entrance and two gargoyles sat on ledges set on either side of the entrance.

    One of the guards, a mage in black robes and a black helmet with a glowing purple glass visor strode up to Ashara and Maron with his hand outstretched.

    ¡°Halt!¡± he said before examining the pair. He knew who they were, but still had appearances to keep up. ¡°I¡¯ll need to see some proof of identity.¡±

    Ashara produced a medallion with her family¡¯s crest on it, the sleeping visage of one of her noble ancestors, then wordlessly pushed past the guard to the shining entryway behind him. Maron followed swiftly behind, paying the mage no mind as he scowled at the rude Princess. The pair climbed, and floated when the need arose, to the top of the tower in a quarter of an hour. Much of their normal path seemed to be blocked off by some major experiment the mages were conducting. Neither of them was able to get a glimpse at any aspect of what the mages were doing, which seemed to trouble Ashara. She stopped at the door to her father¡¯s chambers, and for a moment allowed anxiety to play across her face. A rare sight on a Ilithirian Princess, at least in the presence of a male.

    Maron shifted on his feet, growing nervous at the sight of the Princess seemingly losing her resolve. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she knocked on the door twice and pushed it open. The pair filtered into the mage¡¯s personal quarters and found Ashara¡¯s father standing over a large scrying pool set into the floor, a new addition since Maron and Ashara¡¯s last visit. He looked up from the pitch-black pool and smiled at Ashara, while completely ignoring Maron¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Hello my daughter!¡± Ashara¡¯s father said, bowing his head.

    Ashara rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips, tilting her head back so her cowl fell from her head revealing the long flowing white hair beneath it. ¡°It is Princess or Lady Ashara, Phraum.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be that way!¡± Phraum retorted waving his hand. Suddenly he was in front of Ashara ruffling the girl¡¯s hair.

    Ashara jumped and Maron nearly left his own skin in surprise. The mage gave Maron a knowing look as the bodyguard reached for his crossbow, stopping the young man cold. Maron knew immidealty if he drew his weapon, it would be the last thing he ever did.

    ¡°Phraum! Phraum! Father!¡± Ashara batted at the mage¡¯s hand until he ceased his ministrations and chuckled.

    ¡°Trouble with the sisters again?¡± Phraum mused as Ashara began to fix her hair.

    ¡°And perhaps a few brothers as well, it seems everyone wants a go at me these days, it is getting tiresome.¡± Ashara replied.

    ¡°Hence this visit, and all the others.¡± Phraum moved away from Ashara and returned to the edge of his scrying pool, staring down into its pitch-black surface.

    ¡°What is this? It wasn¡¯t here the last time I visited.¡± Ashara said following her father¡¯s gaze into the pool.

    ¡°I... don¡¯t really know actually!¡± The mage said with a shrug. ¡°Something I stumbled upon in my studies, supposedly it has something to do with seeing something, but I haven¡¯t the slightest clue what.¡±

    Ashara gave the mage a haughty look and rolled her eyes. ¡°Either you¡¯re lying, or you¡¯ve spent too much time in this tower alone Phraum, that sounds ridiculous.¡±

    The mage shrugged again with his hands opened in a gesture of obeisance. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right. But you also might be wrong, and this thing could be very valuable. Time will tell.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Ashara said, clearly unamused with her father¡¯s response. ¡°Anyways, I was hoping you could tell me the current standings, who amongst my siblings has the most of my mother¡¯s favor.¡±

    Phraum turned his gaze from the scrying pool, a look of exaggerated surprise on his face. ¡°Ashara! You mean to tell me you aren¡¯t your mother¡¯s favorite? How could this be!¡±

    Ashara¡¯s tongue quickly flicked across her teeth in annoyance, and her lips curled into a scowl. Maron thought the Princess was going to explode on her father, but the tirade never came. Ashara let out a sigh and awaited her father¡¯s reply. This is a powerful man, Maron thought. It was rare for a male to hold enough status to cause a Princess to hold her tongue, even if that Princess was his daughter.

    ¡°Well to state the obvious you¡¯re mother cares little for you.¡± Phraum said offhandedly, turning his gaze back down into the scrying pool. ¡°The three currently trying to kill you are Kara, Feyan, and Dyra. They seem convinced doing so will supplant your eldest sister Ameena and perhaps they are correct.¡±

    ¡°I suspected as much.¡± Said Ashara with a heavy sigh. ¡°But its always worthwhile to put specific names to your aggressors. Thank you Phraum.¡±

    ¡°Hardly something to thank someone over,¡± said Phraum turning his eyes back to his daughter. ¡°Knowing doesn¡¯t necessarily help, especially since you already suspected your siblings. Nay, expected it from them.¡±

    Ashara raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, are you offering to get involved on my behalf?¡±

    ¡°Well, you are my favorite.¡± Phraum said, a wicked grin forming on his face. ¡°And I have no love for your mother¡¯s other children, for those I haven¡¯t sired.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s blatant treason, Phraum.¡± Ashara said, folding her hands behind her back. She began to pace the area of the scrying pool, a look of intrigue on her face. ¡°But then, we sisters aren¡¯t supposed to conspire against each other in groups, so I suppose it¡¯s only fair I call upon my own allies.¡±

    ¡°Oh, darling this will hardly be fair.¡± Phraum said after releasing a wicked laugh.

    Ashara smiled, and Maron found himself smiling as well. It was always a joy to partake in a conspiracy, the fact that the conspiracy was against those within their own house made it all the sweeter.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan, father.¡± Ashara said stopping across the scrying pool from Phraum.

    ¡°You will acquire something for me,¡± Phraum began. ¡°Something I wouldn¡¯t normally be able to get, because I am a man you see. An artifact from the Styria family temple.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t be committing heresy, will I?¡± Ashara asked quickly, her eyes darting around the room in search of anyone listening in on their conversation.

    ¡°No child, worry not.¡± Phraum replied. ¡°This artifact has nothing to do with our Dark Lady, it is an old piece of machinery, from our war with the humans.¡±

    Ashara nodded, seemingly reassured. ¡°A living machine? Or perhaps a piece of hardware for that pet you keep?¡±

    Phraum smiled sinisterly at his daughter, his ruby red eyes smoldering. ¡°It isn¡¯t a pet nor is this item I seek a simple piece of hardware.¡± Phraum said calmly, in stark contrast to the intimidating aura he began to exude. ¡°It will be the key to our success, to your survival.¡±

    Ashara nodded, avoiding her father¡¯s now intense gaze. ¡°So, you say.¡± The Princess put a finger to her lip and paced back and forth across from her father. ¡°How will I sneak into the Styrian temple? First Princess Corellia keeps a clean house. The presence of a rival Princess, though significantly lower on the ladder, will surely be noticed.¡±

    ¡°You will find that tomorrow night the Styrian family will be very preoccupied. When the time comes, I will give you the disguises and equipment you need to breach into the temple and fool all of their security measures. Until then,¡± Phraum reached into his pocket and tossed Maron a small purple crystal ball. ¡°Study that. It¡¯s a comprehensive map of the Styrian temple and the surrounding complexes. I¡¯m sure you and your confidant there will come up with a way to find what I¡¯m looking for. Which, by the way, is sealed in a vault down in the basement of the temple, behind a secret passage I have outlined within the map.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    Maron opened his mind to the crystal ball and saw within its purple surface the map Phraum spoke of. It had outlines of each of the temple¡¯s rooms, important points of interest where sentries were stationed, as well as detailed notes on activity within the temple.

    ¡°Is it satisfactory, boy?¡± Phraum called from his spot beside the scrying pool, his lips still curled in a wicked grin.

    Embarrassed, Maron bowed his head and nodded.

    ¡°Good. I suppose that concludes our business, Princess.¡± Phraum turned to Ashara and gave her a smile and a bow.

    ¡°I hope to hear from you soon.¡± Said Ashara turning from her father and striding towards the entrance to his quarters.

    Maron quickly followed the Princess, taking one last look at the mages laboratory before hurrying out of the black metal doors the led out into the hallway. Ashara was waiting down the hall, her eyes on one of the statues adorning the passage¡¯s wall. It was a carving of a humanoid creature with fangs and bat-like wings, nothing that would normally interest the Princess, Maron knew. She was considering her options, leveling out if carrying out her father¡¯s mission was worth it. Robbing a rival family¡¯s temple was no small task, the fact that the temple belonged to the most powerful family in the city made the task much more daunting.

    Ashara sighed, having found her conclusion, and motioned for Maron to follow her down the winding staircase that led down into the tower¡¯s lower levels.

    ¡°Take good care of that crystal, we shall study it later tonight. I¡¯ll call you to my quarters a little after midnight to review it.¡± Ashara whispered as they descended the stairs.

    ¡°As you wish Princess.¡± Maron replied.

    The pair made their way down the tower and out into the paths beneath the Hand and travelled back through the forest towards the Demora palace, this time avoiding the crowded high garden in favor of a safer route.

    ¡°That was strange.¡± Ashara said when they found themselves alone on an empty backstreet. She paused and examined their surroundings, then leaned against the black brick wall of a three-story apartment complex.

    Maron shifted on his feet unsure of what to say, but Ashara¡¯s waiting look told him he needed to say something. ¡°Yes, the High Garden and the Hand being so busy this time of year is strange.¡±

    ¡°I was thinking the same thing, and perhaps all of it has something to do with my recent troubles as well.¡± Ashara replied. ¡°Some greater turmoil sweeping through all the families. If we had more time we could try and spy on the other towers and figure out if the other mages are up to something.¡±

    Maron turned his chin up inquisitively. ¡°You think the mages are up to something as well? At the hand and not in their own palaces?¡±

    ¡°Well clearly, Phraum seemed comfortable enough using the entirety of his tower on what was most assuredly a personal experiment.¡± Ashara answered. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if the other family mages were doing the same thing.¡±

    Maron nodded, not quite understanding where the Princess was going with her ruminations.

    ¡°And that scrying pool, how strange...¡± The Princess stroked her chin for a moment before pushing off the wall and continuing on her way towards the Demora palace. ¡°I suppose only time will tell. Trying to read Phraum¡¯s actions is like trying to sail through a hurricane, nearly impossible.¡±

    Maron followed the Princess, still worried about their meeting. He had seen the Princess weather through assassination attempts, open challenges, and humiliating defeats without ever losing face. But today he saw her nervous, anxious in the face of her father, anxious in the face of a male.

    This does not bode well, Maron thought to himself as he followed the Princess through the gates of the Demora palace. For the first time Maron began to regret his decision to so readily join the Princess¡¯s faction, but it was far too late for him to jump ship now. For better or worse, his fate was tied to Ashara¡¯s.

    <hr>

    Midnight came, along with a knock at Ashara¡¯s door. Her most prized possession had arrived as instructed, hopefully with a detailed explanation of how she would infiltrate the Styria family temple.

    ¡°Enter.¡± Ashara said, rising from her desk to meet Maron.

    Her bodyguard entered, sheepishly looking around the room before giving Ashara a bow and producing the purple crystal ball Phraum had given him. She smiled at the display; every time the man was summoned into her room his body language grew nervous. It was amusing to see the seasoned warrior who had cut his way to the top of the Kennels shift around on his feet while his eyes darted around the room when he thought Ashara wasn¡¯t looking. His fear made Ashara feel powerful.

    ¡°Hand it here.¡± The Princess ordered, reaching her hand out to her bodyguard.

    Maron deposited the crystal ball into her hands and the Princess promptly began to open her mind to it, allowing her energy to flow into it and its energy to flow into her. The crystal¡¯s pristine glassy purple surface grew smoky and began to reveal to her a detailed map of the Styrian temple. Her father had certainly done his research, the Styrians themselves likely lacked a floor plan as detailed as the one Phraum had created!

    ¡°Times of worship, sentry movements, clergy schedules, points of interest, room layouts, this map has it all.¡± Ashara mused in amazement as she went over the crystal¡¯s contents. ¡°I might be able to pull this off.¡±

    ¡°Just you Princess?¡± Maron asked, a look of worry on his face.

    ¡°Yes, outside of the main halls of worship men are forbidden to roam the temple. If you were caught in any of the inner sanctums you and the Demora family would face harsh punishment.¡± Ashara continued her observations of the map, ignoring Maron¡¯s apologetic nod. ¡°You will however remain nearby the temple, even if Phraum¡¯s plans do not demand it. I need someone I can trust around for this.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Princess.¡± Maron said with another bow. Truly, he was the perfect picture of politeness and obedience. Ashara would have to congratulate herself later for getting a hold of him after his graduation. None of the other high noble families seemed to want him. He was a commoner after all.

    Ashara finished her observations of the map and allowed the crystal¡¯s magic to fade. She found more than a few potential ways to access the secret passage her father spoke of, but none of them would work without some sort of diversion. Aside from the sentries, who rotated in a manner that left little in the way of infiltration opportunities, there was also the matter of the worshipers. Phraum¡¯s own notes had a priestess or a petitioner in every place Ashara would need to move through in order to gain access to the sanctum in which the secret passage was located.

    ¡°At a glance, our mission seems impossible. I see no openings for a quick and discreet theft.¡± Said Ashara, making a show of placing the crystal into her pocket and tilting her head back in thought. ¡°Were you able to discover anything?¡±

    ¡°I believe so Princess.¡± Maron replied. ¡°Funnily enough, if there were to be a distraction around eight in the evening then you could sneak into the war sanctum, where the secret passage is located.¡±

    ¡°Right after evening worship.¡± Ashara said recalling a route her father had traced in his map.

    It was the most obvious and least likely route to work, but without standing sentries or worshiping petitioners to impede her progress, Ashara could quickly and quietly enter the war sanctum and leave before anyone was the wiser.

    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to understand what that scrying pool was really for.¡± Ashara said while contemplating Maron¡¯s words. ¡°He must have been spying on that temple for months to get such a detailed layout of the place. What a sly dog.¡± Ashara let out a wicked laugh at the ingenuity of it all.

    ¡°We must hope that his distraction is as ingenious as his map.¡± Maron said, a smile on his own face.

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Ashara replied.

    Ashara felt a wave of relief wash over her as she began to accept her father¡¯s plan. She was skeptical all the way up until Maron had revealed the beginnings of what Ashara believed was a much more thought-out mission. She never questioned if the mage was capable of pulling off such a heist, but had he given her such a task on a whim with no care as to whether or not she succeeded, then her future would have been solely in her hands. Maron¡¯s as well she supposed, but telling the foolish male that wouldn¡¯t help. All Ashara had to worry about now was her place in her father¡¯s plans after the theft of this relic. Hopefully, it was somewhere higher than the lowest Princess in the Demora family, at least until her two other siblings came of age.

    ¡°I suppose all that¡¯s left to do is wait until tomorrow.¡± Said Ashara moving to her bed, a wide oval covered in purple silk sheets. ¡°See yourself out Maron and be sure to get some rest. We¡¯ll have a busy day tomorrow, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡°Yes Princess.¡± Maron said with a bow before quickly scurrying out of her room, sure to close the door softly behind him as he left.

    ¡°The perfect knight for the perfect princess...In another life.¡± Ashara mused to herself with a sardonic laugh. In this life all Maron would ever be good for was service, and perhaps siring a few children if he proved himself more than useful...

    Problems for another time, Ashara thought to herself. It was unwise for the lowest Princess to have children on her own whim. They¡¯d either end up in her mother¡¯s clutches or butchered by her rival sisters. No Ashara would have to bide her time and wait, until the opportunity arose to start her own family, on her terms. Phraum¡¯s trinket today, her mother¡¯s throne tomorrow. Ashara shucked off the night gown she was wearing and climbed under the warm silken blankets on her bed. Slowly she drifted off to sleep, offering a prayer to her Goddess to grant her success in the nights to come.

    <hr>

    Phraum watched as his daughter safely entered the Demora compound, followed by the soldier she chose to be her shadow. The scrying pool shifted, its surface losing its color until it became black as midnight, devouring all the light that touched its surface. He had hoped the girl would see something as he did through the black portal, but he wasn¡¯t surprised or disappointed. Ashara¡¯s place was in the palace, and Phraum had groomed his eldest son to eventually become a mage. Her lack of magical talent was no loss.

    Phraum pressed a button stitched into his left wrist and waited for his most trusted partner to awaken from his hiding place in the laboratory. After a few moments of silence, Phraum felt little clawed feet gently climb up his back until they reached his shoulder. The mage turned his head and found a small silver and blue metallic creature perched on his right shoulder.

    ¡°Hello.¡± It said in his own voice.

    ¡°Hello Sizth.¡± Phraum replied meeting the creature¡¯s blue metallic eyes.

    Sizth was a living machine that took the form of a lizard-like creature while it spent its time with Phraum. An old acquaintance from Phraum¡¯s adventures as a young man, the living machine was currently helping him on his current project, unlocking the secret behind advanced Inter-Planar travel.

    ¡°Thank you for the information on where I could find the materials to make this, Sizth. It¡¯s been indispensable.¡± Phraum said, reaching his finger up to the machine to bump fists with. The little metal lizard reached out a paw and gave Phraum¡¯s finger a squeeze.

    ¡°Of course, old friend. It amuses me to watch you work.¡± Sizth had switched into its own voice, a cacophony of deep humming reverberations that vaguely sounded humanoid. ¡°I was honestly surprised you were able to piece together how to create this old thing. I haven¡¯t seen one of its kind used in ages, literally.¡±

    ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t easy.¡± Phraum began. ¡°I had to sneak off world and into the rest of the core fairly often to gather the proper research materials. I even had to go into human territory if you could believe it.¡±

    Sizth¡¯s little body shuddered at the mention of humans, the living machine¡¯s greatest enemy.

    ¡°How¡¯d you like the human planets? I can assume you didn¡¯t go so far as to touch the Unity, otherwise you surely would not be here today, old friend.¡±

    Phraum laughed and shook his head. Unity was in the deep core of the human¡¯s galactic territory, and no one outside the Unity escaped it after entering. Not even Phraum was daring enough to chance stealing something from within its treacherous confines.

    ¡°Hells below, no old friend.¡± Phraum said with a laugh. ¡°Just a few places an Inter-Planar company ship could take me.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Sizth said, thinking. ¡°So, why¡¯d you tell your daughter about your plan? Surely you could take a woman¡¯s form yourself, or convince another agent to conduct the task? Someone more... qualified?¡±

    Phraum let out another chuckle. Indeed, his daughter, along with his son, were the most spoiled in the family. As such their cunning was less than that of the other Azuran¡¯s brought up in this brutal society. It was the reason Ashara had gotten into so much trouble in the first place, and the reason Phraum felt responsible for her safety. That and the fact he wanted his daughter to eventually supplant his mistress as the head of the Demora family, as his puppet.

    ¡°The girl must learn how to earn her place in the family.¡± Phraum said. ¡°Also, I can¡¯t let the girl think I¡¯d be willing to help her for free, she¡¯d never stop asking for help otherwise.¡±

    ¡°Would that not better serve your goals?¡± Sizth asked.

    ¡°Everyone would catch on to what I was doing if I so freely helped my daughter.¡± Phraum replied. ¡°And that would spell doom for me and my children.¡±

    ¡°I figured.¡± Said the little metal lizard, tilting its head. ¡°You¡¯re people are strange like that. It never ceases to amaze me how different even the same members of a species can be.¡±

    ¡°Yes, different.¡± Phraum muttered, he had another word for what the Ilithirians were.

    Savage, he thought to himself. A backward society where a wicked mage like him could flourish. Perhaps he would change the way Ilithirian society worked in the future, but for now he was content to remain under the Demora family¡¯s banner serving his own personal interests, and occasionally his mistress¡¯s.

    Sizth looked up at Phraum inquisitively, its little head tilting this way and that, its metal irises opening and closing. ¡°You disagree?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a wicked man in a wicked world Sizth, and I don¡¯t know any other way.¡± Phraum answered, turning from the scrying pool.

    The mage walked over to the workstation where he had prepared all of the necessary gear for Ashara¡¯s infiltration. For Ashara, he prepared the simple light blue and purple robes of a common worshiper of their Dark Goddess, a cloaking device, a silencing spell, and a shape charge to open up the entrance of the vault the relic was stored in. For Maron, he had acquired a black bodysuit that would adjust to fit to his body, a stronger cloaking device, and a line pistol. He didn¡¯t expect Maron to have to get involved, but if he did, Phraum wanted to ensure he had the upper hand on whatever it was he encountered.

    ¡°That¡¯s some advanced stuff, for your people.¡± The little metal lizard remarked, jumping from Phraum¡¯s shoulder to an open space on the workstation. ¡°That pistol there will pierce anything that isn¡¯t shielded, which is about everything on this planet. You don¡¯t think that¡¯s overkill, old friend?¡±

    ¡°I must make sure my investment is secure old friend.¡± Phraum answered, taking the pistol in his right hand. An elegant silver gun with a red wooden handle engraved with the Azuran star.

    An old and reliable weapon Phraum, had made sure to test it himself in his spare time. It was powered by a crystal cartridge that slid into the back of the pistol¡¯s frame and made to fire using some magnetic mechanism Phraum had little knowledge of. The specifics of line weaponry were tightly guarded secrets only known to select weapons manufacturers and religious leaders high up in Ilithirian society. Its usage was mainly for conflicts with Ilithir¡¯s enemies, but families used them against each other often enough. If Maron did end up having to shoot his way into the temple to rescue Ashara, it wouldn¡¯t be too out of place. Especially with the surprise Phraum had in store...

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll work old friend? Will our guest cause enough trouble for Ashara to acquire what I desire?¡± Phraum asked looking down at the little metal lizard.

    Sizth looked up at the mage and its metal lizard features curled up into what Phraum could only assume was a smile. ¡°I have no idea. What you¡¯re going to summon, the creature I¡¯ve shown you, is guided by pure chaos. Completely unpredictable, yet able to predict the future. A ridiculous creature that shouldn¡¯t even exist.¡±

    ¡°That is precisely why it must be summoned, and why I must have the artifact.¡± Phraum said.

    The mage set the gun back down on the workstation and headed up a small set of stairs that led to a raised platform in his laboratory. He walked over to a large standing mirror and began to chant an incantation that would activate the magical instrument. He watched as the mirrors¡¯ surface changed from his own reflection into a dark and smoky image, then of one of the rooms lower in the tower. Four mages in black robes and purple visored helmets stood around an incomplete orange flaming summoning circle chanting a dark incantation.

    ¡°The mirror¡¯s been activated, master Phraum must be hailing us.¡± Said a voice from beyond the mirror, muffled and low.

    Suddenly a face appeared on the other side of the mirror, a blue-grey skinned male with amber eyes and long silvery hair. One of Phraum¡¯s lieutenants, an accomplished mage in the Demora family¡¯s private army.

    ¡°You wish to speak with us master?¡± the man asked, his face impassive.

    ¡°How is the summoning coming along? I trust you all are making ample progress?¡± Phraum asked.

    ¡°Yes sir, the circle is nearly complete, and the teleporter is ready and waiting. We should be finished with our work by tomorrow afternoon if all goes well.¡± The man replied.

    ¡°Good.¡± Phraum said with a nod. ¡°Be sure to have everything ready to be scrubbed when all is said and done. We wouldn¡¯t want the Ladies on the council to figure out our involvement in the debacle that¡¯s sure to occur tomorrow evening.¡±

    The lieutenant nodded and Phraum allowed the mirror to revert to its normal state, watching as its surface shifted from the summoning room to his own handsome reflection. He took a moment to allow his own ruby red eyes to pierce his gaze before he turned and headed back down to the workstation Sizth was waiting at.

    ¡°One last task to handle before I return to my chambers at the Palace.¡± Phraum said aloud, offering out his arm to Sizth.

    The little metal lizard jumped onto the mage¡¯s forearm and climbed up onto his shoulder. Phraum then turned away from the workstation and walked over to the scrying pool.

    ¡°Something left to see?¡± Sizth asked from his perch on Phraum¡¯s left shoulder.

    ¡°I figured I might as well do what I said I would and help my daughter. An hour of spying on her sister¡¯s ought to do and then I¡¯ll head off for the night.¡± Phraum said, focusing his magic energies into the pool to conjure up the images of the three sisters targeting Ashara. ¡°What about you, old friend, have any plans for this evening?¡±

    Sizth shook its head, which made a strange clinking and whirring sound. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll do some spying of my own.¡±

    Phraum nodded and watched as the pool¡¯s surface revealed three different images of each of the sisters. Deyan was fast asleep in her chambers, snoring softly under the velvety covers of her bed. Dyra was speaking with her elder sister Ameena and one of her lovers, apparently Ameena had unjustly punished the man and Dyra was angry with her, wondering why she and her lover were even in contact with each other in the first place. Phraum smiled, oh to be young again.

    The mage turned finally to the image of Kara. The final sister was walking side by side with whom Phraum recognized as one of the other family mages, Tolor. Phraum muttered a few magic words to ensure his scry was undetected and relaxed when the scrying pool began to glow a faint purple, a sign no one had noticed his spying. The mage leaned forward and began to listen in on the pair¡¯s conversation.

    ¡°She¡¯s weaker now than she¡¯s ever been.¡± Kara was saying. ¡°The time to strike is upon us. I have prepared the necessary assassins; all I need is a mage to seal the deal.¡±

    Tolor licked his lips and furrowed his brow in thought. ¡°This may be true, but Ashara is still a Princess. I don¡¯t think Lady Reina would take too kindly to her mages killing her daughters.¡±

    Kara laughed. ¡°You certainly will not be taking the credit for it, fool. That glory would fall to me.¡±

    Tolor nodded, his face softening. ¡°True. Fine then, I¡¯ll join your team. When am I needed?¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow morning.¡± Kara discretely handed the mage a sealed letter, the delivery was so good Phraum nearly missed it. ¡°I trust you know what to do.¡±

    Tolor nodded and the two parted ways.

    Phraum shook his head and looked over to Sizth. ¡°They so brazenly target my daughter. My, my, whatever am I to do about this?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll think of something old friend.¡± Sizth said, its metal face curling back up into its strange grin.

    Phraum laughed and turned his back on the scrying pool, allowing it to fade back into blackness.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll prepare a few spells for that mage, Tolor.¡± Phraum said. ¡°A little warning to Maron might help as well. He seems a useful kid, keeping him in Ashara¡¯s good graces doesn¡¯t sound too bad.¡±

    ¡°Everyone would catch on to what I was doing.¡± Sizth spoke in Phraum¡¯s voice. ¡°Perhaps that is a bit too obvious.¡± It continued still in his tone.

    Phraum let out a hearty laugh, clutching at his stomach. ¡°True, true. I guess I¡¯ll just take all the credit. It never hurts to gain more respect.¡±

    The mage set about finding all the information he could on Tolor before leaving his laboratory. Tomorrow will be quite an interesting day; he thought as he went about his work. A little morning murder, and an evening robbery, the Ilithirian dream.

 Lethal Sibling Rivalry

    The Demora palace was a large stone compound made up of one main building that served as the noble house and five smaller ones that contained the more mundane functions of running a noble family. The smaller buildings acted as a meeting hall, a barracks, a private shrine, a mess hall, and finally a mages laboratory. The noble house, an ornately decorated blue domed complex, housed all the main members of the noble family along with quarters for servants, and a plethora of other rooms for leisure and recreation. It was five stories tall and had its own four towers on each of its corners for sentries and siege equipment if the need arose. It was surrounded by a smaller set of walls than those that made up the main compound and lit by electricity, a sign of the family¡¯s immense wealth.

    Maron had patrolled almost every part of the palace, all but the wing reserved for First Princess Demora and her eldest daughter. He knew better than most that the Demora compound was among the most unassailable in all the city, at least from outside threats. As far as protecting the denizens from each other, the palace might as well have been a back alley in the city squalor.

    Plenty of servants and soldiers alike were killed in the schemes the Demora daughters levied against each other. Occasionally even a branch family son or daughter would be found dead in their rooms, a symbol of one sibling¡¯s victory over the other. Many of Ashara¡¯s cousins had been slain by Maron¡¯s own hand, killed fighting on behalf of one of her elder siblings in hopes of rising higher in the family hierarchy.

    Lately, Maron was growing tired of the constant fighting. Mostly because the Princess he backed was losing. Sure, up until now they¡¯d thwarted every attack that had come their way, but they had no way to retaliate. Maron couldn¡¯t strike out against Ashara¡¯s sisters on his own and the sixth Princess had no other allies in the family besides her father, who himself was forbidden from interfering in the Princess¡¯s business, at least openly.

    The Princess¡¯s bodyguard was sprawled out on a couch in the living room nearest to Ashara¡¯s bed chamber. He had forgone sleeping in his personal quarters at the barracks in favor of staying near the Princess in case someone decided to attack her in the night. He and a few other bodyguards usually rotated watches, but tonight Ashara had given him leave to rest the whole night. They had a busy day ahead of them after all.

    Maron sat up in his seat and looked over at the clock hanging on the wall of the living room. Six forty-two, it read in the dim yellow light emanating from the hallway. Maron yawned and rose to his feet, his nerves wouldn¡¯t allow him any more sleep so he decided he would patrol around Ashara¡¯s area of the palace.

    Maron strapped his sword to his hip and made sure his pistol was secure in its holster. He always felt better when he could carry the gunpowder weapon around, it was more reliable than the crossbow, albeit louder. Luckily, he didn¡¯t have to be quiet here in Ashara¡¯s part of the palace, it was his job to defend it after all.

    The bodyguard stuck his hands in his pockets and ambled around the halls adjacent to the one Ashara¡¯s bedchamber was in. He stopped in front of a window and began to take in the early morning scenery.

    ¡°Not a damn thing to see...¡± Maron muttered to himself looking out at the empty lamplit yard beyond the walls of the palace. Ashara¡¯s room was on the fourth floor which allowed him to see over the main palace¡¯s half wall and just over the edge of the larger one that made up the compound.

    This morning Maron could see nothing, Ilithir¡¯s white sun hadn¡¯t made its appearance yet. Probably covered by the clouds that often floated over the bay the city was built on. Maron sighed and left the window, moving back the way he came and towards Ashara¡¯s bed chamber. He figured he ought to check on the guard he posted at her door and make sure everything was alright.

    As he approached her room, he noticed the man standing in front of Ashara¡¯s door was not the woman he had posted there last night. His jaw tightened as a wave of anger and anxiety passed over him. Maron reached for the pistol sitting on his hip, preparing for the worst. Suddenly the man turned towards Maron and smiled, his ruby red eyes barely visible under the slight visor of his black helmet.

    The man was Phraum.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Maron whispered frantically, surveying the hall to make sure the Princess didn¡¯t have any other unexpected guests.

    ¡°My job, obviously.¡± Phraum said leaning his back against the wall.

    Maron felt his blood boil. Suddenly he didn¡¯t care that Phraum was the consort of the First Princess or that he was a powerful mage. He didn¡¯t like being made a fool of and liked failing his duty to the Princess even less. Sensing the bodyguards growing fury, Phraum let out a quiet chuckle and put up his hands in a gesture of surrender.

    ¡°Relax, I¡¯m here to help you.¡± The mage cooed. ¡°A few Assassins led by a mage will be here at some point, I figured I¡¯d show up and make good on my word to my daughter.¡±

    Maron nodded, his anger abating at the mage¡¯s explanation. ¡°I wish you would have come directly to me with such news, I could have prepared a welcoming party for our guests.¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t in your room.¡± Phraum said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ¡°And surprisingly, I couldn¡¯t scry you either. Thought you might have flown the coop on us kiddo.¡±

    ¡°No, I was here. Right under your nose it seems.¡± Maron replied, matching the mages depreciatory tone.

    The mage folded his hands behind his back and stretched his neck, left then right. ¡°Well, anyways, be prepared. I only have reliable information on the mage. The skill of the assassins is anyone¡¯s guess.¡±

    ¡°Do you know when they¡¯ll be here?¡± Maron asked, ignoring the mages flippant attitude.

    ¡°No, but I suspect it¡¯ll be sometime before noon.¡± Phraum replied. ¡°If Kara wants to brag about her victory, it¡¯ll be around afternoon prayer when most of the family will be at our temple.¡±

    Maron nodded, moving away from the mage. ¡°I¡¯ll go warn the rest of the guards. I trust you¡¯ll have things under control here?¡±

    Phraum opened his hands and tilted his head sideways. ¡°It¡¯ll be a close fight, at least.¡±

    Maron rolled his eyes and walked off to find the rest of the guards in the wing. With Phraum around, he figured only a handful of them were necessary. The small group would also help keep their advantage; Kara¡¯s assassins were likely to realize their plan was foiled if they saw Maron assemble everyone within Ashara¡¯s little faction in front of Ashara¡¯s room. We will ambush them, Maron thought. The assassins will sneak into the wing and find Maron and the rest of his small band waiting for them.

    ¡°Oh, this¡¯ll be fun.¡± Maron muttered to himself. For the first time in the game Ashara and her sisters played, Maron would deal a decisive blow.

    The young bodyguard gathered four other guards from their posts near the entrance to the wing Ashara inhabited and had them meet with Phraum in front of the Princess¡¯s quarters. Maron left one of the guards, an older woman by the name of Tareia, in front of Ashara¡¯s bed chamber while the rest of them moved to the living room to discuss their strategy.

    ¡°The mage will likely remain near the entrance to this section of the palace focusing on keeping the assassins cloaked and breaking through the wards we have set in the halls.¡± Phraum said from his spot on one of the cushioned chairs in the center of the living room. ¡°When he disables the wards is when we¡¯ll know the assassins are in.¡±

    ¡°That still leaves the cloaking.¡± Said Vaena, one of the guards Maron had mustered. ¡°If they get in here invisible while we don¡¯t have any wards, we¡¯re as good as dead.¡±

    ¡°I can dispel the cloaking spell, but I¡¯ll need to confront the mage directly.¡± Phraum said.

    Maron and the three guards shifted uncomfortably in their places in the living room.

    ¡°You mean we¡¯ll have to let the assassins in and occupy them while you sneak by and deal with the mage?¡± said Shuri, another of the guards Maron had pulled in.

    ¡°Either that or hide somewhere while they make their way. But if they find you, they¡¯ll surely kill you.¡± Phraum answered flatly.

    Shuri did not like the disguised mage¡¯s tone and opened her mouth to say something but a hand from Vaena stopped her. The older girl whispered something into the younger woman¡¯s ear and she froze for a moment. Maron smirked, Vaena had explained to Shuri who Phraum was and now the girl was cowering like a scared dog.

    ¡°I think I have a better idea than that.¡± Maron said. ¡°I will remain outside of Ashara¡¯s quarters with Tareia while the rest of you wait inside. We¡¯ll occupy our invisible guests until the cloaking spell runs out and the rest of you will come out of Ashara¡¯s room and ambush the Assassins on our signal.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Phraum mused as he stroked his chin in thought. ¡°That could work, but I¡¯d rather not risk our best warriors. Two others should wait outside.¡±

    Shuri let out an audible gulp and looked over to Vaena. The older woman looked between Maron and Phraum, a determined look in her eyes.

    ¡°This is a woman¡¯s job after all, I can do it.¡± She said, her voice full of conviction.

    ¡°I¡¯ll join you as well ma¡¯am.¡± Said Jameis, the final guard Maron had roped into the scheme.

    ¡°You two should be fine.¡± Said Phraum, the mage had somehow managed to look even more relaxed in his chair as they continued their conversation. ¡°While unwarded, Ashara¡¯s room itself has some powerful anti-magic enchantments on it. It won¡¯t break the cloaking completely, but you should see shimmering silhouettes and finally outlines of our attackers when they strike. If you are skilled enough, you will survive.¡±

    ¡°Should we wake the Princess for this?¡± Jameis said, asking the question they had all feared to ask. The guards all looked to Maron as the room¡¯s silence dragged on.

    ¡°No. In fact it would be best if she remained asleep until this business is concluded.¡± Maron said. ¡°We don¡¯t know how motivated these assassins are, if they¡¯re willing to use more self-destructive means to harm her Ladyship. Having her around during the fighting could be detrimental.¡±

    ¡°I agree.¡± Said Phraum. ¡°To that end, I have ensured that Princess Ashara will not awaken until either we have succeeded or failed.¡±

    Vaena and Shuri gave the mage inquisitive looks but kept any misgivings to themselves. Though Phraum was a man, he was still the first Princess¡¯s consort and a prominent mage in the Demora army. Arguing with him could mean doom for their positions in the family and likely their lives.

    ¡°All right, get back to your patrols. We¡¯ll meet back in fifteen minutes.¡± Maron said rising from his seat, goading the others to do the same.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be headed to the Princess¡¯s chambers?¡± Shuri asked, her face sullen.

    ¡°Can¡¯t make it too obvious.¡± Maron replied, already on his way to rejoin Tareia in front of Ashara¡¯s quarters.

    The rest of the guards headed back to their routine patrol routes and Phraum went to seek out a spot to ambush the mage at. Tareia¡¯s eyes lit up as Maron approached, and she gave him an inquisitive look.

    ¡°What¡¯d you two decide?¡± the veteran asked. Maron didn¡¯t have to explain who Phraum was or what was currently at stake. Tareia had served the Demora family for two hundred years now and was more than familiar with the ruthless intrigue that plagued it.

    ¡°In a quarter of an hour we alongside Shuri will wait in the Princess¡¯s chambers while Jameis and Vaena stand guard outside the door.¡± Maron began. ¡°The assassins are bringing a mage this time, one who will be cloaking the assailants. We¡¯ll be waiting for Phraum to disrupt the mage¡¯s spell and then ambush the assassin¡¯s while they¡¯re dealing with Vaena and Jameis.¡±

    ¡°A sound plan.¡± Tareia said. ¡°Presumptuous, but everything is with that mage.¡±

    Maron nodded, he couldn¡¯t disagree.

    A quarter of an hour passed, and the rest of the guards showed up in front of Ashara¡¯s bedroom door ready to lay their ambush. Jameis passed his needle gun to Shuri trading it for her pistol. The taller woman took the long gun in her left hand and passed her pistol and holster to Jameis. He quickly strapped it around his free hip and gave her a nod.

    ¡°You¡¯ll see a flicker as the Assassin¡¯s come. Shoot it, at least one of them should fall.¡± Tareia said, her face serious. Jameis and Vaena offered the veteran a nod before she shut the doors to Ashara¡¯s room.

    ¡°Now we wait.¡± Maron whispered. He turned towards the Princess, her sleepy visage the perfect picture of serenity.

    ¡°Soon many more children will wear such a face.¡± Whispered Tareia from over Maron¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hopefully less of ours than theirs.¡±

    Maron shuddered. Sometimes the old woman frightened him.

    <hr>

    Phraum watched the two guards Maron had posted in front of Ashara¡¯s door, waiting for something to happen. It had been around an hour since the rest of Maron¡¯s band of warriors entered Ashara¡¯s chambers and the mage was growing impatient. The longer he spent sitting in the palace, the less time he had to oversee the plot to infiltrate the Styrian temple.

    The mage sighed inwardly, tearing his gaze from the hand mirror he was using to spy on his daughter¡¯s room to scan the hallway he was in. Phraum had made himself invisible and picked a spot in the main thoroughfare of the east wing to watch for Kara¡¯s assassins. He didn¡¯t expect to see any of them, they would likely sneak into Ashara¡¯s portion of the wing from some secret entrance the plotters uncovered ages ago.

    Phraum huffed, disappointed nothing had happened yet, then froze as he felt a tingling sensation pass through him. He felt his hair stand on end as the wards that protected the wing weakened, allowing him to sense the flow of magic pass into the hallways leading to Ashara¡¯s rooms. Phraum rose to his feet and began to track the energies, of which he could sense six, all stemming from one main power source.

    He moved silently through the blue carpeted halls of the palace, mentally preparing the right spell to use against Tolor. As the mage neared the source of the six energies, he pulled out the small magic mirror he had used to spy on Ashara¡¯s room. From the other mirror he had set up earlier, he saw the two guards Maron had posted in front of Ashara¡¯s room in combat with five shifting, blurry figures. One of the assassin¡¯s had been killed, shot through the head by a gun.

    Here I go, Phraum thought to himself as he stood in front of the source of the assassin¡¯s invisibility. A large dark brown wooden door leading into a storage room. Phraum prepared to cast a force spell that would blow down the door when suddenly he was interrupted by a sudden change in the air pressure.

    The mage quickly dashed aside just as the space around him began to crack with the explosive energy of a lightning strike, shattering the wooden door to the storage room and scorching the spot Phraum had once stood.

    Phraum snapped the fingers on his right hand and sent a small ball of fire arcing into the storage room, squinting his eyes as a flash of orange light and a burst of heat blasted out from the room. Tolor appeared slightly after, a grimace under his purple visored helmet and a ball of light forming in his hands.

    Recognizing the spell, Phraum quickly conjured up the proper wards and stretched out his hands. No sooner did a ray of sinister purple light strike uselessly against a vortex of shifting energy, dissipating into the air.

    ¡°This is the end for you consort!¡± Tolor spat as he readied another spell in his left hand.

    Phraum opened the palms of his outstretched hands and quickly muttered the words necessary to produce a wave of force. He watched as the area in front of him was caught up in a violent gust of invisible energy that sent Tolor tumbling backwards and the furniture adorning the hallway splintering into hundreds of little pieces.

    Phraum snapped his fingers, sending another small ball of fire hurtling towards the prone form of Kara¡¯s mage. The man quickly rolled out of the fireball¡¯s path and retaliated with another ray of purple light. Phraum ducked under the attack and sent another fire ball at the enemy mage. Tolor put up a ward and the ball of flame sputtered out against its surface.

    Tolor began to mouth the words to another spell and Phraum smiled.

    ¡°There it is.¡± Phraum muttered to himself as he prepared to reach into his pocket.

    During his studies of Kara¡¯s mage, he had discovered Tolor liked to use a certain high level lighting spell that arced around most wards and tracked onto its targets. The spell had a small exploitable weakness in that it could be redirected, with the right conductor. Phraum, and likely most of the high mages in Nizea, had such a conductor, a blue crystal ball. It wouldn¡¯t redirect a normal lightning spell, since the bolt simply overloaded the crystal and caused it to explode, but it would redirect a lightning bolt compelled to track its targets through magic.

    Tolor finished his incantation and pointed his right pointer finger at Phraum. A powerful flowing blue bolt of lightning shot out from his fingertip and quickly traveled through the air, cackling as it approached its target. The Demora consort reached into his pocket and produced the palm sized blue crystal ball and held it up towards the streaking lightning. The bolt hit the crystal ball, and its energy traveled in through the end Phraum held towards Tolor and back out towards the purple visored mage.

    Tolor¡¯s face curled up in disbelief as he watched the bolt of furious electricity travel towards him. Kara¡¯s mage braced himself and howled as the lightning struck him in his chest, burning through his robes and roasting the skin beneath. The enemy mage stumbled backwards, somehow still alive after the shock, then fell onto his back. His body jerked and convulsed from the electricity still flowing through it then stopped finally, leaving Tolor a smoking mess on the hallway carpet.

    Phraum slowly walked over to the charred mage and stood over him, passing his tongue over his teeth as he took in the man¡¯s dying form. Tolor let out a small groan and lifted a hand towards Phraum, then fell limp, his eyes glazing over as he passed on.

    ¡°The rest is up to you, child.¡± Phraum muttered, looking towards Ashara¡¯s bedchamber.

    <hr>

    ¡°We can see them now! There¡¯s five of them, come out!¡± hollered Jameis from outside of Ashara¡¯s bed chamber door.

    Maron burst out into the hallway with Tareia and Shuri in tow, his pistol and sword at the ready.

    ¡°Damn, it was a trap!¡± cursed one of the assassins.

    Now fully visible, Maron studied each of the five remaining assassins. They were each dressed head to toe in black, with ballistic weave coats, and black face masks obscuring their identities.

    Maron fired two bullets at the assassin nearest to him and drove forward with his saber. The assassin took both bullets in the chest and stumbled backwards as the Princess¡¯s guard approached. The two exchanged swords, Maron quickly gaining the advantage over his wounded foe until he managed to wrench the sword from the assassin¡¯s hands and slice open her neck. The assassin let out a gurgling cry and fell to the floor, clutching at her open throat.

    Maron turned from his fallen foe and found Tareia handily winning her own duel while Jameis and Vaena struggled against their attackers. Jameis was fighting one assassin, clutching his right side as his attacker steadily pushed him back. Vaena was also being pushed back and was nearly stabbed under her chest after a failed attack when Shuri shot a needle at her attacker. The glowing yellow spike lodged itself in the assassin¡¯s stomach, and the man grunted as he felt its heat sear into him. Vaena regained her composure and took advantage of the hunched over assassin¡¯s pain to drive her sword through the man¡¯s chest, killing him.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Maron quickly rushed to Jameis¡¯s aid, getting between his injured ally and the assassin. The young bodyguard and the assassin slashed and parried each other¡¯s attacks until Maron fell for a feint and found himself on the backfoot. The assassin pressed Maron hard, until the bodyguard found an opening and kicked the assassin¡¯s knee out from under her. The woman fell to the floor and Maron aimed his pistol at her masked face and fired, killing the assassin.

    He turned and found Tareia still engaged with the last two assassins. She had sliced up each of them, twisting and turning like a cyclone as she danced in between her attackers. As one of the assassin¡¯s stepped in to strike at the veteran, she got down low around the man¡¯s left leg and wrapped her lower body around the limb, folding the man over herself and plunging a dagger into his back as she came up on top of him. The other assassin moved in on Tareia, thrusting her blade at the veteran¡¯s exposed side. Tareia parried the attack with her saber and brought the blade back around, quick as lightning and sliced open the assassin¡¯s wrist. The woman groaned and backed away, managing to hold onto her weapon. Tareia rose up off her slain foe and moved in to finish the wounded assassin.

    Her wrist now weakened, the assassin was unable to keep up with the flurry of slashes Tareia unleashed upon her, and she was quickly cut up from the veteran¡¯s assault, falling to the ground convulsing in pain as she quickly bled out from her many wounds.

    ¡°Goddess damn you all!¡± The assassin spat as she convulsed in pain. Struggling, the woman produced a silver globe from her coat pocket and began to press down on it.

    ¡°Stop her it¡¯s a bomb!¡± Maron called, lunging towards the woman.

    Tareia aimed a cut at the fallen assassin¡¯s hand with her sword; but missed as the globe and the hand that held it were pulled towards the entrance to the hallway. Strolling in, his uniform frayed and his helmet slightly dented was Phraum. The mage caught the silver ball and quickly pulled it open, fingering the contents within.

    ¡°I¡¯ve stopped the timer, but it hasn¡¯t been disarmed.¡± The mage said still walking towards Ashara¡¯s bed chamber.

    ¡°Well don¡¯t bring it over here you stupid dog!¡± Tareia said, an incredulous look on her face.

    ¡°I have it well in hand mistress, worry not.¡± Phraum replied still approaching.

    Tareia huffed and moved further down the hall, away from the mage and the assassin still bleeding to death on the carpet.

    ¡°Good work everyone.¡± Maron said offering a shoulder to Jameis. ¡°I¡¯m sure the Princess will be grateful.¡± He eyed Phraum nervously but decided to trust in the mage¡¯s supreme capabilities. Surely, he could defuse a bomb.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far.¡± Tareia quipped from down the hall, still moving away from Phraum.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go wake the Princess.¡± Said Phraum, still tinkering with the silver globe. ¡°Thank you all for your hard work. I¡¯ll see to it that you are rewarded.¡±

    The mage pushed open Ashara¡¯s door and slipped inside. Maron waited outside, still taking in the scene. Six dead assassins laid at his feet, a symbol of his party¡¯s first victory in the great game the Demora sisters played against each other. He felt good but couldn¡¯t escape a small sense of unease creeping up in his mind. They still had the heist to pull off and this attack surely would not be the last.

    If Phraum hadn¡¯t been here, we¡¯d all be dead, Maron thought to himself. He sighed, signaling for Shuri to come over. She put the needle gun over her shoulder and approached, offering her hands to take Jameis.

    ¡°Get him to a healer.¡± Maron ordered. ¡°Vaena, you go as well. Me and Tareia will handle the rest.¡±

    Vaena nodded and followed Shuri and Jamies as they slowly dragged themselves down the hallway.

    ¡°We ought to leave, that bomb could take out the whole floor.¡± Tareia called from the end of the hallway, her head poking out from around the corner.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Phraum has it well in hand mistress, you oughtn¡¯t worry.¡± Maron called back, smiling. He rarely saw the old woman balk; her nervousness amused him.

    The veteran paused, looked down the hall Maron was standing in, then down the one she had moved to. She sighed finally and approached Maron.

    ¡°I suppose I can¡¯t let a mere boy take all of the credit for this success.¡± She said as she took a place beside Maron. She reached her hand out and gently grabbed the young man by the back of his coat collar. ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    Maron nodded nervously up at the taller woman. ¡°Of course, mistress. Uh, maybe I ought to check on the Princess and make sure Phraum hasn¡¯t done anything suspicious.¡±

    Maron felt Tareia release his collar and he quickly pushed into Ashara¡¯s chambers, ready for the Princess to awaken. Tareia let out a chuckle behind him.

    What a woman, Maron thought to himself.

    <hr>

    Ashara woke late in the morning, her door slightly ajar and her father sitting at her desk. She could hear Maron out in the hall, speaking softly with who she assumed were a few of her other personal bodyguards.

    ¡°Good afternoon, Princess.¡± Phraum said, not bothering to look up from whatever he was working on at her desk.

    Ashara blinked the sleep from her eyes and rose in her bed. ¡°What are you doing here? Was there an attack?¡±

    ¡°Yes, there was, but we handled it. No need for alarm.¡± Phraum said, a clicking noise sounding from whatever he was working on. ¡°You¡¯re boy there is really something, you have quite the discerning eye my dear, must have gotten that from me.¡±

    Ashara rolled her eyes and quickly found some clothes to throw on. A simple yet elegant blue outfit and a flowing half cape in matching blue.

    ¡°Who was it this time?¡± Ashara asked moving towards her father.

    ¡°Kara, by way of a family mage she sent to kill you, along with some assassins.¡± Phraum turned to Ashara, a silver globe in his hand. The Princess at once recognized it for what it was, a high explosive charge, powerful enough to destroy her room and the entire floor with it. ¡°She must really want you dead, this type of thing is hard to come by, at least for this sort of task.¡±

    Phraum tossed the disarmed bomb to Ashara who promptly caught it in her hands, shock plain on her face. As the Princess began to regather herself Maron slipped into the room and called out to her.

    ¡°Are you alright Princess?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡± Ashara said curtly. ¡°More importantly, do my sisters know you¡¯ve thrown your lot in with me? Mother will surely punish us all if she finds even her consort has gotten embroiled in the conflict.¡±

    Phraum let out a chuckle as he rose from the desk. ¡°No need to worry Princess. I roasted Kara¡¯s worthless mage and blocked any scrying eyes from peering into this part of the Palace while I did it. The only people who know I¡¯m here are you, Maron, and a few of your other close personal guards.¡±

    Ashara nodded satisfied then looked over to Maron. ¡°Did we lose anyone?¡±

    ¡°Jameis and Vaena were wounded but they should be alright.¡± Maron answered.

    Good, Ashara thought. Previously a few dead guards would not have bothered her, but her faction¡¯s strength was dwindling. Those that were left had become extremely valuable to the Princess, both for their loyalty and their skill.

    ¡°Much more importantly,¡± Phraum said, interrupting Ashara¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Are our preparations for our upcoming endeavor.¡±

    Ashara gave Maron a look, turning her chin to the opened door and the bodyguard nodded. He marched over to the open door, and to Ashara¡¯s surprise left the room.

    ¡°Damn fool! He needs to hear this!¡± The Princess started for the door but was stopped by a raised hand from Phraum.

    ¡°Tareia is outside. He¡¯s probably distracting the old bird.¡± Phraum whispered.

    Ashara nodded, suppressing a grin. The old veteran was easily her most useful follower, but her loyalties were in question. Ashara, and Phraum as well the Princess surmised, suspected the old Demora soldier of being a spy for her mother. Ashara rarely gave the older woman¡¯s intentions much thought though, since there was little she could do about the veteran either way. She did know, however, that the veteran had a thing for Maron. Likely the old woman was flirting with the young man now, completely unperturbed by whatever was going on in Ashara¡¯s chamber. The Princess shook her head at the absurdity of it.

    ¡°Something on your mind, Princess?¡± Phraum asked, his head tilted sideways in curiosity.

    ¡°No, let¡¯s have this plan of yours.¡± Ashara said, not wishing to get sidetracked.

    Phraum pulled out a small chest from under Ashara¡¯s desk and placed it down in front of himself. He unlatched the hooks holding the container closed and pushed it open, revealing simple robes within.

    ¡°This is what you will be wearing to worship this evening.¡± The mage said smiling. ¡°And these are what you will bring to offer the sanctum.¡± Phraum reached back into the chest and produced two, small, shaped charges.

    Ashara moved over to her father and took the charges in her hands. Two octangular grey devices that would explode on a small timer after being set. These specific charges were created by a machine. Ashara could tell because instead of a crystal projection or an analog clock, these charges had a glass window with glowing white lettering beneath. ¡®An electric clock¡¯ or something like that, she could not recollect the exact name for the device.

    ¡°Do you have a silence spell I can use to hide the noise from these charges?¡± Ashara asked.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Phraum answered, producing a small black cylinder from the same chest that held the robes and explosives.

    It still amazed her how Phraum had managed to plan so well a heist. He knew exactly what Ashara needed to complete her task, and he did not seem to need to explain the task at all! All the mage had done was hand her bodyguard a map and a day later she understood everything that needed to happen in order for their plan to work. Ashara felt a little led by the nose from all the blatant handholding but decided to let the feeling go. Her situation was too dire and Phraum was too powerful.

    The man probably planned that as well, she thought.

    ¡°What about Maron, have you gotten him some toys as well?¡± Ashara asked. She placed the two charges she had in her hands back in the chest and paced back and forth in front of Phraum.

    ¡°I did, a stealth suit and a line pistol.¡± Phraum responded. ¡°Both of which are in his room. Oh, I almost forgot!¡±

    Phraum reached into his pocket and produced a small black and silver wristband with a button in its center.

    ¡°Here try this on and press that silver button on the center when you¡¯re finished.¡± Phraum said giddily.

    Ashara grabbed the wristband, somewhat disgusted by how freely Phraum showed emotion, then wrapped the small band around her wrist, pressing the button on its center as instructed. The Princess felt a faint vibration pass over her and suddenly she was gone, her soft, slender pale blue hands now invisible.

    ¡°No spell, no incantation!¡± Ashara mused aloud, amazed at the device.

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Phraum said from his seat at Ashara¡¯s desk. ¡°Use it once you¡¯ve slipped past the guards and enter the inner sanctum. The device is good at fooling magicians but not so good at fooling people.¡±

    Ashara nodded her head, still examining the device.

    ¡°I suppose that is everything. Will I be seeing you this later at afternoon prayer?¡± Phraum asked smiling.

    Ashara narrowed her eyes at the mage. He rarely attended the family¡¯s religious gatherings, and he would not start now, not after foiling Kara¡¯s plot.

    ¡°Perhaps in that scrying pool of yours.¡± The Princess quipped, slipping the wristband off of her hand, and placing it back in its chest.

    ¡°That concludes our business.¡± Phraum said, rising to his feet. ¡°Good luck my daughter. I pray for your success.¡± The mage bowed low, in the sincerest gesture the Princess had ever seen from him and then he was off, quickly striding out of her bed chamber and back to his tower.

    Ashara sighed as she watched him leave, the apprehension of the task ahead filling her mind suddenly. For all her bluster to Maron, and her faith in her father¡¯s plan, the Princess was still nervous.

    I must be resolute in times like these, Ashara told herself. To be great you must make sacrifices, and Ashara was in a position where she had to give up something. In this endeavor it would be her autonomy, and it would be in exchange for her survival. If she did not do as her father asked, the mage would no longer intercede on her behalf, and she would very swiftly be killed by her sisters.

    Ashara pushed such thoughts from her mind and fingered through the contents of the chest Phraum had left her. Simple yet elegant robes of blue and purple, an unimpressive silvery wristband, and two explosives. Everything she would need in order to break into the Styrian temple was right there, all that was left now was to wait.

    The Princess closed the chest and hid the cylinder containing the silence spell her father had given her and made for the door of her chambers. She supposed it was time to face the carnage her bodyguards had left in her defense. She pushed open the wooden door to her bedroom and found Tareia nose to nose with Maron, her right hand gently stroking his shoulder. The young bodyguard¡¯s face was flushed, desire flickering in his amber eyes.

    ¡°You are such a promising soldier,¡± Tareia was saying. ¡°You should train with me more often Maron, I assure you it will be very educational.¡±

    Ashara cleared her throat, and the two bodyguards turned to face her. Tareia had a sly grin on her lips and Maron struggled to maintain eye contact with the Princess, his gaze constantly darting back to Tareia.

    ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± Ashara asked jokingly.

    ¡°Perhaps...¡± Tareia replied, giving Maron a longing glance.

    So brazen, Ashara thought to herself stifling a laugh.

    ¡°If she bothers you too much Maron tell me.¡± Ashara said sternly, forcing the male bodyguard to look her directly in the eyes. ¡°I would rather not have one of my most loyal warriors poached by a family captain...¡± Ashara¡¯s eyes fell upon Tareia as she finished her statement. The older woman shrugged.

    ¡°I will make sure to speak up Princess.¡± Maron said.

    Ashara shook her head and surveyed the hall outside of her bedroom. Six dead assassins littered the hall, their blood staining the white marble floors and the blue carpets beneath them.

    ¡°Tareia, go fetch the servants to come clean this up.¡± Ashara ordered, wanting to send the older woman away.

    The veteran gave Ashara a nod and swaggered off, folding her saber over her shoulders as she left. Ashara couldn¡¯t tell if the woman was showing off to Maron or simply showing off in general.

    ¡°You need to head back to your room.¡± Ashara said after she was sure Tareia was out of earshot. ¡°Phraum left you some tools for our upcoming outing.¡±

    Maron nodded and glanced down the hall. ¡°Did he say anything else? How will you be entering the temple? Did he tell you how you¡¯ll be leaving?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s given me what I need to get in, as far as leaving...¡± Ashara paused for a moment to hide her anxiety. ¡°He has yet to say, but supposedly the Styrians will be too distracted to worry about their temple.¡±

    Maron nodded, clearly as nervous as Ashara was about Phraum¡¯s plan.

    ¡°Go, he¡¯s left you some valuable gifts.¡± Ashara ordered. ¡°We won¡¯t be seeing each other the rest of the day. Find a place to lurk around the Styrian temple later this evening and be prepared.¡±

    Maron bowed and left, leaving Ashara alone in the hallway to ponder her upcoming task, as well as take in the growing stink of the assassin¡¯s corpses.

    ¡°Ugh, where is Tareia with those servants?¡±

    Tareia appeared sometime later with a dozen servants in tow. They set about their work as soon as they arrived, placing the dead into body bags and rolling up the carpets to be taken to the launderers.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Maron?¡± Tareia asked, taking a place beside Ashara.

    ¡°Doing his job I suspect.¡± Ashara replied curtly. She did not like how casually Tareia addressed her.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be that way, Princess.¡± Tareia said smiling. ¡°It is only proper to celebrate after a victory.¡±

    Ashara rolled her eyes at the taller woman. Over two centuries old and she was still a lecher. Some of her family suspected Tareia was an old bastard daughter of a male line, others suspected she was the second Princess from an age ago that decided to give up her place in the noble family. Ashara personally believed it was something more like the former, and that¡¯s where she got her degenerate attitude from. But then again, Ashara was no paragon of virtue either.

    ¡°You ought to be more chaste, like my mother.¡± Ashara quipped.

    The older woman turned to Ashara, a serious look on her face. The princess returned her gaze, then they both laughed.

    ¡°Perhaps her great lust is where her compassion comes from, she, and the other Demora family heads before her for that matter, are kinder than most.¡± Tareia said.

    ¡°Not too kind I hope?¡± Ashara asked, arching a silver eyebrow.

    ¡°Won¡¯t know until after their gone.¡± Tareia said, almost solemnly. ¡°But this one, your mother, she plays with fire. You do too I suppose.¡±

    Ashara looked over to the older woman standing beside her. Still as beautiful as she was in her youth, shapely and firm, but her eyes showed her age. Ashara could see the older woman examining her, red irises full of wisdom and something else Ashara couldn¡¯t quite place. She returned the veteran¡¯s gaze with curiosity, more surprised than angry at the brazen declaration.

    ¡°That father of yours, Phraum. He is dangerous.¡± Tareia said, her tone almost serious. ¡°But he is just as alluring. I think he will change things here.¡±

    ¡°You disapprove?¡± Ashara asked, now growing nervous. How much did this old woman know of her father and his plans?

    ¡°No.¡± Tareia said smiling. ¡°But I don¡¯t have anything to gain or lose from him.¡±

    Ashara felt like the older woman was clearly trying to tell her something, but she ignored her message. She did not want to believe Phraum held so much power, at least not over her. It ran diametrically against everything she believed in and what she lived for.

    ¡°He is just a man.¡± Ahara said sharply. ¡°Me, my mother, and even you will get what we want from him as we do anything else and that is that.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡± Tareia said. ¡°We should be off; afternoon prayer should be starting shortly.¡±

    Without a word, the two left the palace and walked to the Demora temple. It wasn¡¯t far, each of the six major families¡¯ temples were usually less than a mile from their palaces, the only exception being the Styrians. Being the most powerful family on Ilithir, they were granted a huge temple in the center of the city, beneath the hills where the six families¡¯ palaces were located, and among the most reverent districts in the city. It was not the most sacred of temples in the city however, that honor belonged to the holy house, which was open to all and run by zealots that served the Dark Lady directly rather than through the families like the nobles.

    Ashara and Tareia crested the final hill leading to the Demora temple and headed towards its front steps. The temple itself was an imposing marble building supported by ornate columns on each side. In the center of the cable roofed building was topped by a large glass dome, which allowed sun or moonlight to illuminate the main chapel where group worship took place.

    Ashara entered the building with Tareia following slightly behind her. A few of the family soldiers and lesser nobles were milling about in the entrance hall, lost in their own conversations and completely oblivious to the Princess¡¯s presence. Ashara moved past them and headed towards the chapel where three priestesses waited outside to greet each of the worshippers.

    ¡°Greetings Princess, Tareia.¡± Said the Priestess in the center of the doorway with a nod of her head.

    ¡°Greetings Sister Holiphan.¡± Ashara said bowing her head. Aside from her mother, women of the sacred order were the only people she was to show outright respect to. They were also the only people whose power the Princess did not jealously covet.

    ¡°Greetings sister, how are you this afternoon?¡± Tareia asked from beside Ashara.

    ¡°I am well sister,¡± Holiphan replied. ¡°I¡¯m pleased to see you have come today sister; it isn¡¯t often we see you here at this time of day.¡±

    ¡°I had some good fortune this morning and I need to pay my respects.¡± Tareia said.

    ¡°Oh, that is wonderful to hear sister, I¡¯m sure our Lady will be glad to hear of it in your prayers!¡±

    The three continued to chat idly for a few minutes until Ashara grew tired of the pleasantry and ended the conversation. She then moved into the chapel and found a pew near the middle of the room where a few of her cousins were seated. They paid her and Tareia no mind as the two women took their seats at the end of the pew near the center walkway.

    ¡°Is it normally this empty?¡± Tareia asked quietly after they sat down.

    ¡°Yes, but mother is usually here by now. Something must have come up.¡± Ashara glanced around the room, expecting to see her mother or at least Amena. She was surprised when she found neither. ¡°It must be serious, Ameena isn¡¯t here either.¡±

    ¡°Interesting.¡± Tareia huffed, leaning back in her seat.

    After a while, more and more people filtered in, mostly soldiers and lesser Demora nobles. Eventually, Ashara¡¯s older siblings Feyan and Dyra entered the chapel and took seats in the front middle row. The priestesses then took their places up at the center dais where the sunlight from the glass dome was the brightest and began their first chants. Ashara bowed her head with the rest of the room and offered up prayers to their goddess as the priestess¡¯s sang their opening songs.

    ¡°Oh, Dark Lady please watch over me in the trial to come.¡± Ashara muttered in a quiet whisper. ¡°Guide me to victory and allow me success against my sisters plots!¡±

    The Priestess¡¯s song grew louder and louder, the congregation¡¯s voices now joining into their melody. Soon the chapel hit a fever pitch, and Ashara felt her own heart quicken. She turned to Tareia, who she found with her head bowed low and her hands on softly clutching the pew in front of her. The Princess was surprised to find the older woman bowed down in legitimate prayer, she thought the woman was completely devoid of faith.

    The noise died down as the priestesses finished their songs and the group prayers and sermons began, occasionally the priestesses would pick out someone in the chapel who they believed was living virtuously under the Dark Lady¡¯s teachings, or someone who they believed was straying from the path and needed to be scolded.

    Ashara smiled inwardly as she recalled a memory of the last time Phraum had attended a gathering when the First Princess was out. The whole service had been about his lack of piety and his overambitious attitude as a man. Phraum had smiled through all the admonishment, but Ashara knew the priestesses had got to him. She¡¯d never seen the man in a more sour mood after that meeting.

    Later, Kara appeared and took a seat in the pew to the right of Ashara, across the center aisle. Ashara gave her older sister a wicked grin that the fifth princess returned with a scowl. Tareia blew some air out of her noise in a quiet laugh. Clearly Kara was in a bad mood from her foiled plot, which was the likely reason for her late attendance.

    The service continued as usual. The chapel went over the lessons they wished to teach for the morning and the priestesses gave the morning news, which was the custom. Most people on Ilithir got their news from a temple, nobles receiving more sensitive news than commoners. The priestesses had reported nothing interesting this morning, but Ashara did receive a few approving smiles and nods from the priestesses, as opposed to the scowls they gave Kara, so she found the service satisfying.

    ¡°Ask one of your siblings about your mother.¡± Tareia whispered into Ashara¡¯s ear as everyone rose to leave the temple. ¡°The third or fourth Princesses obviously.¡±

    Ashara nodded and parted from Tareia to head over to her sisters at the front of the chapel, near the dais where the Priestesses had led the service.

    ¡°Good afternoon Dyra and Feyan.¡± Ashara said with a nod.

    ¡°Good afternoon to you, sister.¡± Feyan replied, crossing her arms.

    Feyan and Dyra were identical twins, taller and prettier than Ashara. But Feyan was bigger than Dyra from more time spent training, and so the two were easy to tell apart. They also wore their silver hair in different styles, Dyra¡¯s straight hair flowed gently down her shoulders and back with bangs cut perfectly above her eyes while Feyan had her hair braided down her back.

    ¡°I did not see the First Princess in attendance this afternoon, nor Princess Ameena. Has something happened?¡± Ashara asked, as politely as possible in the face of her taller, stronger siblings.

    ¡°We were wondering the same thing.¡± Dyra said from behind her imposing twin. ¡°Perhaps it has something to do with your stunning victory this morning sibling, I am quite surprised to see you in attendance this morning...¡±

    Both the twins smiled and Feyan let out a hearty laugh.

    ¡°But who could hope to best you when that one skulks in your shadow?¡± Feyan quipped, casting a nod towards Tareia who was leaning against the doorway to the chapel.

    ¡°Who indeed.¡± Ashara agreed, smiling despite the inherent distrust she had for Tareia.

    ¡°And I hear you have yet a more fearsome ally!¡± Feyan said.

    Ashara raised an eyebrow and felt her heartbeat quicken. Did they know about Phraum¡¯s involvement?

    ¡°That man-thing Maron, oh what a splendid little warrior!¡± Fayan finished with a laugh.

    ¡°Poor Kara, out a mage and five highborn warriors, off to the cosmic river never to return.¡± Dyra giggled and put a delicate hand to her black painted lips.

    Ashara shook her head to hide her relief and smiled. ¡°I have a most discerning eye, sisters.¡±

    ¡°It is all you have.¡± Feyan said, looking down her nose at Ashara, her smile suddenly replaced by a sneer. ¡°But I suppose it will do for now.¡±

    Ashara smirked up at her taller sister, delighted at her obvious annoyance. It felt good to for once defy everyone¡¯s expectations, even better to have done it by winning.

    ¡°Well, I have nothing left to say to you, sisters, goodbye.¡± Ashara declared.

    The sixth Princess turned and walked over to where Tareia was relaxing.

    ¡°Did they know anything?¡± Tareia asked.

    Ashara shook her head and motioned for Tareia to follow her out of the chapel and into the open room near the entrance of the temple.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t know anything and believed the first and second Princess¡¯s absences had to do with me.¡± Ashara paused for a moment and scanned Tareia¡¯s face for a reaction. The older woman simply shrugged. ¡°I highly doubt that¡¯s the case but who knows.¡±

    ¡°We should find out sooner rather than later. If it was just one or the other missing a service that would be one thing, but for neither of them to show...¡± Tareia shrugged again. ¡°Generally, I¡¯d be with your mother when such a thing occurred but, oh well.¡±

    Ashara shook her head, once again annoyed with how casual Tareia treated the noble hierarchy.

    ¡°I¡¯ll look into it.¡± Tareia offered as they began to walk along the path back to the Demora palace.

    ¡°That would be appreciated. You may find me busy this evening however.¡± Ashara replied.

    ¡°Oh? Plans?¡± Tareia asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Thinking I might visit a bath house to celebrate my victory, or maybe even the theatre.¡±

    ¡°I think that would be a good plan Princess...Will you be taking Maron?¡± Tareia asked, a small smile on her face.

    Ashara rolled her eyes and shook her head at the lascivious old woman. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Tareia visibly deflated and they continued walking back to the palace.

 The Smash and the Grab

    Phraum stood over the scrying pool, his body completely still in anticipation as he watched his daughter near the entrance of the Styrian temple. She was nearly undiscernible in the river of white, purple, and blue robed women that poured in and out of the great buildings¡¯ columned entrances, but Phraum¡¯s eyes managed to pick her out of the crowd. Ashara moved through the entrance of the Styrian temple and Phraum dispelled the image of his daughter from the scrying pool. It was time for him to unleash his distraction.

    The mage marched out of his laboratory and headed down to the lower levels of his tower where the summoning was taking place.

    ¡°Finally, I shall have what I desire, and the opportunity to use it,¡± Phraum muttered to himself as he climbed down the stairs to his destination.

    Phraum felt a tingling sensation crawl up his right arm and looked down to find Sizth¡¯s metallic lizard-like form crawling up to his shoulder.

    ¡°Hello old friend.¡± Phraum said, continuing down into the depths of his tower.

    ¡°Hello old friend.¡± Sizth repeated, cocking its little head sideways.

    ¡°The time is almost upon us, I will soon bring a chaos beast into this plane and have the means to discern the future, to begin navigating through the planes as Inter-Planar and the humans do.¡±

    ¡°Inter-planar and the humans are one in the same, old friend.¡± Sizth said, its eyes narrowing in discomfort as the words left its mouth. ¡°And you will find them here near the end of your experiment.¡±

    Phraum knew of this of course, he was counting on it. Sizth had explained to him during the beginning of his scheming that bringing forth a creature from the void, a being of chaos and entropy, would cause the Inter-Planar ships that traded on Ilithir to attack the beast. Those ships would likely be the city¡¯s only hope of stopping the monster, since the families didn¡¯t have the military forces necessary to defeat such a creature, at least not on Ilithir itself.

    ¡°Everything will turn out all right, if not as planned.¡± Phraum said, finally reaching the black steel doors leading to the summoning chamber.

    ¡°Things will certainly not go as planned, not without that device you seek.¡± Sizth said, its metallic voice scratchier than usual.

    Phraum nodded, then watched as Sizth hid itself as he strode up to his mages. Each stood in a point drawn on a sinister looking flaming summoning circle, its inside slowly opening into a black void full of golden orange flames that slowly grew brighter and brighter. The mages had stopped their chants now, standing idly over the opened portal into the void. Phraum could see their eyes glowing with the same light as the flames within the portal from behind their purple visored helmets.

    ¡°We¡¯re ready master Phraum.¡± Said one of Phraum¡¯s lieutenants as he the mage headed over to the summoning circle. ¡°On your word, we¡¯ll coax the creature through and send it out into the city.¡±

    Phraum nodded and stepped closer to the summoning circle and looked down into the black flaming void within. There he saw it, the energy of the beast he was going to summon, and the swirling power of the plane he was stealing it from. Slowly, yet instantly, he felt the world around him begin to blur and the image¡ªthe fire¡ªwithin the circle started to grow clearer and clearer. The flames slowed and coalesced around a figure shrouded in blackness, then that blackness took shape alongside the flames. An onyx-colored beast formed, its body the shape of a large feline, and its head like a flower of blooming orange flames. It turned towards Phraum, exposing its black disk of a face, devouring all the light that shined into it.

    And thoughts as well, Phraum realized as his mind began to slow to a near halt. He tore his eyes from the creature and stumbled away from the summoning circle, his mind suddenly racing. The creature had been consuming his thoughts! Pulling his mind in, stretching it like a rubber band until it nearly snapped. Incredible!

    ¡°Get ready!¡± Phraum called after he regathered his senses. ¡°We¡¯re going to reach in and pull the beast out, then send it out into the city like I taught you!¡±

    The mages standing in the points around the circle nodded, but their eyes remained locked onto the image within the portal, enraptured by its violent beauty. Phraum closed his eyes and reached into the magic circle with his own magical essence, willing the creature to move with the latent energy within himself. He felt the beast stir, and his ears rang as they released a roar, a howling scream like that of a comet flying through the sky filled the mage¡¯s mind as he connected with the creature. Phraum¡¯s body buckled for a moment at the intensity of it all, then he felt a sudden sense of relaxation wash over him as the sound reached a fever pitch. A loud and melodic groan came out of the creature, and it sprang out of the summoning circle and into a portal conjured above by Phraum and his mages. He caught a glimpse of the creature as it passed up into the portal, a hulking whale sized feline of pure onyx surrounded by blazing orange flames. Beautiful, yet monstrous, a sublime specimen finely crafted by chaos.

    Phraum felt his mind and body relax from a weight he didn¡¯t know he was carrying, and the orange glint emanating from beneath his fellow mages¡¯ helmets disappeared. Everyone in the room relaxed, and Phraum let out a sigh. There was a tiny heat in the back of his mind though that continued to flicker, quietly searing the corners of his mind, reminding him the beast he had just unleashed from the abyss was still near.

    ¡°Begin scrubbing our involvement in that creature¡¯s summoning immediately! And be prepared to answer the family¡¯s call as well!¡± Phraum ordered. ¡°But not too prepared, we don¡¯t want to be caught now, do we?¡±

    Phraum turned and began to head back into his own laboratory to destroy any evidence stored there, a smile on his face. Though he had certainly doomed no small number of people within the city, he had also taken the first step in understanding the cosmos as Ilithir¡¯s rivals did, as he dreamed he could. Summoning the creature was a great risk and perhaps a great sacrifice, but the reward for such an action could change the shape of the universe.

    Phraum believed that that was well worth the risk.

    <hr>

    Maron could not believe what he was seeing, did not want to believe it. A few moments ago, he had watched Ashara enter the Styrian palace and now he was watching a screaming orb of fire descend onto the city center. It blazed through the sky until it struck the ground hard kicking up a large puff of flaming debris that came raining down on the city, luckily a few miles away from where the young bodyguard was sitting. Below Maron, Worship Lane quickly turned into a flowing tide of panicked Azurans screaming and running away from the few chunks of molten rock and concrete that made it to the area. The young bodyguard flinched as a piece of debris sailed past him, striking the building beside him.

    ¡°By the goddess...¡± Maron muttered as another howl rang through the air, at first a squeal like that of a great whale, and then a melodic hum like that of a brass orchestra. It shook the building he was crouched on and the ground beneath it.

    The sound was followed by a series of explosions and even louder screams from the inhabitants of the city center. Maron watched as flying warships of Ilithir, and the Inter-Planar company quickly hovered over to the crash site of whatever was making that insidious sound. Soon after, the young bodyguard heard cannons start to bark, no doubt the ships responding to whatever threat they had found.

    Just what sort of distraction did Phraum cook up, Maron thought to himself as he watched the chaos unfolding in the streets. Over towards the crash site a warm orange light began to envelop the area, and the song of the howling creature grew louder.

    Maron gripped the cement edge of the roof he was laying on and peered over to the Styrian temple, its priestesses and supplicants running around anxiously.

    ¡°Be quick, Princess...¡± Maron muttered as the glowing orange light began to grow brighter and brighter.

    Whatever creature had just landed on Ilithir was fearsome indeed.

    <hr>

    Ashara had expected to waltz into the great Styria family temple and go through evening worship, take in the beautiful sights of the ornately decorated halls and, finally, after lavishing ample praise upon her goddess, receive a message from Phraum on how to next proceed. She did not expect every window in the temple to shatter and the ground to shake as some creature crashed into the city while wailing to the heavens. She hadn¡¯t even made it into the great chapel of the temple before catastrophe seemed to strike outside. Out in the halls, Ashara felt her knees shake as whatever crashed into the city began to cause havoc.

    The commoners began to panic and either offer up prayers to the goddess or flee the temple, while the nobles rushed around seeking answers, summoning guards or priestesses to explain the situation. Troubled, but determined to see her task done, Ashara followed a group of noble girls deeper into the temple as they sought shelter.

    Though many of the girls split off into different parts of the shelter, a good amount of the noblewomen followed the path Phraum had outlined on his map, giving Ashara ample cover to move inconspicuously. The girls left the main hall and took a right into a corridor leading to the private altars. After passing by each of the lavish fountains, granite tables, and marble pedestals that made up the Styrian ritual sites, the group ended up approaching the entrance to the temple¡¯s basement. There half a dozen guards dressed in black and white uniforms stood huddled together lost in frantic conversation, likely discussing the chaos unfolding out in the city.

    As she approached her objectives, Ashara slipped out of the crowd and hid behind a pillar to survey the entrance to the lower levels of the great temple. The corridor leading to the stairwell to the basement was huge, as open as a gymnasium, its marble columns and walls adorned with golden finishes and various carvings and statues set in the walls. Aside from the guards though, no other means of security seemed to be present. The women Ashara had been travelling with approached the guards and began to demand answers from them.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± One of the robed women asked.

    One of the Styrian guards, a tall, helmeted woman dressed in a white and black uniform with a needle gun slung over her shoulder looked over to the woman and motioned for her to stop.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know. We¡¯re trying to contact the Palace, but our crystals and mirrors aren¡¯t working.¡± Replied the Styrian soldier.

    ¡°The mirrors aren¡¯t working?¡± The woman asked incredulously. ¡°Has the magic failed?¡±

    ¡°Again, we do not know. We¡¯ll find out shortly, until then find shelter in the chapels, but not down here!¡± The soldier took her rifle in her hands and together with the other five guards beside her stepped towards the robed women menacingly, sending them scurrying backwards.

    ¡°Not you of course Princess, you¡¯re free to enter.¡± One of the soldiers said, recognizing one of the women in the crowd as a Styrian noble.

    ¡°Well, you know how it is girls.¡± She said before leaving the group and walking quickly towards the soldiers.

    The women began to argue with the guards, but a few brandished rifles and unsheathed swords silenced them quickly. Cowed, the women angrily retreated down the hallway they had come from to seek shelter near the entrance of the temple.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Now or never, Ashara thought to herself.

    The Princess pressed down on her wristband as Phraum had shown her earlier and felt her body vibrate softly as she began to disappear. She quickly¡ªand quietly¡ªdashed past the grumbling group of disgruntled women over to the Styrian Princess and followed behind her as she descended the stairs leading down into the temple¡¯s inner sanctums.

    Ashara followed behind the Princess, steadily moving past guards and defenses that normally would have detected her. All the Psychics and magicians she passed seemed to be at a loss as their constructs and tools failed to work, much to Ashara¡¯s relief. She slipped past many fallen detection orbs and malfunctioning lightning pyres as she followed the Styrian Princess through the inner sanctums.

    The pair crested a corner and began descending an enclosed spiral stairwell when they stumbled upon a distressed psychic in the arms of a priestess. The inside of the psychic¡¯s helmet, which was filled with coolant to protect the psychic from overheating, was bubbling and the psychic was groaning in pain.

    ¡°I-I-I c-c-can¡¯t f-feel my t-t-thoughts!¡± The psychic stuttered out in a garbled voice. Her hands were pressed up to the glowing purple visor of her helmet, face contorted in pain.

    ¡°Your thoughts? Mysandi what are you talking about?¡± The Priestess shook her white robed companion with a few gentle shoves and began to beg her to answer.

    ¡°Something is...devouring my mind!¡± cried the psychic before collapsing onto her knees, slumping down onto the stairwell wall.

    The Princess Ashara was tailing stopped for a moment to regard the scene playing out in front of her, but quickly continued her way down the stairwell, unbothered by her distressed kin.

    This one is cold, Ashara thought to herself with an inward laugh. She took a moment to study the struggling psychic before continuing into the depths of the temple. The Princess found the inner vaults just as pristine as the rest of the temple, following the Styrian noble through vaulted corridors carved out of white marble and draped with purple flags bearing the Styrian family symbol. Where there wasn¡¯t a flag, an intricately carved statue of the goddess or one of the families¡¯ ancestors always took its place. Ashara would have admired the place¡¯s beauty if she wasn¡¯t so jealous.

    Finally, they came to a fork and Ashara split down the path to her right while the Styrian Princess continued down the center corridor. The Demora Princess considered trailing the Styrian to her destination to make sure her exit route was secure but thought better of it due to her time constraints. Whatever Phraum did to disable the security constructs might not last forever, she had to hope when she was finished with her business that the Styrians were too busy panicking to notice her little intrusion.

    As if the distraction had read her mind, a great rumble shook the temple, nearly sending Ashara to her knees. She righted herself and continued down the corridor until she found another stairwell, the final stairwell she needed to descend to end up in the corridor with the vault she was looking for. As she began her descent, she heard two voices echoing up the stairs. Panicked, Ashara quickly pressed herself up against the stairwell wall and prayed she wouldn¡¯t be noticed.

    ¡°What in the hells is going on up there...¡± One of the voices said, a soldier dressed in black and white.

    ¡°It sounds like a monster is rampaging through the city streets!¡± The other voice exclaimed; a priestess dressed in white armor.

    ¡°I doubt you¡¯re far off.¡± The soldier agreed.

    The two walked by Ashara oblivious to her presence. With a sigh of relief, the Princess rose off the wall and made her way down the stairwell to the vaults below. She scanned the corridor once she left the stairwell, at the end of the hall there were two more paths leading to what she knew were more vaults and another stairwell. In the corridor she stood in were eight vaults, four on each side of the hallway. The vault she was looking for was the third room to her right.

    The Princess slowly crept down the hall, searching each of the vault entrances for any straggling guards or Priestesses. Discovering none, she headed into the vault she was looking for and moved over to the center of the room. In front of the princess was a statue of the goddess, clad in battle armor with her hands raised in the midst of casting a spell.

    Ashara licked her lips in anticipation and decided to move back to the entrance of the vault to give the hallway one last scan before she began her demolition. She peered down the hallway to make sure no one was around, once certain the coast was clear; Ashara produced the cylinder holding the scroll her father had given her and popped it open. She poured the thick tan parchment into her right hand and tossed the empty tube aside when she was finished.

    The Princess unrolled the scroll and scanned its arcane writing, feeling each word¡¯s power enter her mind as her eyes passed over them. Focusing on the new power bouncing around in her brain, she uttered the words written on the scroll and felt the air around her swirl with power as the mana within filled the room and eliminated all sound. Ashara opened her mouth to say something and smiled when her ears heard nothing.

    She picked up the discarded tube she had brought and shoved the used up scroll back in the container and resealed it. She then walked over to the statue of the goddess and began to feel around its pedestal for a pressure plate or button of some kind. It was common for such statues to have a mechanism built within that allowed them to be moved to reveal secret passages and the like. She found one near the back of the statue and pushed down on the pressure plate and watched as the pristine sculpture sank silently into the floor to reveal a white rectangular doorway of stone. Ashara was familiar with these passages as well, and they would not open without the correct command. Luckily Ashara possessed an alternative means of entry.

    The Princess reached into the sash she wore across her chest and pulled out the two charges her father had given her. She set one charge near the top of the doorway and one near the bottom and simultaneously pressed down on the buttons that would begin the glowing timer on each of the bombs. Once finished she quickly moved into the hallway and took cover to await the inevitable explosion. After fifteen seconds, she felt a small reverberation and peered back into the vault to find the doorway destroyed, its stones now littering the floor of the vault and the passage it once hid.

    The Princess walked back into the vault and carefully stepped over the debris to the entrance of the sanctum. Instead of chandeliers and lamps, the passage was illuminated by hanging braziers of blue flames. It gave the sanctum an eerie atmosphere that made Ashara smile as she thought about her defilement of the place. There was something so sweet about doing something so forbidden that made her heart race as she approached Phraum¡¯s prize.

    As she neared the end of the corridor Ashara¡¯s eyes spied her target, a glowing blue device that looked like a writing tablet, except instead of being made of stone it was made of flowing sliver metal and blue light. There could be no doubt, this was the artifact Phraum sought.

    As Ashara entered the sanctum another roar shook the temple, and she nearly stumbled into one of the vaults walls. The rumbling continued as the roar grew louder and louder, switching into the strange melodic hum from earlier. After a few moments of struggle, Ashara managed to rise to her feet and approach the tablet. She saw what was clearly supposed to be a ward of protection on the pedestal holding the strange device, but the spell¡¯s power seemed to be warping.

    Ashara hesitated for a moment, until the ward abruptly shattered, its magical power dissipating into thin air. Shocked, Ashara took a step back and was further surprised as the blue flames of the hanging braziers suddenly turned into a brilliant orange. Startled, the Princess ducked behind the pedestal holding the device and looked around the room. The braziers began to swing back and forth as the flames inside of them grew wilder and wilder, sizzling with a sickening screech that scratched at her ears.

    Ashara quickly grabbed the tablet from its pedestal and rushed back out into the hall. There she locked eyes with two guards coming from the opposite side end of the hall. One of the guards called out to her and pulled a pistol from her belt. Ashara ignored the woman and quickly ran towards the stairs. She heard two bullets zip past as she bolted into the stairwell and began climbing. She activated her wristband again and hurriedly retraced her steps through the lower levels of the temple.

    Ashara found herself near the entrance of the lower levels of the temple, where the six guards from earlier were now holding back a mob of panicked worshippers. The Princess turned and found several more guards appear from the inner sanctums, bolstered by two priestesses and a mage.

    The Priestesses began to chant their incantations, and the mage began to weave a magic barrier into being.

    ¡°The spells are working now; you just need to focus harder than usual!¡± The mage called.

    One of the priestesses finished her chant and yelled out into the crowd, ¡°Step back!¡±

    A purple aura enveloped the crowd and for a moment they all stopped pressing against the line of soldiers and took a step back. The aura quickly dissipated, and the crowd surged forward again, this time smashing against the mage¡¯s barrier.

    The other priestess moved over to the line of soldiers and began to heal those who had sustained injuries pushing back the crowd.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on outside?¡± One of the soldiers asked the priestess.

    ¡°They¡¯re saying some monstrosity is rampaging through the city, its just passed by the temple.¡± The priestess replied.

    Ashara passed her tongue over her teeth anxiously. Maron was out there, her exit path was blocked, and she had no way to contact Phraum. The Princess looked up at the shattered windows near the ceiling of the hallway and had an epiphany. She searched around for a wall covered in enough carvings to climb and began her ascent, doing her best not to harm any of the religious symbols she passed on her way up.

    She searched the window frame for handholds that wouldn¡¯t slice her hands open and pulled herself out of the temple and onto the roof. Ashara crawled up onto the roof of the temple and began to move towards the front of the building where she had entered from. She traipsed over slanted shingles and shimmied along the temple¡¯s great dome until she finally got a vantage of the building¡¯s entrance.

    ¡°Hells below...¡± Ashara muttered as she took in the carnage before her.

    The street was covered in glowing embers and molten stone, float discs and their passengers lay strewn about the roofs of the temple¡¯s neighboring buildings and a flying ship had crashed into the bank across from the temple. The bank Maron was laying atop to watch over Ashara.

    ¡°Damnation!¡± The Princess cried out in horror.

    Surprised at her own reaction, Ashara quickly shimmied around the dome to the corner of the roof and began to climb down, carefully maneuvering over the layered stone until she made it to the edge of the roof. She peered over its edge and scowled when she found the supporting column beneath too thick to slide down.

    ¡°I wish Phraum had thought to give me some rope.¡± Ashara mused aloud as she looked for another way down.

    Seeing no clear path to climb down, Ashara looked to the living complex beside the temple, separated by a small alley, she would have to jump the gap. The Princess took a deep breath and moved a few steps away from the edge of the roof. She lurched forward, summoning as much power as she could into her legs as she ran and jumped to the apartment building. She cleared the gap, sailing over a space about twice her height until her feet landed on the concrete floor of the complex¡¯s roof. She stumbled forward a few steps into a roll to break the momentum of the landing.

    ¡°Ooh you got it girl,¡± Ashara huffed with a wry laugh as she rose to her feet.

    The Princess quickly found the stairs leading down into the living complex and began to climb down to the ground floor. Most of the domicile doors were open, their inhabitants crowded around the shattered windows of the rooms overlooking the street where the carnage had taken place. Ashara ignored them and continued to the bottom floor of the building and burst out of the wooden doors into the ruined street.

    Heat assailed the princess from the warped stones of the smoking street, and she pulled the sash wrapped around her chest to her mouth to keep the acrid smell from burning her lungs. Eyes watering and her skin tingling from the sweltering heat, Ashara quickly moved up the street to a clear portion of the road where the stones weren¡¯t a molten mess. Catching her breath, Ashara began to collect her thoughts.

    While Maron was extremely important to her, the Princess did not want to risk meandering in the inner city while it was being devastated. Ashara cast a glance over to the smoking ship lodged in the bank¡¯s upper levels and let out a sigh. With Phraum¡¯s prized device in her possession she could not afford to go look for her endangered bodyguard. A brief feeling of rage and sadness passed over Ashara and she turned east towards the hills that held the Demora compound.

    ¡°Unbelievable, simply unbelievable...¡± Ashara muttered to herself as she marched her way down the street, thankfully away from the sounds of carnage emanating from the west.

    Ashara moved past the now vacant entrance to the Styrian temple and continued heading east until she felt someone grasp her shoulder. The Princess immediately spun about, drawing a knife from her robes and pushing its tip against the person who dared touch her. She was pleasantly surprised when she found Maron, the sharp featured and short haired male dressed in a black form fitting stealth suit standing behind her.

    ¡°Are you alright Princess, have you recovered the artifact?¡± Maron asked, forehead wrinkled in worry.

    ¡°Yes, and yes. What the hells happened out here?¡± Ashara asked, doing her best to hide the satisfied smile spreading across her face.

    ¡°Some huge flaming beast came rumbling down the street earlier causing havoc.¡± Maron replied bewildered. ¡°I saw it pounce from rooftop to rooftop, until it got here and sent some flaming beam of energy at the ship you that crashed into the bank. Thankfully I had left my perch to come find you by then.¡±

    ¡°Saved by your dutiful heart.¡± Ashara purred. ¡°The goddess smiles upon you Maron, and me.¡± The princess produced the silvery blue device she had stolen from the Styrian temple and gave her bodyguard a quick peek at the prize before sliding it back into her sash.

    Another transfixing hum filled the air causing Ashara and Maron to find cover in the doorway of an abandoned shop. From the west came a sinister flash of orange light and the sound of an airship falling out of the sky soon followed.

    ¡°Let us be gone from this place.¡± Ashara muttered before dashing down the street, Maron in tow.

    She had secured her father¡¯s prize and now would wait for her reward. Ashara could feel it, her life was in for a great change after this triumph. All she had to do was hide the artifact away in her quarters and await her father¡¯s instruction. This was it, she thought, the moment she would ascend the Demora ladder and earn the respect she so rightfully deserved.

    Another roar and a flash of orange light sent reverberations through the ground beneath Ashara¡¯s feet, and she stumbled, only managing to regain her balance after grabbing onto Maron for support.

    ¡°Perhaps I should save the celebrations until after I reach my chambers...¡± Ashara mused aloud.

 Loose Ends + Epilogue

    ¡°Quite the mess that beast is making out there, my Lady.¡± Tareia said, looking out the window of the Demora office within the city council building. ¡°Thankfully the creature is headed down to the river, perhaps it wishes to cool off?¡±

    ¡°Be silent Tareia!¡± Lady Reina Demora spat watching the horrifying scene play out before her.

    Tareia let out a soft chuckle and took a sip from the glass of wine in her hand. A fine white just flown in from the vineyards in the west. It was a good thing too, since many of the city¡¯s merchant ships were currently being blasted out of the sky. The creature had no love for a good glass of wine it seemed.

    ¡°What the hell is that thing even doing here!¡± Lady Demora raved, pounding her firsts against the long glass pane of her office window.

    ¡°Hmm, who can say?¡± Tareia said sarcastically, giggling to herself when Reina turned to sneer at her. They both knew who brought the creature into the city, though neither of them could ever prove it.

    ¡°Why by the dark lady above would he summon such a thing into the center of the city!¡± Reina screamed, once again banging her fists against the window. ¡°This is it! I swear I¡¯ll finally kill him for this!¡±

    Tareia shook her head doubtfully. Her niece was completely taken with her new consort, utterly fascinated with the magical and technological power he brought her, and for good reason! Phraum had made the Demoran rivalry with the Styrians competitive again, he took the family¡¯s magical practice to new heights, and he was so very obedient to his mistress, if a bit catty at times.

    He was like a fire, one Reina believed she could wield against her enemies, and on herself from time to time, when she felt the urge take her. But fires liked to burn out of control, and it seemed Phraum had finally done just that, spiraling out in tremendous fashion, taking a quarter of the city with him as he blazed on and on.

    ¡°Well at lest those crones on the council won¡¯t know who did this, the blame for this shall fall elsewhere.¡± Lady Demora said, trying to calm herself. ¡°Perhaps on Inter or one our many enemies. Yes, yes! Our enemies, that¡¯s who we¡¯ll blame.¡±

    ¡°And if our goddess decides to give one of the priestesses or the other princesses some divine guidance on their woes? What then?¡±

    Reina bit her lip, losing herself in her anxieties. ¡°No, that won¡¯t be a problem. That thing is from the void, I remember Phraum talking about such creatures, they are beyond divine intervention.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Tareia offered in response. She wasn¡¯t so convinced, but the first Princess¡¯s answer was believable. The Azuran people and their pantheon were based mostly in logic and law, and neither were very proficient in discerning the strange and foreign motivations of the creatures that defied such things at their basic levels.

    ¡°Oh look, more Inter ships.¡± Reina said, the barest hint of hope in her voice.

    Shimmering into view came black and red Inter-Planar company warships as they appeared in the sky above Nizesa and began descending on the rampaging beast burning through the city. The hovering galleons approached the flaming feline monster now on the bank of the great river Thon that split the city in two and began firing, pelting the beast with balls of flaming metal and white beams of focused heat. The beast let out a ground shaking, ear splitting roar, and sent pillars of sinister orange flames up at the flying ships.

    The nimble human warships danced out of the flames path and continued to pepper the monster with artillery, sending the creature running down the riverbank, destroying any of the buildings in its path. More Inter ships appeared, marked by the signature shimmering grey clouds left in the wake of their plane-jumps and joined the assault on the now fleeing monster.

    ¡°Look, those are...¡± Tareia began before she was blinded by a brilliant blue light erupting from the bottom of a few of the newly arrived warships.

    The light¡¯s intensity died down, and Tareia was able to see four of the flying ships shower the flaming beast in lines of hot blue light. The orange flames that covered the monster¡¯s body began to wither, shrinking from a roaring blaze into smoking, sputtering flames. The beast turned its flower-like head up to the ships and let loose a few more columns of orange flames, but it was to no avail. The ships were moving too quickly, and the monster¡¯s flames were dying down now, the feline abomination had no chance. It continued to flee, its flames now gone, leaving it looking more like a moving statue than a force of nature. The beams found the creature again and it let out a low bass groan, collapsing as its legs gave out from under it over the roof of a warehouse building. The Inter ships had subdued the beast.

    ¡°This will not be cheap.¡± Tareia said, watching the Inter-Planar warships fly down near the fallen form of the now dormant creature.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see what their representative will have to say here shortly.¡± Reina said, now moving to her desk. ¡°Lady Styria is sure to call a meeting now that the creature is subdued. With any luck, those Inter dogs will demand that creature as payment for their services and we can be rid of the thing, making implicating our family in this debacle all the more difficult.¡±

    More importantly, Tareia thought, was figuring out why Phraum had summoned the creature into the city in the first place. Though Reina was worried about the Demora family being implicated in the disaster, and rightly so since they were technically responsible, it would almost certainly be impossible to prove they had any involvement in the thing¡¯s summoning. Sure, the council would launch an inquiry that would send the city guard into each of the mage towers, but the wizards of the hand, bolstered by their powerful families would likely prove uncooperative to anyone infringing upon their freedoms. No, trying to find someone to be the actual culprit for the attack would be a fruitless effort for the council, and likely all of the other first Princesses knew it. They¡¯d still pretend like they cared about solving the mystery, and some might actually care, but the person they¡¯d lay the guilty verdict on would be a political decision, based in practicality and self-gain.

    ¡°Many people will suffer for this,¡± Tareia finally said, breaking the silence in the room. Reina nodded, understanding her words.

    ¡°We must make sure we are not among them.¡± The Lady agreed.

    An hour later Tareia stood behind Reina at her seat in the council room, part of a circle of thrones that made up the leading council, the ruling power on Ilithir. In the center of the circle of Ladies stood a representative from the Inter-Planar company, a human clad in the strange black suits their pilots wore. Glistening chitinous material hugged the large man¡¯s body, sticking to him like a glove and accentuating his defined musculature. The material fit him so well it made it seem like the armored bits of the suit were also a part of his body, like the exoskeleton of an insect.

    Each of the thrones in the council room were raised so that the Ladies could look down on whoever dared to stand before them, but this human was so large he barely had to turn his chin up to regard any of the First Princesses. This clearly unsettled the Ladies, who regarded the strange human with contempt and fear.

    ¡°Hello Chief Seo, despite the circumstances its good to see you.¡± Lady Styria said coolly, breaking the tension building in the chamber. ¡°On behalf of the city, I¡¯d like to thank you and your soldiers for your help in subduing the creature rampaging through the city.¡± Lady Styria examined the human standing before her for a moment then leaned back in her chair, awaiting the man¡¯s response.

    ¡°Yes.¡± The huge man replied, his face remaining impassive, emotionless.

    Lady Styria pulled at the collar of her brilliant shining silver dress and swallowed, unsure if she should be angry or surprised at the man¡¯s response. She settled with the later and simply remained silent, waiting for someone else to negotiate with the strange creature before her.

    ¡°Why are you here.¡± One of the women asked finally. It was Lady Imbaetra, the head of the third most powerful family in the city and the most concerned with trade. She had the most dealings with Inter-Planar amongst the first Princesses and was who the council believed would lead the negotiations.

    ¡°We lost a few ships pacifying the chaos spawn. We need compensation.¡± Seo responded in a monotone voice; his face still devoid of any emotion.

    ¡°And why would we compensate you for a task none of us asked you to complete?¡± Lady Ostra asked pointedly. She was the First Princess of the fourth house, known for its high amount of noble psychics. She herself could read minds, but didn¡¯t dare try her tricks on the human standing before her. The minds of Inter-Planar pilots were treacherous places to get lost in, even for the Lady on the Council.

    ¡°Someone on the planet summoned the creature. We know this for certain.¡± Seo¡¯s face grew serious then and he turned his eyes directly over each of the women in the chamber.

    Tareia nearly shuttered when the human¡¯s strange black eyes passed over her, his irises like black holes that wanted to devour every inch of her. A few of the other Ladies in the room shifted uncomfortably in their seats, while others glowered, unappreciative of the accusing glare of the human that stood before them.

    ¡°Who? Do you suspect us?¡± Lady Imbaetra asked.

    ¡°I know or I do not know, and in this matter I do not know.¡± Seo responded. ¡°But I know it was someone on this planet that summoned the chaos spawn, so it is someone on this planet who must compensate the company.¡±

    ¡°Must!¡± Lady Ostra cried, enraged. ¡°Who are you to tell us what we must do!¡±

    Seo turned to regard the Lady of the fourth family. His emotionless expression met her glower, and the woman balked, leaning back in her chair and shifting her jaw in anger. She understood that Iner-Planar was extremely important to the Ilithirians who lacked any means of traveling to the far reaches of the galaxy or any of the other planes. Her anger and pride would have to be contained, or her family would be destroyed.

    ¡°I, nor the company, will force anyone to do anything.¡± Seo said. ¡°But we will make up for our lost crews and goods. That is simply the way of things.¡±

    The Ladies of the council gave the human a collective nod. Their greatest fear was having to hand over the planet¡¯s precious few warships, so they were glad to simply have to repay the company for damages instead.

    ¡°That can easily be arranged.¡± Lady Demora said, shifting slightly in her seat.

    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Seo replied. Once again he had the council women on edge. ¡°We lost more than a few pilots to the beast. A few nobles will be taken in order to rectify this loss.¡±

    The Ladies muttered amongst themselves, clearly unhappy with Seo¡¯s demands but quickly acquiesced. A few low-ranking princes and princesses were nothing compared to the dozens of warships the company could be demanding.

    ¡°When do you want them?¡± Lady Styria asked.

    ¡°Tomorrow. That is when our processors shall be heading back to Ter¡¯an.¡±

    The council women once again began to chatter amongst themselves, until Lady Styria put up her hand, silencing the room. ¡°Tomorrow you will have your flesh and material. I trust this concludes our business?¡±

    Seo nodded and bowed. ¡°Indeed. Have a good day.¡±

    The strange human turned and took a step and was suddenly gone, a small spark of wispy smoke the only sign of his departure.

    ¡°Such strange creatures these Inter-Planar pilots.¡± Lady Azar said after the man had departed, not bothering to hide the disgust in her voice.

    ¡°They are powerful creatures and our only means of reaching the rest of the galaxy!¡± Lady Styria scolded. ¡°We must never lose sight of that; through the Company we exercise the will of the goddess. Our relationship with them is paramount.¡±

    Lady Azar grumbled quietly but didn¡¯t discount the leading Lady¡¯s words.

    ¡°The price is steeper than we think,¡± Lady Imbaetra blurted suddenly, causing all eyes to fall on her. ¡°He may have said nobles, but he most certainly meant heirs. Inter will settle for nothing less than our own daughters. The loss of a pilot is no small thing for the company, and it should illuminate just how pressing the threat of this... ¡®chaos spawn¡¯ was.¡±

    ¡°The least of our daughters is still a low price to pay when the other option are warships.¡± Lady Ostra said boisterously. ¡°So, what if we are out a few young daughters? We could always just make more.¡±

    The council women nodded their heads in approval, all except Reina who placed her chin in her hands and Tareia smiled knowingly. Though Lady Demora had little love for her youngest daughter she was necessary to control Phraum. Without this control, Phraum would become much more unmanageable, and he might lash out against Reina and her other daughters. Sacrificing the older siblings was also out of the question. Even Kara, the youngest after Ashara, held enough sway in the temple and the family¡¯s private army to cause trouble if she were chosen. Though it would truly pain her, Reina would have to give up Phraum¡¯s prized daughter and deal with the consequences.

    The council dissolved soon after leaving Reina and Tareia to walk alone back to the Demora office.

    ¡°Poor little Ashara.¡± Tareia whispered into her niece¡¯s ear. Reina tensed up but remained calm. She had to after all, they were in front of the other five ruling families.

    <hr>

    Phraum stood outside of his Lady¡¯s quarters, one hand behind his back and the other fiddling with the buttons on his jacket. The Palace was in uproar this evening, hustling about to deal with the fallout of some mage¡¯s catastrophic summoning ritual. A creature of chaos from the abyss, the ruling council had concluded. The conclusion was closer to the mark than Phraum would have liked, but it mattered not. He could not be traced to the creature¡¯s summoning and Sizth had assured him that with the device Ashara had recovered not even Inter would be able to discern who was responsible. Already the living machine was putting the device to use, using it to predict the future and create the engines necessary to enable the Ilithirians to blaze across the stars, like the humans, like the other great Azuran empires.

    The mage¡¯s ruminations were interrupted by a muffled ¡°Enter!¡± from his mistress and he snapped back into reality.

    Phraum let out a deep breath to steel himself then gently pushed open the black steel doors to Reina¡¯s quarters. He found his wife sitting on an ornate black and blood red wooden chair near the far end of the room, opposite the massive crimson covered bed he and she often shared. She was glaring at him, chin in hand and hair frayed. She was one of the major leaders on the city¡¯s ruling council and had been up all night and day dealing with the chaos spawn Phraum had sicced upon the city.

    ¡°Sit my dear, on the bed.¡± Reina said, motioning to the silk sheeted bed.

    Phraum nodded and headed towards the bed.

    ¡°Wait, on second thought come here.¡± Reina called as her consort got to the front of the bed.

    Phraum closed his eyes for a moment, understanding what he was in for, then quickly turned around and faced Reina. She tilted her chin downwards and motioned for him to come closer. Phraum obeyed, stopping only a foot away from his mistress.

    ¡°On your knees my love, right here in front of me.¡± Reina said, her tone even.

    Phraum nodded and got down onto both knees, his eyes cast down to the floor. He stayed there for what seemed like an eternity, awaiting Reina to speak or strike, feeling her eyes hot on his body all the while.

    ¡°So, tell me my darling consort, why are you here this evening?¡± Reina said, breaking the silence. She reached her hands down to Phraum¡¯s head and ran her fingers through his hair.

    The consort shivered under his mistress¡¯s touch, his body glad for the comfort but still on edge in anticipation of the looming pain.

    ¡°I imagine because of the creature that was roaming through the city all of yesterday.¡± Phraum said evenly, careful not to explicitly implicate himself.

    ¡°Correct!¡± Reina said, patting Phraum¡¯s head. ¡°Now, tell me, why was such a creature roaming the city streets all by its lonesome with no supervision and no prior warning to me or the council?¡±

    Reina¡¯s ministrations grew firmer, occasionally her hands would softly, but firmly, tug at a lock of hair. Phraum felt fear rising in his gut but maintained his composure, he was prepared for this.

    ¡°Perhaps the mage that let loose the creature,¡± Phraum began, trying hard to keep his tone even. ¡°Had no other option but to let it run free for the sake of his goals.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Reina said, squeezing Phraum¡¯s head between her hands. She paused, pretending to think over his words for a moment. ¡°And what, pray tell, could this mage¡¯s goals possibly be?¡±

    ¡°That chaos spawn had a particularly powerful ability, mistress. It could glimpse the future.¡±

    Reina¡¯s ministrations stopped suddenly. Phraum fought down the urge to smile, he could dance out of this predicament if he played his cards right.

    ¡°It is possible that the mage that summoned the creature had no other way to study it than to release it.¡± Phraum said.

    Reina forced Phraum to look up into her eyes and ran a long, black painted fingernail down his cheek, drawing a bit of blood. Phraum felt his head suddenly jerk around as Reina pulled sharply on his hair.

    ¡°Is this true?¡± Reina asked finally, her tone deadly serious. If Phraum lied to her here she would skin him alive.

    ¡°Yes, there was no other way.¡± Phraum said, and it was true. He needed the beast to rampage through the city so Sizth could collect ample data on the creature, and he needed a distraction that would allow Ashara to secure the Premonition Index.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame the sorry mage wasn¡¯t powerful enough to understand the creature in the first place.¡± Reina said angrily. ¡°It did considerable damage to the city after all.¡±

    Reina held Phraum¡¯s gaze to her, taking in his every reaction, staring deeply into his eyes with a mixture of outrage, intrigue, then finally exhaustion. She wasn¡¯t as angry as before, Phraum could tell, her disapproval was quickly dissolving into fatigue. She had been up for over a day managing the crises, and then up for longer with the rest of the ruling council to work out a deal with Inter Planar and seek retribution against whoever summoned the creature, which she knew was Phraum the whole time.

    ¡°You cause me so much grief, my love.¡± She said before pulling Phraum up and into her chest, hugging him tightly. ¡°But you bring me so much power. I trust you learned something interesting during your little experiment?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Phraum whispered into his mistress¡¯s ear. ¡°If my theory is right, that creature holds the key to understanding Inter-Planar travel, to precognition.¡±

    Reina laughed, and Phraum tensed up, suddenly very confused. This was unlike her, whenever Phraum had previously brought up Inter-Planar travel, and inevitably precognition, Reina had always been interested. She believed learning the secrets to Inter-Planar travel and precognition would put the Demora¡¯s on the top of Ilithirian society and cement her place as first Lady in the ruling council, but now she was laughing at him. She was laughing harder than he had ever heard, laughing like she had gone mad.

    ¡°Precognition hmm? Ah well, that will serve us greatly in the time to come.¡± Reina finally said after her laughter abated.

    The pair sat there for a while, Phraum¡¯s head in her lap, Reina running her fingers through his hair while staring out her bedroom window, lost in thought.

    ¡°Inter made a demand of us yesterday. They must recuperate the loss of their pilots.¡± Reina said finally, her eyes still on the moonlight spilling in through the window.

    ¡°That will not be cheap, but its better than having make up for the warships they lost.¡± Phraum said evenly.

    He was glad, glad that after all he had done all he would have to give up was money and material, perhaps a few of his senior mages, but that was a small price to pay for what he had gained.

    ¡°You know you¡¯re the only person I¡¯ve ever loved, the only consort I¡¯ve ever cared for. My other playthings were so boring.¡± Reina began, still absent mindedly stroking Phraum¡¯s hair.

    The mage simply nodded at the declaration, not sure what to make of it. Not even his own mother had told him she loved him, and now Reina was pouring her heart out to him. Reina Demora, the most vicious and power hungry first Princess on all of Ilithir! Phraum passed his tongue over his teeth, suddenly very anxious.

    ¡°It must be love I feel for you, Phraum, because if anyone else had pulled what you just did, I¡¯d boil them alive.¡± Reina continued. ¡°Do you understand me Phraum? I¡¯d have them killed, I¡¯d kill their whole family, I would torture them endlessly.¡±

    Reina pulled hard on Phraum¡¯s hair now, nearly tearing a few clumps from his head. He looked up at her, not daring to wince, meeting her glowering gaze with no emotion.

    ¡°But I will not do that to you, because I love you. I cannot ever lose you.¡± Reina pulled Phraum in for a deep kiss and he accepted it, allowing her tongue to mingle with his for a while until she pulled back and released him from her grasp.

    Phraum shakily rose to his feet and looked down at his mistress, sitting at her chair, her hair frayed, and her dress clothes wrinkled. He had never seen her this tired, this shaken.

    ¡°I must give up your daughter, I must hand Ashara over to Inter.¡± Reina said evenly, her eyes locked to Phraum¡¯s.

    The mage nearly collapsed, and his thoughts ran wild. They wanted his daughter? They wanted his one chance to truly move up in this female dominated world, his only real political power in the family? This could not be!

    ¡°I have no choice; the council has decreed the lowest ranking Princess in each of the ruling families will be sent to Inter. To work one of their endless contracts to pay for the pilots they lost.¡±

    Phraum tried, and failed to keep his composure, he closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Oh, poor Ashara, he thought.

    ¡°I suppose this works well for you, doesn¡¯t it? I know you have no love for my daughter.¡± Phraum dared to say. Reina simply nodded.

    ¡°I know she is who you wish to supplant me and so she is my rival, but this does not please me either.¡± Reina replied calmly. ¡°I would not punish you simply to punish you, I¡¯m not so petty and weak. This is all on you my love, and now we all must pay the consequences.¡±

    Phraum swallowed hard, still shaken. She was right sadly, and he had no right to be mad it her. He alone was responsible for Ashara¡¯s fate, and he alone would be adversely affected by it. It was ironic, the only person in the family who cared for her was the one who had ended up damning her.

    ¡°Oh, my poor girl...¡± Phraum whispered, a sickening knot formed in his stomach, and he suddenly felt nauseous. He moved over to Reina¡¯s bed and collapsed, his back hitting the plush mattress first as he felt the world around him grow distant.

    Reina just looked at him, head leaned against her fist and a slight scowl on her face.

    ¡°To think, I just saved her life only to throw it away in the same motion.¡± Phraum said aloud, staring up at the ceiling.

    ¡°Yes, such vile viciousness. That is why I so desire you.¡±

    Reina crawled into bed beside Phraum, still fully clothed save for her slippers. She rested her head on Phraum¡¯s chest and looked into his eyes, her rust-colored irises mingling with his red rubies.

    ¡°It will be okay. This day was going to come sooner or later. I simply could not have had her supplanting me. This is a kindness; you¡¯ve spared me the burden of killing her and you¡¯ve granted her a new life.¡± Reina buried her head in Phraum¡¯s chest and sighed. ¡°You¡¯ll get over this, and maybe one day she will too.¡±

    Phraum doubted it, but it didn¡¯t matter anymore. He¡¯d made his choice, and he¡¯d live with it. For as much as he cared for his daughter, for as much as he cared for his position in the family, he knew his work was more important.

    What a mess, he thought to himself as Reina began to snore softly on his chest.

    ¡°How could this happen?¡±

    Four guards marched through the Demora palace, dressed in black armor over blue uniforms. They made their way over the newly carpeted floors and freshly buffed halls until they settled in front of the sixth Princesses door. They gave each other ominous looks and one final nod before the War Priestess in the lead recited an incantation that channeled a tunnel of force through her upraised hands, blowing down the Princess¡¯s door and startling the poor girl who had been sleeping peacefully in her bed.

    Ashara quickly scrambled out of her bed and produced a knife and a pistol from under her bed covers. She fired off the guns entire cylinder into the leading priestess¡¯s tough armor to little avail. The woman stumbled back a few steps then came forward again with her three comrades in tow, maces and batons held high. Ashara dashed away from the oncoming women, making a break for her window.

    She was stopped dead in her tracks when another priestess finished held out her hand and called, ¡°Stop!¡±

    Ashara froze as a sinister purple aura enveloped her, she fought against the spell with all her will, calling upon her Goddess and imploring her to overcome this lesser woman¡¯s spell. But it was useless, her goddess had favored her attackers and the priestess¡¯s spell held. The four guards surrounded Ashara and began to beat her, striking her again and again with their batons while she was frozen until she felt as if her muscles would burst. Finally, the spell was released and Ashara collapsed to the floor, breathing heavily.

    ¡°W-why are you d-doing this!¡± she demanded.

    ¡°Lady Demora demands it.¡± The leading woman said, pulling Ashara to her feet. ¡°A price must be paid for Inter¡¯s involvement, and you are that price, Princess.¡±

    Ashara kicked and screamed, fighting through the searing pain in her muscles and joints as the four armored women dragged her out of the palace towards a waiting float disc. There, her mother, Phraum and Tareia waited. The four guards dumped Ashara onto the disc, and it began to glow, rising into the air and darting off towards the other side of the city, towards the spires where the airships came and went.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this!¡± Ashara said to her mother, grasping at her black booted feet. The Lady stepped out of Ashara¡¯s grasp and coldly regarded her.

    ¡°I can do as I please girl.¡± Reina spat.

    ¡°Tareia, father, help me!¡± Ashara begged, looking up at who she believed were her allies.

    Tareia shrugged and Phraum gave her a sad look.

    ¡°I helped you! I retriev¡ª¡± Ashara was interrupted by a sharp kick to her stomach from her mother who now hovered over her, a scowl on her face.

    ¡°For all your worth don¡¯t ever reveal what you did!¡± Reina howled down at the young Princess. ¡°Don¡¯t even speak of it, unless you want Inter or the council to skin you alive and toss you into the cosmic sea!¡±

    Ashara whimpered and clutched at her stomach as her mother continued to kick her.

    ¡°Please, mother!¡±

    ¡°Silence girl!¡± Reina howled.

    Ashara began to sob, her face down on the cool metal of the float disc. Why was this happening to her? What was happening to her? She could not comprehend it.

    Soon the disc arrived at the Needle, the spire the city used as an airport for the flying ships coming and going from Ilithir. Reina grabbed Ashara by her arm and hauled her to her feet, the young Princess felt her torso burn and her limbs ache and she collapsed again.

    ¡°Ashara!¡± Reina hissed, stretching her hand out and casting a healing spell that enveloped the young Princess.

    Ashara felt the warmth of the silent incantation pass over her and gradually felt her strength return. Immediately she began to struggle against her mother¡¯s grasp but a few sharp punches to her stomach put an end to that. The princess began to sob again as Reina dragged her over to the piers the Inter ships were docked at and let out a gasp when she saw six other Princesses in similar states of distress standing around a tall human in strange black armor, his helmet under his arm. She was even more surprised when she saw Lady Styria standing behind the man, one of her own daughters crying behind her.

    ¡°What is happening!¡± Ashara managed to squeak out as the four Demorans approached.

    ¡°I told you girl, a cost must be paid to Inter. You¡¯re being given over to the company to pay for the pilots they lost. Every Lady on the council must, or we¡¯ll lose our trade privileges.¡±

    Ashara sobbed again, understanding but not believing.

    ¡°Stop crying girl!¡± Reina pulled Ashara forward and pushed her down onto her knees in front of the strange human.

    ¡°Suppose that¡¯s all of them.¡± Lady Styria said, casting a cold glare down at Ashara.

    ¡°So, it would seem.¡± The human replied. He turned and looked down at Ashara, his skin like molten copper and his eyes black and sparkling like the night sky. ¡°Hello and welcome.¡±

    Ashara just stared up at the human, frozen in abject fear. She didn¡¯t know what to make of the creature, and his eyes seemed to peer into her soul, it made her skin crawl.

    The human let out a soft laugh. ¡°They¡¯re scared. Oh well, this is the way of things. There¡¯s no helping it.¡±

    The man put on his helmet, which looked like head of a fly mixed with an elephant¡¯s face and gave Lady Styria a nod. He raised his right hand in the air, and suddenly six groups of red uniformed Azurans came out to fetch their new charges. A few of the Princesses, including Ashara, began to protest but a simple wave of the black suited humans hand ceased their struggling. Ashara felt a wave of calm come over her and she found herself welcoming the touch of the man who gently prodded her towards the docked Inter airships.

    As she stepped off the ramp onto the ship, Ashara turned back to her family, for a reason she couldn¡¯t quite decipher in her current state of mind. Her gaze lingered on her father and tears began to well up in her eyes. Phraum sighed, a sad look on his face and the Princess turned away, her heart heavy and allowed herself to be marched down the main deck of the ship to a stairwell that would take her below.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the man leading her asked softly.

    Ashara looked at him confused, unsure of who she was looking at or what she was doing.

    ¡°Your hair...¡± she responded, taken aback at the sudden realization that the man standing before her had black hair.

    The man sighed and the two continued through the crowded confines of the warship¡¯s lower decks. They moved through a few claustrophobic corridors until they stopped in front of an oval shaped metal door. The man pushed the door open and gestured for Ashara to head inside.

    ¡°When you remember your name knock on the door. I¡¯ll be right outside.¡± The strange black-haired man said.

    He shut the door and locked it leaving Ashara alone with her jumbled thoughts. She was in a small, windowed room made completely of metal. To her side was a swinging bed currently pushed up against the wall and to her left was a dresser and a mirror hanging above it. Ashara moved over to the dresser and began to examine herself in the mirror.

    ¡°What am I doing here?¡± she asked her reflection. When it didn¡¯t answer the Princess frowned.

    She looked out the small circular window of her little cabin and nearly pressed her nose up against it as she felt the airship start to move. She could see another airship right beside the one she was in; docked in the spire and suddenly that ship began to grow smaller and smaller. The city below, the city Ashara had spent her whole life in, also began to shrink, steadily blurring into tiny black dots as the airship climbed higher and higher, until all she could see were clouds and sunlight. After a while, everything began to glow a milky white and brilliant gold as they entered the cosmic sea, it was then that is all hit her.

    Ashara had just been sold off to Inter, sacrificed by her family for her father¡¯s ambitions. The Princess opened her mouth to scream, but surprisingly found she didn¡¯t have the energy for it. All she wanted to do was knock on her door and tell the man outside her name. Once she had done so, she pulled the small cot hanging on the wall down and flopped down on it, sighing as she heard the chains holding it aloft clack as they went taut.

    ¡°I will make it through this.¡± Ashara said, conjuring up as much conviction as she could from her slow moving, slightly addled mind.

    She closed her eyes suddenly very tired and fell into a deep sleep, not waking until the airship landed on some far-off planet on the other side of the cosmic sea, far, far away from Ilithir.

    Epilogue

    Sometime after watching Ashara get sent off to only the goddess knew where in an Inter-Planar warship, Phraum and Tareia were ordered to go to the Hand and immediately begin working on unlocking the secrets of the Premonition Index. Phraum marched along in a foul mood ignoring Tareia¡¯s constant jibes and taunts until they finally reached the top of his tower where Sizth had been hard at work on creating a premonition engine.

    ¡°Well, that was positively miserly.¡± Phraum said as he entered his laboratory.

    ¡°It was your fault you know.¡± Tareia teased. ¡°All that trouble over... what even is this?¡± the old woman walked over to the bench Sizth was working at and examined the new device the machine had created.

    What was once a tablet made of hard light and flowing silvery metal was now a floating sphere with a glowing console in its center. Sizth was standing under the silver globe, its eyes closed as it seemed to be telepathically inputting multiple letters into the glowing blue console.

    ¡°It¡¯s a power core.¡± Sizth called out, its mouth unmoving. The little metal creature had spoken through its metal body.

    ¡°For the engine?¡± Tareia asked.

    ¡°Correct.¡±

    Sizth continued to telepathically send inputs into the new device, its console flickering with a symbol for every letter the little lizard put in. Phraum cast Tareia a disparaging glance while she was focused on the engine then moved to stand behind Sizth. The mage looked at the console as Sizth delivered letter after letter into the device. Phraum recognized the symbols as Azuran and the words the machine was forming were in one of the older dialects, machine commands the other great Azuran nations had that the Ilithirians did not.

    Not for long though, Phraum thought to himself. Soon his nation would have their own way of engineering jump worthy ships, and they would be able to soar across the stars like the other great empires. No longer beholden to Inter or their tentative allies, the Malikites. Phraum let out a sigh as he thought about the great empire they bordered. A male dominated society ruled by an all-powerful mage who became a god after the fall of the great Azuran empire. If only Phraum had been born there, then he wouldn¡¯t have to play these silly games of intrigue with the Princesses, and perhaps he would not have had to give up Ashara either.

    Phraum dismissed the thought. What happened, happened and there was no changing it. His daughter had simply been a pawn in his game against Reina and he lost his gambit, now he had to make sure this engine worked so he could remain in the family¡¯s good graces. Luckily, his success was all but assured with Sizth at his side. The machine had promised to help Phraum with this in exchange for a front row seat to Ilithir¡¯s great climb to galactic prominence. All he had to do was provide the machine with the Premonition Index and it would do the rest. It was only a matter of time until the Demora family was producing the first ever Ilithirian jump-ships.

    Phraum grinned at the thought, all but forgetting about his poor daughter who was no doubt being dragged off into the stars, almost assuredly never to return. She was a worthy sacrifice, the mage wondered if he would ever have another child more important.

    ¡°Phraum, come look at this.¡± Called Sizth from his perch in front of the growing engine.

    The mage obliged and leaned forwards to look closer at the console. There, amongst the glowing blue gridlines of the console¡¯s screen, was a map.

    ¡°Where is that?¡± Phraum asked intrigued.

    ¡°Its not a where its another device, the golden globe!¡± Sizth exclaimed. ¡°The thought Index! With it I can make a creation engine. I could be come a machine god!¡±

    Phraum took a step back, his thoughts reeling. A machine god! If Sizth could accomplish such a thing then it cold be an even bigger break through than the jump drives! If Phraum could help the little lizard achieve this goal, then the machine would be beholden to him. He, and perhaps Ilithir if he so desired, would achieve a benefactor that would immediately propel them to galactic prominence. The possibilities were endless!

    Phraum looked back to Tareia and gave her a smile. The old woman had heard every word and was now giving the lizard a skeptical look.

    ¡°This has to be a joke.¡± Tareia declared. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start off with the jump drives first hm? Then we can worry about making your lizard into a god.¡±

    ¡°He is not my lizard.¡± Phraum seethed. ¡°And you¡¯re right. We shall first complete the engine then we¡¯ll seek out this golden globe, if it even exists.¡± The mage gave Sizth a sly look, then returned his eyes to the growing engine.

    After all, how would he even begin to search for this golden globe if he didn¡¯t have a jump worthy ship?

    <hr>

    ¡°You¡¯re going to learn some magic. I¡¯ve arranged for Phraum to train you.¡± Tareia declared, looking down at Maron who sat drunk and depressed in one of the Palace¡¯s many parlors.

    Maron looked up at Tareia and sighed, finishing off the remaining liquor in his glass. He felt the warmth of the drink fill his chest and he rose to his feet, finally regarding the old veteran.

    ¡°Is such a thing even possible?¡± Maron asked.

    ¡°Yes, and if you don¡¯t have the gift then they¡¯ll give it to you. A psychic will enter your mind and either unlock your latent potential or give you the potential.¡±

    Maron scoffed, such a thing was ridiculous, especially on behalf of a common soldier like Maron.

    ¡°Why would Phraum do such a thing?¡± the young ex-bodyguard asked incredulously.

    ¡°Why would I do such a thing you mean?¡± Tareia said, her tone coy. She walked over to Maron and ran her fingers over his shoulder, eyeing him up like a cat would a mouse. ¡°You seem a good investment, and your last benefactor is...no more sadly.¡±

    Maron winced at that but remained calm. He had heard Ashara had been sent off world for some reason or another, leaving him in a precarious situation. Certainly, his efforts in thwarting the other Princesses¡¯ plans did not endear him to any of their factions, he expected his death to come any day now.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Maron answered after sorting through his drunken thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s a shame though, I liked Ashara.¡±

    Tareia snickered, putting a hand to her mouth. ¡°Really? The girl was almost as insufferable as her mother! But I suppose she had a bit of her father too, that endearing madness in him.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡± Maron said not quite following what Tareia was saying, but he didn¡¯t necessarily disagree. Ashara was definitely the most temperamental of the Princesses, but she was also often the nicest. Maron would miss that kindness. ¡°She treated me well at least.¡±

    ¡°And I will also treat you well, rest assured!¡± Tareia said, reaching up to stroke Maron¡¯s cheek. ¡°No strings attached.¡±

    Maron raised his eyebrow but remained silent. Clearly the old veteran wanted something in return, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it...yet.