Prologue
Lhora gasped for breath and kept her head down as she fought the waves of dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her. She was aware of tightly clutching onto her sword, her forehead pressed to the hilt, as the last of the reebo lights flared under her skin. Her grip was too tight. The sword’s edge was beginning to bite into the skin. But if she didn’t hold onto it, she’d probably keel over in exhaustion.
The scent of blood wafted up to her. She opened her eyes to see the blood splatter on her clothing. The blood staining her sword.
And the body lying less than a vares away where it had fallen.
She stared at it, watching for any sign of life, but she knew there wouldn’t be. It was over. It was all over. Finally. But the cost had been unimaginable.
As she tried to center herself, she focused on the here and now. Yet, memories elbowed their way into her mind’s eye. Flashbacks that reminded her of how she’d gotten here. Instances that had led her up to this moment. And why her future was now forever and irrevocably changed from what she thought it would be. From what she’d been told it would be like since she was a child.
She didn’t know if she should rejoice, or be frightened out of her wits.
How did I get there? What made it end like this? When did it all begin? When was the beginning that culminated in this moment?
Taking a deep breath, she lifted her face and stared into the sky. When did it all begin?
I know. I know exactly when it started. And where.
Closing her eyes, she dropped onto the ground and allowed the memories to overtake her.
1
Request
“Esstiss!”
Lhora heard the summons but chose to ignore it. She was too busy fighting off Delphid’s pathetic but insistent blows. Her mentor swung low, aiming for Lhora’s knees. The man was using the interruption to up his attacks, hoping to catch Lhora off-guard. Instead, Lhora slammed her blade downward, blocking the swing and deflecting it away from her.
“Esstiss!” The call was more persistent.
Lhora twirled around, expecting Delphid to try one of his signature moves against her. But, to her shock, the Captain of the Guard dropped back, waited for Lhora to present her back to him, and shoved his sword outward enough to where it slapped Lhora’s rear end.
“Esstiss!”
“What?” Lhora angrily turned on the poor page now quaking in his boots. Her bum stung from the impact, and she made no move to mask her irritation. “You cost me the match, plug you! I hope this is important!”
“The Esstika requests your attendance immediately,” the page announced.
“Right now?” She wiped the sweat from her brow. She was hot and grungy after spending the last hour in mock combat. If this wasn’t important, she’d send the boy off with the message she was on her way, then detour to her chambers for a quick bath and a change of clothes.
“S-she said immediately,” the young man stammered.
Lhora rolled her eyes. “Very well. Tell her I’m on my way. Delphid, thank you for a good lesson today. I cede to your superiority…this time,” she added with a wink.
The grizzled elder smiled and gave the traditional salute with his blade. Sunlight glinted off the metal until it reached the wooden caps covering the edges to prevent the opponent from accidentally being injured. “The honor was mine, Esstiss.”
Lhora returned the salute and removed her own caps, handing them over before heading for the temple palace where her mother was waiting for her. Whatever the reason was for the woman to demand her presence, and it was a demand when the word immediately was used, it had to be something important. Something that couldn’t wait. Otherwise, the request would have been “at your leisure,” or “as soon as you are able.”
“What is it this time?” she wondered aloud. Truth be told, it could be any number of things.
She reached the front portico of the building and started to go inside when a loud roar and whoosh of engines caught her attention. A Coltrosstian galleon glided from behind the temple’s tall, ornate spires. Judging how low it was in the sky, the direction it was going, and the fact that it was lowering its solar sails, she knew it was about to land.
“You wouldn’t be wanting me nearby because there’s a delegation arriving, would you, Mother?” she murmured.
Clipping her shurr sword to her belt, she continued inside. Two guards saw her approaching and saluted. She waved in acknowledgment and went directly to the audience chamber where she could see the huge golden doors were already open.
The immense room echoed with the conversations being held by the number of people present. Her mother was easy to spot. Her crimson gown stood out among the dark browns, grays, and blacks worn by the others.
