Prologue
"And you're sure this is what you want to do?" Lady Freya asked Imperial Princess Caoimhe Bron as they both ran through their morning exercises. The routine they both knew by heart kept them both limber.
But it also gave them a chance to speak less formally.
Protocol was less important with one's leg in the air.
"More than you know," Caoimhe said as she grabbed her foot and stretched toward the ceiling.
Freya did the same.
"You always get your leg straighter than mine," Caoimhe said.
"I do. But that's not what we're talking about," Freya replied while twisting into the next pose. "We're talking about you flying into a warzone to negotiate peace."
A nightmare in Freya's mind, for certain.
"I know."
"And?"
"And I know what I'm doing."
She said it with such conviction that it gave Freya pause.
Caoimhe's determination was one thing that Freya adored about the Imperial Princess. But that determination would occasionally position her in spots that were not good for her.
Freya attempted to talk her out of those situations whenever she could.
Like marrying that awful suitor from the Delvin system; why he'd even been entertained, Freya didn't know.
Well, she had her own ideas of why. The Delvin system had plenty of assets and exports that the Terran Empire would have acquired had they combined the two governments.
It would have put more systems in the Terran Empire.
And the Emperor always wanted to expand the Empire. Forever growth and all of that.
"I worry about what you're doing, though," Freya said. Peace with the Rhimodians? It seemed a long shot for the thieves.
"I know you do. But there's more to this than you and me and protocol."
"You really must explain it to me."
The princess glanced at her. "Really. This time, you have to trust me."
Freya nodded. "As you wish, Majesty."
Freya pulledthe cloak around her shoulders, adjusting the hood, so it covered more of her face.
The palace was quiet. Most all had retired to their rooms for the night.
In the distance, she heard the bells from the temple softly chiming as the overnight Sacrament began, as it did every night.
Freya paused just long enough to recite a short prayer, honoring the gods. After she finished, she hoped they would not forsake her because of what she was doing after curfew.
Even in the palace, curfew was enforced.
There was a war going on.
