The Blood Empress (18 page)

"Velore, come," Nykostra said.

The young handmaiden appeared in an instant, her head bowed.

"You know I'm leaving again."

Velore looked up slowly and nodded.

"I might not be back for a very long time. I could use a traveling companion that I can trust. Someone who could fend for herself and was not afraid of a ship full of warriors. Are you interested in joining me?"

Velore's delighted expression said she was very interested but she demurred. "My Empress, you have many more qualified handmaids than I."

Nykostra rose up to shoulder level in the tub. She studied the girl for a moment. The similarity to herself was less evident now. Her hair was still long and her innocence still intact. But she was undeniably loyal and that might be all she needed to survive.

"I'm asking you because of what you did for me when I left. I honor loyalty above all else in my staff. You, my dear, are the most loyal handmaiden I have."

Velore's embarrassed smile was infectious. Nykostra smiled back at her.

"Pack your things. We leave in the morning for Lord Verrad's command ship. Take only what you can carry for personal gear. I will provide you with a uniform similar to mine."

"Thank you My Empress. I'm eternally grateful for the chance to continue to serve."

She bowed formally and left the room, only to return.

"Pardon my manners, my Empress. Have you finished your bath?"

Nykostra waved her off. "I can manage to get mysef to bed. See you in the morning, Velore."

Velore bowed again and left with a grin as wide as a sunset.

Nykostra waited until she heard the bedchamber door close before standing up and stepping out of the bath. She reached for a soft towel on the nearby rack and stopped. Standing where Velore had just been was a Soothsayer wearing the cloak of the Kwizarra Lonn.

Nykostra stood there, dripping wet and naked. Her jaw and chest thrust out projecting respect in the absence of clothing.

"I thought all the passages were sealed," she said.

The Kwizarra Lonn's head was concealed under his dark gray cloak. A gray hand reached up and pulled the cloak back to reveal the face of N'arvon. His head had been tattooed with the white lines of the Kwizarra Lonn.

"You of all people should have known that walls cannot stop us, my Empress."

"What do you want, N'arvon!"

Her voice had lowered to the command pitch, which had no affect on the gray. She pulled the towel off the rack and wrapped it around her body.

"I have come to warn you against going to space with the fleet."

She started walking towards him and the robed man backed away, keeping his distance. She entered her room and walked confidently to her bed where Velore had laid out her bed clothes. Then she turned around to face the Soothsayer. Her falchion was mounted on the wall, more than ten steps away.
Useless
.

"It's not your place to warn me of anything. I have banned your kind from my court and my castle. Leave now or I will summon my guards."

N'arvon tilted his head and said, "The enemy fleet has grown and they are heading for Empire space. I have seen your eventual demise if you stay with our fleet. If you elect to remain here, your life will be safe."

Nykostra adjusted her towel tighter and started to casually walk towards the wall where her falchion hung.

"I don't believe in your predictions anymore Soothsayer. I know all of your mind tricks and I can see the future just fine without you."

N'arvon watched her closely as she walked.

"Your powers are impressive for a Votainion, but you cannot see your own fate. No one can. Beware your fate in the stars, my Empress."

She stopped and looked around the room as if trying to find the crack he slipped in through.

"Leave now you gray bastard. Or I will dispatch you as quickly as your predecessor."

N'arvon smiled like only a Soothsayer could. Wicked and sly.

"May I remind you that I entered your bed chamber unseen by you or your handmaid."

Nykostra took the veiled threat to heart and bolted the remaining distance to her falchion. By the time she had pulled it form the wall and slid the blade free the Soothsayer was gone in a wisp of black smoke.

Nykostra struck her defensive pose and pushed outward with her mind. But N'arvon was nowhere to be found. She stood there alone in her room, her towel had fallen to the floor. Her muscles were tight and lean from hours of training. Her body now very much an adult woman. Slowly she capped her blade and returned it to the wall.

She walked back to the bed and slipped inside. As she pulled the cool covers to her nose she began to consider what N'arvon had said about her being blind to her own fate. Perhaps he was right. If one could not foresee their own fate, one might not be able to change it.

She dimmed the lights in the room and lay in her big bed. Tomorrow she would leave Voton for perhaps the last time. Dawn could not come soon enough for her.

The End

GB PRESS BOOKS BY KEN MCCONNELL

THE STAR SAGA SERIES

Tales From Ocherva, Volume 1

Starforgers, Book 1

Devon's Blade

Starforgers Book 2, The Rising

The Blood Empress

Starforgers Book 3, Counterattack

Starstrikers, Book 4

Starveyors, Book 7

Star Saga Series Omnibus

Tyrmia

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events depicted in this novel are products of the author’s imagination.

GB PRESS

THE BLOOD EMPRESS

Copyright © 2015 by Ken McConnell

All Rights Reserved.

First Edition: November 2015

Cover art by Byron McConnell:

www.byronmcconnell.com

The author’s website:

www.ken-mcconnell.com