Astra, Empress of Solvonus, Wielder of the Nine Powers, the First of her Name, strode into the throne room, outpacing the crowd that trailed after her, clamoring for attention.

  “Nadim!” she called out, seeing the Lord High Marshal standing by the stairs leading to the imperial throne.

  The empress casually flicked a wrist, and a room-spanning, waist-high partition materialized behind her. The wall, marble and struck through with gold and silver veins, stopped the crowd of minor government functionaries. Looks of astonishment blossomed on their faces. It wasn’t often one saw a Power used so casually, even by the empress.

  A distracted, tall, hooked-beak official, wearing a loose hanging suit at least a year out of fashion, walked into the barricade. His height and momentum combined to send him over the wall with a yell, where he crumbled to the floor on the other side. The crowd’s nattering, a constant buzz a moment before, fell silent. All eyes moved from the empress to the man, where he lay on his back, confusion clear as he tried to sort out what had happened. They held their collective breath, waiting to see the empress’s reaction.

  Nadim, Lord of House Hakana and High Marshal of the Imperial Navy, looked up at the commotion. He had been quietly conferring with Careth Jovani, the captain of the empress’s honor guard, the Royal Crest. Both men turned to stare at the empress and the crowd behind her. They noticed the man on the floor, obviously on the wrong side of the newly conjured wall, and they shared a glance between them but remained quiet, coming to attention as the empress approached them.

  “At ease, gentlemen,” Astra said. “There’s been enough fawning over for the day.”

  Nadim, Astra’s confidant for many long years, arched an eyebrow and pointedly looked behind her to where the government official was just picking himself off the floor. The man was trying to figure out how to get back to the other side of the wall with whatever dignity he had left, looking for help from anyone on the far side. However, the crowd had drifted back from the wall, trying to distance themselves from him.

  The empress noted Nadim’s pointed look and, with a sigh, gave another flick of her wrist. A yell emanated from behind her as the wall became mist and reappeared ten feet further into the room. The unfortunate functionary had just scrambled to the top of the wall when it dissipated, throwing him to the floor for a second time.

  Redness crept up Astra’s cheeks as she realized what she had done, but she kept her gaze on the two men before her and did not turn around.

  “Captain. Would you mind seeing to the young man? Take him to my private audience chamber and send for some refreshments while he settles himself. I’ve made him a bit of a pariah, and those nattering gnats should see that it was not his fault.”

  “Empress.” Captain Jovani said with a slight bow and his right hand held over his heart in salute. He turned and began crossing the chamber, approaching the wall.

  “Astra?” Nadim said, giving a slight nod towards the crowd behind the empress.

  “Nadim.” Astra said, her face still flushed.

  “The wall.”

  “. . . oh.”

  A third flick of her wrist and a gate materialized as the captain approached the wall. Unsurprised by its appearance, Jovani opened the ornate gilded gate and crossed to the other side with more dignity than the crimson-faced gentleman rising from the floor for a second time.

  “I shouldn’t have done that,” Astra said, a heavy sigh punctuating her words. “That group has pestered me for hours about the celebrations at the Crater Rim Mountains. I couldn’t listen to another word. I put them in charge of the details for a reason.”

  “I’ve no doubt the captain will sort them out,” Nadim said.

  There was a moment’s pause as the empress stood looking up at the throne. It sat atop a dais with three wide steps leading up to it, each a pace and a half in length. Astra hated the thing. She felt the whole affair ostentatious, and the design of the stairs had always been awkward to mount.

  “Hmmm? Oh, Careth. He’s a good man. He’ll know what to do.”

  Nadim took a step, closing the gap between himself and the empress.

  “Is everything alright?”

  Astra turned her gaze from the dais and looked at her friend.

  “To be honest, I’m unsure, Nadim. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end. It’s feels like I’m standing on the edge of a precipice.”

  Silence filled the space between them as Nadim waited, his empress searching for the right words.

  “It is more than that. I think we’re standing on a knife’s edge. I’ve tried to use my foretelling, but it feels blinded in a way I cannot explain.”

  Nadim looked past the empress towards the crowd that milled about on the far side of the wall. Jovani had collected the disabused functionary and left the throne room, leaving the empress in the protection of the high marshal and a contingent of the Royal Crest that lined the room. The officious crowd stood in small groups murmuring to themselves, occasionally glancing towards the empress.

  The high marshal reached out and gently repositioned Astra. Turning her so her back was facing the crowd behind them, hiding the dark thoughts etched on her face. Astra took a few deep breaths, and Nadim could see her mentally shaking the heaviness from her thoughts. Her eyes turned to him, focused and clear, the doubt of a moment before gone.

  “Thank you, my friend,” Astra said, acknowledging Nadim and his concern.

  Nadim nodded in return.

  “Now. High Marshal. What were you and the captain talking about as I came in?”

  Astra could see her friend hesitate, out of misplaced concern for her, no doubt.

  “Don’t start any of that with me, Nadim. I’m fine. I’ll sort out these feelings. What did you need to see me about?”

  Nadim bowed slightly at the light rebuke.

  “Empress. We’ve been experiencing increased attempts at breaching the Rift over the past few days. General Lak’s reports detail multiple incursions each day as if the Interlopers are testing our defenses.”

  “Have any enemy ships made it past Rift One’s defenses?”

  “No, empress.”

  “I assume you’ve ordered General Lak to increase the defensive perimeter?”

  “By a full third,” Nadim said, nodding. “That’ll put a strain on the general’s men and supplies in the long run, but for now, I thought it prudent. I was thinking of pulling a few ships from the security around Talunne to bolster the defenses at the Rift.”

  “Ah, hence why you were talking with the young captain.”

  Nadim nodded.

  “I was inquiring about the security measures for the next nine nights during the celebrations. I hoped we could redeploy some assets.”

  “And what did our capable captain say?”

  “I was thinking of sending the Dovani and a squad of StarFires to the Rift. She was on her way back to Morales Station after her refit at Airia, where they installed the newest generation of Paired Circuitry. Jovani had requested her detailed to Talunne to provide an extra layer of security for the celebrations. Mostly from an overabundance of caution, which we can’t fault him for, especially as they had arrived at Nthandi for a resupply, anyway.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Do you think there is any real possibility of the Interlopers gaining a foothold?”

  “No,” Nadim said immediately. “They’ve been trying for twenty years without success. We both know the nature of the Rift is to our advantage. They’ve not been able to send anything more than a scout ship through, and those are no match for the defenses arrayed there.”

  Nadim paused. This time, it was Astra’s turn to wait as her high marshal gathered his thoughts.

  “Maybe it’s an old man’s intuition, but I don’t like the increase in activity. My thoughts mirror your own. I feel like we’re standing in the way of a storm front rolling in to sweep us away.”

  “You’re anything but an old man, my friend.” Astra chuckled.

  She had a skewed perspective on age, as she was one hundred and twenty-five and still in the prime of her life. Wielding a Power slowed down one’s natural aging process and controlling all Nine slowed it considerably more. Besides, while not a Power, Nadim was the Lord of a Great House and the High Marshal. He had considerable resources of his own to maintain himself in peak health.

  A cough from behind Nadim caused them to flinch, breaking the spell their serious thoughts had cast over them.

  “Empress, High marshal. Apologies.”

  Astra and Nadim looked around surreptitiously, searching for how the captain had appeared behind them. They didn’t want to give Careth the satisfaction of letting on he had caught them unawares.

  “Captain Jovani. You’ve seen sufficiently to the gentleman?”

  “He was more embarrassed than anything else,” Jovani said, nodding. “The personal attention by the Captain of the Royal Crest seems to mollify any negative feelings.”

  “Thank you, captain.”

  “I’m sure he’s already embellishing the events in his retelling, focusing more on the personal attention he received from the empress. He’ll undoubtedly use the incident to his advantage.”

  “Good for him,” Astra said, her eyes glinting with amusement.

  “Careth,” Nadim said, pulling them back to their earlier conversation. “The Empress and I were just talking about the Dovani and if we should redeploy her to the Rift.”

  “Hmm. As I was saying, sir. I would prefer to keep her and her complement of StarFires on hand if possible. We’ve too many ships and people coming and going, not only from the estate but from all over Talunne, to make me comfortable. We're stretched thin, even with the palace’s security forces and the Navy personnel you assigned. I feel the Dovani can help fill some gaps I’ve noticed in the orbital defenses. As you both know, while the system is mostly at peace, many of the Great Houses still harbor ill will towards each other. The wounds from the War run deep.”

  The three paused, each having their own experiences during the War of Power that had ravaged the system for centuries.

  “Do you have evidence of any untoward plans during the celebrations?” Astra said, forcing them to move on from the unpleasant memories.

  “No, Empress. However, I’ve extensive knowledge of the invitees and am uncomfortable with them mixing in such numbers. A congregation of the Great Houses hasn’t been seen since the formal end of the War when you ascended the throne. Regardless of the reason, that much bad blood in one place makes me uncomfortable.”

  “High Marshal?”

  “Empress,” Nadim said with a slight nod in gracious defeat. “Jovani, please continue to see to whatever security measures you deem necessary. Coordinate with my office for any additional resources you require. Also, inform my staff the earliest the Dovani can redeploy to the Rift.”

  “Yes, sir. Empress.” Captain Jovani said, coming to attention and saluting in preparation to retreat to see to his orders.

  “Stop, captain.”

  “Empress?”

  “That can all wait. I’ve further need of your services this evening.”

  “Empress?” Jovani inquired, his eyes flickering between the high marshal and his empress.

  “Gentlemen, I think that we’ve all been much too serious in the past few weeks. I propose a night off from our official duties.”

  “Empress. Astra. Is that wise?”

  “Wise, Nadim? Probably not, but I think it’ll do us good. We’ve worked non-stop lately. I need a little fun to refocus.”

  Both men looked at each other, not liking where the conversation was heading.

  “Don’t even think of trying to change my mind. Either of you. It can be an order if you prefer,” Astra said, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’d rather have my friends join me for a night of frivolity. I hear there’s a party. I suggest we see what the grand masters have been creating for me.”

  “Jovani?”

  “It’s possible, sir. Sort of like when we go to Atlantara for a quiet night of drinking, except not really.”

  “Excellent,” Astra said, clapping her hands in excitement. She didn’t intend to give the two men time to talk her out of this.

  The trio paused, waiting for someone to direct their next step.

  “First things first. Jovani. We’ll need to leave with no one noticing we’ve gone.” Nadim said, a small sigh escaping his lips as he conceded another point in as many minutes.

  “Yes, sir. If I could beg a moment of your time,” the captain said, already keying in instructions to his men on the small data-pad built into his uniform’s left inner sleeve.

  Astra and Nadim stood in comfortable silence while the captain worked, no doubt arranging for their adventure.

  Moments later, the doors to the throne room opened, and the palace staff entered with refreshments. The gathered crowd turned their attention to this new distraction, voices rising as they sampled the pastries and drinks provided.

  “If you would both follow me?”

  Nadim and Astra turned from the crowd to find that Captain Jovani had walked off in the other direction, around the far side of the dais.

  Astra glanced at Nadim, who shrugged. They both knew the imperial palace intimately and didn’t know where the captain was leading them.

  Astra looked back to ensure the distraction worked before quickly moved to join her captain behind the dais, with the high marshal in close step behind her.

  The pair found Jon waiting for them in a hidden alcove behind the throne’s dais. An enormous banner, a heavy material of deep red that spanned the length from floor to ceiling, hung here to form the backdrop for the throne. On the banner sat a golden starburst in a circle of black. The circle, made from Nightstalker silk. If one looked closely, they would see a rainbow of colors swirling in its depths.

  As the pair approached, Jovani again accessed his uniform’s data-pad and punched in a command. A section of wall at the back of the alcove shimmered slightly, but remained otherwise unchanged.

  “Please follow me,” the captain said to his superiors before turning and walking right through the wall.

  “Well. That’s new,” Nadim said.

  “Indeed,” Astra replied. “I’ll have to talk with the captain. It appears he’s keeping secrets from me.”

  Nadim motioned for Astra to lead the way, which she did after a brief hesitation. She approached the wall and made herself take a confident step through. The empress was in her throne room one moment, and the next, she was standing in a brightly lit, narrow hallway. Astra was so shocked she didn’t realize she had stopped walking until Nadim walked directly into her.

  A small, embarrassed laugh escaped her lips as she quickly took a few more steps into the hallway, allowing the high marshal to join her and the captain.

  “Sorry, Nadim. I could’ve sworn I knew every secret access way and entrance in my palace.”

  The Captain of the Royal Crest seemed unfazed by the pointed stare she gave him.

  “Apologies, empress. I’d never deceive you, but you’ve never asked. The Crest has a series of hallways accessible from various chambers. We keep their existence secret, as they’re part of our last line of defense and escape. I thought that our departure tonight warranted a bending of that rule.”

  There were few people, other than Nadim, who spoke so directly to the empress. Not that Jovani was disrespectful; he had the confidence of a man who had seen and done it all in service of his empress and knew his duty to her. Jovani didn’t waste time telling Astra what he thought she wanted to hear; he spoke true and did his job without apology.

  “I suppose I’ll simply have to ask then, captain. But at another time. Lead on.”

  Jovani nodded and turned to lead the way down the hallway, with Astra and Nadim following silently behind.

  Twenty minutes later, with several twisting turns and three flights of stairs, Jovani stopped at a nondescript metal door.

  “We’re here. Your private landing pad is on the other side of this door and across the hallway.”

  “Impressive, captain. I look forward to a tour at some point soon.”

  “Your will, empress.”

  “Well, gentlemen. Shall we go see what awaits us at the Crater Rim Mountains?”

  “Astra. Perhaps, if our goal is to be inconspicuous, we shouldn’t go traipsing around looking like ourselves.”

  “Hmmm,” Astra said, regarding the two men. “Of course, you’re right. No point getting caught after all our sneaking around. Stay close behind me. Very close. I’ll get us to my ship unseen, and from there, we can decide how best to disguise ourselves for the night.”

  The empress signaled for Jovani to step aside and stepped by him, reaching out to grip the door’s handle.

  She glanced over her shoulder at her two compatriots.

  “Stay very close, within an arm’s reach. No more. I can hide us from casual view and from the cameras, but it won’t hold up if someone is close by or if you stray too far behind me.”

  Both men took a step closer to Astra, and the already cramped hallway beginning to feel claustrophobic.

  When they were in position, Astra twisted the handle and pushed the door open. A quick glance in either direction showed her an empty hallway, and she quickly led the trio across the hallway. As she approached the entryway to her private landing pad, the security sensors noted the signal embedded into a pendant hanging at her throat, and the doors slid quietly apart.

  They entered the bay; the doors closing behind them with a susurration. They could hear the empress’s personal yacht prepping itself for take-off. The trio crossed the open space of the landing bay, with Astra in the lead. As they approached the vessel, a hatch opened, a ramp descending to permit entry.

  They settled into their seats in the well-appointed but sparse cabin a few seconds later. As she settled in, Astra keyed a command on the data-pad built into her armrest, and they felt the hum of the engines spooling up. A soft thump was the only indicator as they became airborne, the autopilot navigating them to their destination.

  “Now, Jovani, Nadim. How shall we disguise ourselves for tonight’s fun?”