Lunara

Chapter One-Hundred-One: Musings of the Heart - Part Two

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: In orbit above planet Ora, Imperium Warship

Kotina stands next to me with a stony expression. Hiding her thoughts from me. My finger taps against my leg, impatiently. Thoughts strangle the peace in my mind. Thoughts of him, thoughts of the pity I saw on Kotina's face. I finally understand how Kalon feels when I show it to him. It cuts me differently though. For him it strikes at his pride, for me, my stomach. I feel sick, everything feels wrong, yet I am my father's daughter, I hold my head up, even if my heart is by my feet now. There is a sinking realization that things are not changing for the better. That I was naïve to dream of that which could be. He was right… was it a warning? Did he pity me too? No, no, do not believe her slag. I know what I felt when I was with him. No one can convince me otherwise.

The door opens again, Kotina looks at me, an expression that says to remember that I am a Raven. I nod to her, straightening myself. Following the path past the doorway slowly with measured steps. Remembering that if I show weakness, the Inquisitor will exploit it.

The halls are filled with white marble, golden statues and murals line the walls, in the Imperium's classic styles. Always showing the falseness they represent. As though there are not thousands of struggling solar systems under their domain. As though they do not… focus on the task. Be like him, be calm.

When I reach the large overly gold laden door at the end of the massive hall, I note that there is no depiction of Goddess Balencia, Victoria's patron Goddess. There is a spot where she would have fit, no effort has been made to hide the obvious tool marks of carving her off the door. As though they want to remind people that even the gods fall before Thane and his Pantheon. The doors swing open, and I see her there, across the expansive room. Somehow glittering more than the silver strips that separate the white marble tiles. Inquisitor Victoria. A wry smile upon her smug face.

"Ah, squire," She says, tenting her hands on her chin, "Come, sit with me."

"Inquisitor," I say, bowing deeply, trying not to grind my teeth as I do. My gaze does not linger on the gold paint around her eyes for long after I rise from the formal bow.

"Squire, I am told you completed your mission," she says, motioning me to sit closer to her at the oversized table, "Tell me of your travels."

The way she says squire, it makes my skin crawl. While it is a great honor to be chosen as a squire to an Inquisitor, I can't help but feel uneasy, knowing that she will control my fate for at least the next five years.

Sitting next to her, I say "As you wish, Inquisitor."

***

She did not ask a single question, the entire time she spent peeling my flesh with her unnerving gaze. Her words since I began have been trying to bait me into showing my emotions, always about Kalon in some way. Still, I have done my best to not show her anything.

"I don't know how Dallus discovered my location on Ora initially," I admit, choosing my next words carefully, "The second time he found me was my fault though."

"Yes, my subordinate, Kalon, told me as much," she baits again, I do not fall into her obvious trap. He was too real for me to believe her slagpile of words.

If I ask about him, I have already lost, the less I show that I care for him, the safer he will be.

"You're not curious about how long he's been in my employ?"

Her question stuns me for a moment, as it is the first she has asked. Is she growing impatient with my lack of interest in her game? Perhaps I can win this exchange.

"No, Inquisitor."

"So, you won't mind if I tidy up loose ends then?" she asks, leaning forward in her seat, my eyes fight to not widen at her remark, it is a bluff.

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"My opinion is irrelevant, Inquisitor."

"Indeed, still, I find it curious. Given your clear affections for him," she says, waving her hand through a holo, my face flinches as I see it is of me and Kalon, holding hands outside the Terrarium.

"You misread me, Inquisitor," I lie.

It begins as a shallow laugh, but soon becomes a roar that grates at my nerves.

"We already spoke about your habit of lying, girl," she says, rolling her eyes, "Never mind that though, perhaps if you're good, I'll order him to pretend to care for you again."

My teeth grind at her lies. He did not pretend. She is vile.

"So, you left off on Dallus, and how you still haven't figured out how he knew," she says, leaning back, tenting her hands again.

"Correct, Inquisitor," I say, about to speak again.

"I'm disappointed," she interrupts, though her sick smile says otherwise, "You haven't figured it out yet."

"I have not, Inquisitor," I admit again, does she mean to shame me?

"Well, I suppose I should give you a hint, since clearly it is above your current abilities to figure it out," she says, her smile folding more, exposing her teeth.

What was that word that Kalon uses, Vekka? Yes, this woman is a raging Vekka. My mouth holds tight my true thoughts though as I wait for her to tell me.

"I told him," Victoria says with a smile that chills me.

"You…"

"I told him that the only way he would ever be a Knight Commander is to bring me proof of your death," she says, leaning back further.

"Why… why would you do that?"

"My squire does not leave enemies half dead on battle fields," she says, tilting her head slightly to the side, "Besides, now there is a distraction, and a reason that I was able to purge the system files on Ora of your movements."

Something tells me there is more beneath it, yet another motive.

"There is more," I say, my eyes widen at my outburst.

"Speak it with confidence, girl."

My mouth opens then closes, unsure of if I should speak my thoughts. Frag it.

"You didn't purge the files, you made a copy for yourself. Specifically of me killing Dallus."

She smiles deeper, creasing lines around her eyes, "Now, why would I do such a thing?"

"You wanted to make sure that you could blackmail me, if you showed it to the Prime of Draconis, it would mean war between our houses. Which would lead to war between the Gallec Empire and the Republic of Hekate. And I have no doubt that you have a copy of what happened."

Her smile somehow deepens again, "No doubt indeed."

She claps her hands slowly, insultingly as though I am barely worth the effort.

"I will admit, I did enjoy toying with your life, Raven. But the highlight for me was to watch you suffer over the lie that is love," she says, the intimacy in which she says it tells me that she means it. She wants me to suffer, but I sense it's not even about me, but something deeper that she's held onto for years.

I recall how she spoke of my mother when we first met, there was a definitive hatred in her tone that she made no effort to hide. Did she plan all of this? Did he really… no, do not lose faith in him. She is lying. She is vile. Do not trust her.

"Well, I have a report to finish and bring before the high counsel, the Primus of Draconis has made quite the fuss over his dead heir," she says, standing slowly and looking down upon me, until I rise to meet her eyes, "Good, you'll need that anger to pass the fifth boundary, you will be first in your year to pass it, anything less and I will take it as a personal affront."

Pass the fifth boundary? But I only just passed the fourth a couple years ago, after barely managing to double-bound from the third. She wants me to double-bound again from the fourth to the fifth? My teeth grind despite me trying to hold it in. That would make me the first in more than a thousand years to reach the fifth before being twenty five. She is mad.

"Understood, Inquisitor."

"You have one month to report for training," Victoria says, leaving towards the door, "Consider it a gift for removing the Heir of Draconis's head."

A month? A breath of relief falls from me, that is enough time to help Kalon and get him settled with my House. I must not show her that I am relieved though. She is about to leave the room entirely, when she pauses, silence still hanging in the air, as though she is deciding if she wants to speak.

She turns to look over her shoulder, "You did better at hiding your emotions today." With that she turns and leaves.

My eyes blink at her remark, was that a compliment?

The door I entered from opens, and I walk out slowly, ruminating on what happened. Wondering above all if she has taken him hostage. When I reach the end of the hall, I almost dread the door opening to Kotina again. The pity was hard to accept, especially from her.

When the door opens, I am caught with a strange sight. Kotina stands with her back to me, on either side of her are men, two with sunken faces that have known hunger, burning red hair, nearly as vibrant as Solara's. They turn to look at me, deep blue eyes, brighter than Kotina's. Each turns back toward a person who I can't see, Kotina's massive frame blocking my view from them. When I see the dark black hair and the vibrant yellow eyes lean from around her shoulder, my heart dares to flutter.

"Kalon," I say, stepping forward. Almost not believing my eyes, she has returned him, unharmed even. Was she simply testing me? Did I pass? Thoughts fall away as I peer into his eyes.

I am about to rush forward and pull him into my grasp, but Kotina coughs loudly, looking at me sternly.

"Like I taught you," she mutters.

My jaw tightens and I nod, straightening myself. She is right, I should not show how I feel so freely, not here, not now.

"Luna," Kalon says, motioning me to join the small circle of people. His eyes give apology where his mouth does not. He does not need to, I know she manipulated him. I look at the two men in the circle, standing on either side of Kalon. One shorter than the other, they look very similar though, almost like… brothers.

"Are they?" I ask, daring to hope.

Kalon smiles, a deep and full smile, one that throbs my heart, he points to the shorter one, "This is Daki," he points to the taller one, "This is Haki."

Both lower their heads in a bow after Kalon gives them a glance.

"The brothers…" I say softly.

"Yes," Kalon says, his smile filling his face, he clasps both by the shoulder, pulling them close to him, "Aden Inak Tobas."

Even with my constant studying, I still have to give him the look that asks for him to translate.

"Today is a good day," Kalon says, giving me a nod that wipes away all of my fears.

Relief, whether fleeting or permanent, in this moment I don't care, it envelops me entirely.

"Let's get off this slaghole ship," Kotina says, glancing around, there is a subtle look of worry on her brow.

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