Warrior Princess: Sci Fi Space Opera Adventure - Epic Warrior Survival, page 1
Warrior Princess
Her Journey Begins. . .
J. T. Skye
Skye Publishing LLC
Copyright © 2023 by Skye Publishing LLC
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual historical events or people is unintentional coincidence. Really. Despite what you may have heard or read in the tabloids, this story isn’t true. Please, enjoy it as it unfolds.
Contents
Dedication
Introduction
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 25
26. Chapter 26
Dedication
In Memory of Richard Whiting Sands:
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rains fall soft upon your fields
Until we meet again. . .
Gaelic Blessing
Introduction
Thank you for selecting this story. I value your time investment as a reader and want to make sure I am giving you stories I feel will pull you in, engage you, give you enjoyment, take you far, far away. . . and occasionally make you smile.
This story is really important because it is all about HOW Elith te Hoganth becomes a cadet at the Warrior Academy and the hard, painful choices she makes to get there.
How she grows to become an Elite Warrior, the space battles she fights and then how she becomes the reigning Empress are other stories in this series.
Oh, yeah, and just to warn you. Right now? She is a 15 year old, spoiled brat, petulant, entitled. . . and has a loonnnnggg hard road ahead of her.
It is good that she is not squeamish about learning how to fight, survive and kill those who would attack her.
Because she’ll need that. . . a lot.
Please enjoy this journey prequel as it unfolds.
Chapter one
Iwas sooo thrilled. The vid was perfect. I could even see his skin turn bright pink with embarrassment under his thin, short fur.
Ha, he is always so well combed. But not after what I did.
And I got it in vid. And. . . used my neural node to publish it across our planet and Empire wide.
He’ll be the galactic laugh for days and days to come. I’ll show those elites. All the other cubs lavish so much attention on Enwal Brite, but not today.
Well, yes they did, but they laughed. At him.
Serves House Brite and their arrogant elitism for not following my Pater, the Emperor.
They OWE allegiance and not to focus just on their wealth stream. With them it is always about power, control and wealth.
Well, I got them good today.
My smile was so wide my mouth hurt.
I heard Ashwan come into my suite. Even as softly as she walked, her steps still echoed across the broad expanse and stone floor of my suite.
Of course, mine was not nearly as big as my brother, nor, of course, as big as my Pater’s and Mater’s suites. As the reigning Emperor and Empress of Hoganth, they deserved bigger and better. After all, they reign over the entire empire, not just our planet, Hoganth. . . but ALL of the aligned systems.
And those arrogant Houses owed them respect and observance. Owed them that. Our family has been guiding Hoganth and the Empire for more than the thousand year Slave War. Way longer.
Our family goes back much farther.
So many Hoganthans are despised and ridiculed for not having a House name. Not me. Not us. We do not and never will have a House name. Because we are of Hoganth, of the planet, of the people. And proud of it.
And I certainly showed House Brite that today.
I turned to Ashwan as she stopped in front of me.
She smiled for a moment, then frowned and nodded, slowly and gently toward me, “Elith, we need to get ready for your Mater’s event and you are not even dressed yet. We will be late.”
I intentionally pouted, “I do not wish to go. It is always so. . . formal, so boring, so. . . “
Ashwan smiled again, her long ear tails wafting back and forth in the gentle breeze floating across my sitting room.
She gently, but firmly interjected, “. . . necessary for you to show that you are supporting the monarchy with your appearances and hospitality. After all, you are fully fifteen year-cycles old now and need to begin to cultivate the culture, relationships and political acumen needed to aid the Emperor and Empress in moving their agendas forward. That is your role.”
She frowned at me, looked at me firmly and continued, “Well, you know that, you just don’t like it.”
I frowned fiercely, half intentionally, so she could really see my smirk and half just because it was real. Why do I have to do this? Leave this political Pangra droth to my esteemed brother. It looks like he is sucking up enough that he’ll become the Emperor Designate. So, why not me? Anyway,
I frowned again.
It caused Ashwan to just smile, “It is good to see your petulant frown is working today. I was concerned you were not feeling well. Your first frown was not nearly as strong as normal.”
I instantly pursed my lips together, closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. I love her dearly. Really. But I just hate that she can see through me like that. I would almost think she was one of the Ancient Anjani, but I know that is just a fable. But, she is almost. . . intuitive.
I nodded, my shoulders slouching and stood up from my writing chair. I put on my best look of exasperation.
That just made it worse and Ashwan laughed. Now, she didn’t laugh AT me, more with me at my attempt and feeling of disappointment of my destiny, crammed into this palace and just a tiny, infinitesimal cog in the greater arc of the monarchy.
Yeah, my purpose was to subtly push the Empire agenda behind the scenes with the other young cubs we met, or I was positioned with.
Well, all except Enwal Brite, now. It would be some time before he ever smiled again.
Serves him right for trying to approach me that way. I am so not interested in a companion now and absolutely not a House elite. Ever. He is cute, but a member of House Brite. Ugh!
Ashwan must have seen my flinty reaction to thinking of Enwal and his intentions.
She cocked her head to one side, “Are you all right, Elith? Are you feeling well?”
I smiled thinly with a nod, my ear tails wafting in the gentle breeze, “If I was not feeling well could I stay here, or better yet, go to the roof top garden to bask in the sun?”
Ashwan laughed openly and shook her head, her aqua green eyes glinting in the sun streaming through the windows and her ear-tails wafting in the gentle breeze, “No, of course not. You tried that last year and it didn’t work then, it won’t work now. Your presence is required at the event, ill or not.”
Fat lot of good that did me. I still remember and hate how that went and the punishment I received for it.
I gave in and nodded, my shoulders obviously slumping in defeat, “Okay, I’ll get ready.”
“You should have been ready an hour ago. We will be late and your Mater, really needs you to pay attention to the agenda. They are trying to manage very sensitive negotiations with the elite Houses, Cailan, Brite, Dea and the others. Their cubs will be there.”
She paused for a moment, the smile instantly disappearing and replaced by a serious, intent gaze, “And, Elith, this really is important. This war has been going on for so long that we need. . . your Pater and Mater need. . . to gain their continued support and contribution. It feels, well the Admiralty and Senior Advisors feel, we are really close to finishing off the Brinlo and Cren. If they can be stopped and their armadas destroyed, it will end the war and culminate the thousand year cycle of ending slavery. You are playing a key role in helping that occur. Doesn’t that excite you?”
I instantly shook my head, “No, Ashwan, it doesn’t. I get that it is important to end slavery and the war. But will that actually change anything? I don’t think so, not with the pirates and all. And, I don’t feel my being there. . . or not. . . will make any difference. Send my brother. The rumors all over the palace are that he will be the Emperor Designate. When that happens, I’ll have no future at all. None. Just to become some palace furniture with no life.”
I instantly shut up at her look. I had pushed too hard. Again.
Ashwan went all formal on me, which means I have angered her. Not my intent. But those really are my feelings.
I put my left hand up, “Ashwan, I do not wish to anger you. I know we’ve had this discussion many, many times and you don’t agree with me. I’ll get ready quickly and not fuss about it anymore. Today.”
I love her so much, she is like the Mater I wish I had. And, I’d certainly stuck my foot into it.
I stepped over to where the maid was standing next to the door to my wardrobe dressing room. I gently shook my head and helped her to quickly change me into my afternoon party uniform suit. I so hate that, but that is what the event called for - mid-formal attire.
I snuck a quick mental scan of the vid and saw the response that it had been logged and published on the Hoganth and Empire wide streams. I didn’t smile or smirk at all. Ashwan would have seen it and asked.
I learn slowly. But I do learn.
The party event was at a private park across the city, so we took a hover sled and made a grand entrance, setting down away from all of the parents and cubs. Our pilot went in low and slow to try and be as quiet as she could be, but I could still see heads turn at our late arrival, well, my late arrival.
My Mater was standing on a small stage area and addressing the audience with her usual pleasant and authoritative voice. She was good at this. That is what my future holds and not even at her level. I will be assigned smaller venues and different ethnic/alliance groups to cajole and win over for the monarchy’s goals.
These types of events will be attended by my brother’s future bride. I’ve heard he is already meeting with a daughter from House Dea.
I shivered at the thought.
My attitude began to spin down again and I frowned, shook my head, stood up straight and forced a smile. Time for me to put on my Princess look and visage. I quickly scanned the agenda notes in my neural node to make sure I knew who was here and what they wanted me to achieve today.
I smiled thinly. My goal, my only goal today was to mingle with the other cubs and be friendly, to gently, very gently, answer questions they were fed by their parents and to help ensure I was providing the base support for Mater’s agenda. . . something to do with extending the boundaries of the park to a further western section of the city, an area currently devastated by homelessness and disabled, nonworking beings of all sorts.
I didn’t have the heart to ask where they would go - if their buildings were torn down for more gardens - but that question was filtering through my head.
I saw my Mater’s eyes take in our attendance, my late attendance, from a distance and she didn’t even miss a syllable as she glinted at me. I knew a discussion would happen at home and clamped my mouth tight.
Okay, mingle. That was the agenda. Mingle and be polite and friendly with House cubs that also couldn’t care less about what their parents wanted. Well, it was easy to tell the ones that did and took all of this seriously. Some were that way and knew this was their path to executive leadership in their Houses. Others didn’t care and knew they had to be here like I was.
Ashwan and our guards were standing near the edge of the event with the other advisors, mentors and guards.
I could see Ashwan look at me for a moment and saw the tiny flick of her fingers, urging me forward to join the groups.
Granted, we’d just arrived. I get that. I was late. But it suddenly occurred to me that the other cubs, most my age, a year or two younger and a year or two older were all in their little groups. I knew them, well almost all of them, by name and family. They were not cliqued within family, nor by gender. They were cliqued by how they liked each other. That slowly dawned on me. Like I shared before, I learn slowly, but I do learn.
They were laughing and chatting. . . and having fun.
And, none of them cared that I was there. I could see they all had witnessed our arrival, saw their eyes and saw them go back to their jokes, chatting and fun hand gestures. Just cubs having fun.
It was actually fun to see that and then it suddenly struck me. Like a stone. I had no friends. They all liked to come to these events because they were friends, they got to see each other and have fun.
Sure, they all had agendas from their families, too, but they could feed that into their discussions, weave that positional fabric as they joked and talked.
I felt like an idiot as I suddenly blushed red realizing I was well and truly alone.
I looked over at Ashwan and she could see my expression. She cocked her head to one side as she continued to talk with another advisor from House Benet, one of the. . . nicer, more ethical Houses.
My attitude and feelings were beginning to spiral over a cliff. I refused to allow that to ruin my afternoon, to ruin this for me. I closed my eyes for a moment, arched my back to get the kink out, heard the crack as my spine aligned, put on my best smile and walked over to the closest group of cubs to do my best, my very best, to be friendly and share why the park was so lovely, why it would be good for the city to make it bigger.
Chapter two
The sun was setting and we’d just arrived back at our palace. I was in a foul mood, weary at all of the forced and carefully managed discussions I’d had with the other cubs. Listening to their parents' views about extending the park, concerns about the cost in credits, concerns about those impacted, concerns about removing their homes and small businesses, concerns about who would get to do the forest plantings and who would choose the colors of flowers in the gardens.
I was exhausted.
If it had been my agenda, I think I’d have wanted to rebuild their homes and businesses, not take them away for a bigger park. ‘Just seemed backward, but that was not the agenda I was given.
I was breathing strongly, trying to manage my anger. I considered the bright side. I had mingled as assigned and only been scoffed at, insulted directly and indirectly by casual reference, just twelve times. That may have been a new record and the best showing I’ve had since I started all of this.
Okay, I was actually happy about that.
I hadn’t made any friends, but hadn’t overtly angered anyone either. I was dutiful, listened intently, acknowledged their thoughts and ideas and supported them where they fit my Mater’s event goals and gently, ever so gently, countered them where they didn’t align.
Ashwan and my primary guard were standing next to the flitter sled we’d just come in on. I had moved around the back of it. I like ships. I like the machinery, the mechanisms, the power of them. I know, weird for a palace cub, but that’s just me. The engines in a flitter sled are really focused down with very small lateral engines and control thrusters. Nice stuff. I was looking at the back and overheard a small group fully on the right side of the craft, just far enough away they didn’t think I could hear them and likely didn’t know I was standing at the back of the small ship.
After all, why would a ‘princess’ be away from her mentor and guard and be interested in ships anyway, right?
I’d caught their conversation in mid-stream but it was very clear to me who they were talking about. Me. And, not in a good way.
I carefully peered around the side of the ship to see who was talking. Two general palace guards and two mid-level advisors.
I’d had a disagreement with one of the advisors. She was the one talking, “One of these cycles, her impetuous attitude will get her in trouble. She has such a bad attitude.”
The female guard moved her left hand and flicked her fingers toward the ship, “If I were her parents, I’d ship her to a learning academy on Wardle or Matogrendin, they would train her to act right and stop this trauma of her insolent behavior. She has to learn to do her part. She’s an insult to the monarchy.”
The other guard chimed in as he laughed, “No, I’d send her to Maeghen and have the Sisterhood stamp that attitude right out of her. Instantly.”
The female advisor disagreed, “We don’t need any more of that. She needs to step in line and do her part as the Princess.”
The male guard added in another laugh, “Yes and that won’t be much now that her brother is rumored to be selected as the Emperor Designate, by the parents.”
He realized he was louder than intended and put his furred hand over his mouth to stifle the sound of his laughter.
The female guard nodded, “She’ll have to step in line or they will have no choice but to send her away. Otherwise it will give the elites a cause to challenge the monarchs even more and they don’t need any more of that. Not now. This war is going on so long, it is draining us like a Xanthan leech.”
