Prologue
Flesh was torn from the guard's stomach by a handful of razor sharp claws. He swung his own hand back but missed, only to find pointed teeth being imbedded into his arm. He yanked away and lashed out again, finally seeing his swift target. The woman moved with the lithe grace that all their people had and he hit her upside the face. She snarled and hissed at the same time, tearing again at his flesh with both hands full of claws. The guard was down in a moment.
The room soon filled with people, all of them fighting. Olequa turned from the guard to grab another and flip him over her shoulder. "Celiscar! Fool!"
Jjesta, Olequa's best friend had sunk her needle like fangs into another guard's neck. She spit out a mouthful of blood when she came up. "We cannot battle them all! They are filling the chamber too rapidly!"
Olequa nodded quickly. "Find Mrowest! He must fall before the others do."
Jjesta looked around, seeing no sign of their dreaded enemy. "We must first get past these before we can destroy him."
Olequa didn't respond. Instead, she swiped at another guard and resumed her fight. They rolled onto the floor and continued to scratch at each other until they were a bloody mess.
Suddenly, the doors were thrown open and a new group of guards came upon all of them. They pulled them apart and held them prisoners for the newest arrival to enter the room. King Astire surveyed the surroundings with disdain. "Quo lino morash ca laste mis timorlanis. I thought there were traitors here. Quo te lino morash mrows masteno. I just did not think one would be my daughter."
Olequa's jaw dropped. Her father was accusing her of being a traitor? "Father, can you not see that these guards are traitors?!"
King Astire looked around the room. "You have been rebellious your whole life. These guards have always been loyal. They would not betray me now."
"You think I would? Your own daughter!" Olequa exclaimed. "And Jjesta! What will Queen Esqua say? Do you really think your wife's daughter would betray you, too?!"
"I do not know what to think. I only know what I see. You and Jjesta are forever banished from this kingdom! From this planet! I cannot have traitors in my midst," King Astire turned to his men. "Guards, take them to the Galeista. They can find their own planet from there."
~^..^
"That was only slightly harsh compared to what could have possibly happened," Jjesta said as she sat in the copilot chair in the Galeista. The ship was a large trading vessel used for her mother and stepfather's trade runs with other planets. She liked the ship and knew how to fly it, so she had no problem. She twirled in the chair to face Olequa, who sat in the pilot's seat.
Olequa shrugged. "It also did not happen in accordance to what should have happened. Obviously, Mrowest will have thought he has outsmarted us by having us banished while he still slowly swindles my father's throne. We will return one day."
Jjesta flipped some switches. "We will return when we have something to return with. If we return empty handed with no friends to help us, we will be of no use to our country."
"So we must bring someone back. Anyone who is willing to help us," Olequa concluded. Jjesta nodded. "Yes. We must."