Tamarus, Capital of Tamaran

BOOM! BOOM!

The seemingly endless shelling of the capital city was nearly enough to bring Princess Koriand'r to tears from her bedroom terrace.

Although she knew sensibly it was best to remain with her family under guard by the Imperial Forces, she couldn't help but wish she was out there doing something to help her people. She hated playing the spectator to the suffering of others. From her little brother having a broken bone to her sister being bedridden with the zhusakis, it hurt her when she couldn't help ease another's burdens somehow.

Her parents had told her a ruler should not take such things so personally. They must be focused on the wider picture and do what was best for all of Tamaran. Needless to say, the lessons had not sunk in.

She hoped she would never have to make such decisions. Luckily for her, her sister was first in line for the throne. Komand'r had been excited to become Grand Ruler for as long as Koriand'r had known her, which was to say, her whole life.

While making unemotional decisions had always been hard for her, Komand'r seemed to have no such issues. When it came down to it, she could be as cold and calculating as they come. She'd gotten herself out of many a situation with her cunning and it seemed detachment was no problem for her if all the heartbroken young men on Tamaran were any indication.

Her thoughts were broken by a voice calling out to her, "Princess. Are you ready?"

"Yes, Galfore. I'll be there in a moment."

Galfore was a red-haired burly man who had served the Royal Family since before Koriand'r was born. He was fearsome and the scar over one of his green eyes did nothing to take away from that image. However, she had been exposed to his gentler side since she was a small child. He had been she and her siblings' protector and caretaker whenever her parents were unavailable which was more often than she had realized. Truly, she felt she could be herself more around Galfore than her own father.

Finally, she joined him in the hall, beginning to slowly trudge towards the dining hall.

"What troubles you, my little bumgorf?" Her caretaker asked, furrowing his brow.

She heaved out a melancholy sigh. "I'm worried. I have heard things the past few days. Whispers and rumors. From what I hear, they're talking about me."

Galfore remained silent, indicating he knew more than he was letting on.

"I suppose that's the purpose of this dinner, then?" Koriand'r deduced, stating more than asking.

Galfore's face looked pained. "It is not my place to explain, Princess." He halted at the entrance to the dining room. "Your parents will explain all."

Feeling like she was trying to swallow a boulder, she stepped inside and let the doors slam shut behind her. Everyone else was already seated.

Her father, King Myand'r, Grand Ruler of Tamaran, was at her left. He had a wild mane of red hair with a thick braided beard. Although nowhere near as massive as Galfore, the King still had a fit frame himself.

Beside him was his Queen, Luand'r. Koriand'r had inherited her mother's luscious red locks. The woman's face was sharp and angular but exuded wisdom. When she spoke, people listened, and some would say she was an even more fearsome presence than her husband.

On the right side of the table, her younger brother Ryand'r sat. Prince Ryand'r was a bright-eyed and inquisitive young man with a heart of gold but a fiery temper that he was always told would get him in trouble. His auburn hair was curly and on his head was a circlet indicative of his royal status.

And last but not least, alone at the head of the table, sat her sister Komand'r, first in line for the throne. Unlike the rest of her family, she had silky dark tresses. Although not all Tamaraneans had red hair, all had bright primary coloring. Komand'r was one of the very few to have been born with dark hair. It was a rare birth defect that many children did not survive. The girl's emerald eyes always seemed to have a storm behind them. She was always thinking, calculating, and it appeared she inherited her mother's authoritative and take-charge attitude.

"Koriand'r. What kept you, child?"

"I apologize, father. I was…distracted."

"Yes, the current conflict has us all a bit…sidetracked." Clearing his throat, the King opted for a more upbeat tempo. "Ryand'r, how goes combat training?"

"Korthus took me on my first Dragett hunt today. I was this close to catching one. They're tricky little things."

"Greater men than you have tried and failed to catch a Dragett, my son." Myand'r laughed.

"Yes," Luand'r chimed in, "Your father, for example, has never come close to catching one."

The whole family burst out laughing at that remark.

"I thought we would keep that under wraps, sweetheart." Turning to his children, he explained, "The only reason I couldn't catch it is because my Teret threw me off. If the blasted creature wasn't so skittish, we'd have been feasting on Dragett."

"I presume you didn't call this dinner to regale us with tales of your failed exploits, Father?"

The mood sobered up once more. "As always, Komand'r, you're quick to the point." With a pained glance at his youngest daughter, he forced his next words out. "As you all know, the Citadel's attack has been relentless. They've completely overrun the Southern States of Kalapatt. The Ymeer Forests are burning. And now they've breached as far as Tamarus. The transubstantiator hasn't helped matters. With that infernal device in place, the condition of our atmosphere only worsens and our people grow weaker physically as well as in spirit. I don't know how they've managed to maneuver through our defenses. They were never this clever before. But they have made contact with us. They've…" He wet his lips. "They've surprisingly offered to halt their assault on one condition. They demand a tribute. They've asked to take…" He finally looked at his daughter. "You, Koriand'r. As their prize."

"What?" She asked in a small voice.

"What?!" Her younger brother asked much louder, standing up from his chair. "NO! Father, you can't agree to these demands."

"We are losing ground by the day, son!" The king responded, standing as well. "Somehow those wretches have inside intelligence. Until we can come up with new strategies or a way to counteract them, we have little options!"

"Then we fight to the end! Isn't that what you always taught us, Mother?"

Luand'r couldn't meet his eyes. "Yes, Ryand'r. That is what I taught you. But I also taught you to do what's best for all of Tamaran. And that supersedes all. We are on the brink of global extinction if nothing is done. Times like these require desperate solutions."

"Sacrificing your own child to those monsters shouldn't be one!"

"We have yet to agree to anything." The King stated, sitting down and returning his gaze to his youngest daughter. "We just wanted to make you aware, Koriand'r. Ultimately, the decision is up to you."

Feeling as if she were about to begin hyperventilating, Koriand'r stood and fled the room.

Dimly, she heard Galfore call her name as she raced down the halls. Once she was out of sight, she leapt off her balcony and plummeted into the clouds.

"Koriand'r, wait!" With a rueful glance at his parents, Ryand'r was about to follow his sister when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll talk to Koriand'r."

"Kom, are you sure? You're not exactly the best at giving heart-to-heart pep talks."

"We're sisters. Do you really think I would do anything to harm her?" She answered with an earnest look.

Ryand'r couldn't truly give an honest answer. He could never be too sure with his eldest sister. But he simply shook his head and let her pass.

Running into Galfore outside, she laid a hand on his massive arm. "Don't worry. I'll bring her back. I know where to find her."

….

Koriand'r was hugging herself, tears streaming down her face, feeling the weight of her world on her shoulders despite technically being weightless.

The blackened sky around her did nothing to help her mood. Ever since the transubstantiator had been activated above the planet's surface, Tamaran's typically vibrant skies were a depressing dull color and slowly sapped her people of the energy the sun's rays provided.

"I thought I'd find you up here."

Her head whipped around to find her sister floating in the sky just as she was. They were the only two on Tamaran who could and they'd been keeping it that way for months now.

"You know, eventually the Dragetts might reveal your hiding spot one of these days." Kom smirked.

That coaxed a laugh out of her. "They are notorious tattletales. I remember when one of them told Mother that you stole from its nest. She was quite angry with you that day."

"Yes, I remember. I hunted it down and killed it." Komand'r revealed, her face dark.

Koriand'r's face fell in horror for a moment.

"I'm kidding!" Her sister laughed. "You take life way too seriously, baby sister."

"And perhaps you do not take it seriously enough." She laughed in return.

"Listen…I know this isn't exactly the easiest choice in the world to make. But as the Princess, it is your duty to protect the people. Whatever the personal cost. I just wish I could take this burden for you."

"I wish no one had to. None of this makes sense. How did they get a transubstantiator? How did they know about Kalapatt's secret base? How did they even breach the atmosphere? Something is not right."

"Hey, I'm just as confused as you are." Her sister answered, throwing up her hands. "But do we really have time to ponder those questions while our planet is dying? It may not be the easiest or most comfortable choice but…I believe you know the right one. You always do what's best for everyone, Koriand'r, no matter what it costs you. Is this truly any different?" Floating closer, Kom placed her hands on her sullen sister's shoulders. "All I know is this: You'd have a very proud big sister if you do what you always do."

"Which is?" Kori asked, lifting her previously lowered head.

"The right thing." Komand'r smiled, before descending to the clouds from whence she came.

The right thing, Koriand'r mused to herself. When did doing it become so hard?

…..

Finding a good night's sleep to be elusive, Koriand'r had been itching to go out for another flight but didn't dare do so in broad daylight.

Thus, she found herself staring at her bedroom wall looking at nothing in particular.

Cursing her sluggishness, she stood up and decided to see what her brother was up to. Normally, he'd be one of the first to check up on her.

To her surprise, she found him tiptoeing as if he were out hunting.

"Ry?"

Her sibling lurched as if he'd been burned. "Kori, don't scare me like that. How long have you been standing there?"

"I just came to see how you were feeling."

His expression softened. "I should be asking you that."

Ignoring the issue for now, she probed, "I don't suppose you're going out to fight the Citadel all by yourself?"

He shyly looked away. "No. I was trying to visit Vitalia. I haven't seen her in a while and with all that's been going on…"

He didn't have to finish the thought.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

The notion seemed to make him uncomfortable and she had to laugh at her brother's squeamishness. "I just wanted to get a look at the city. I'd rather not make the journey by myself. I promise I won't get in you or Vitalia's way."

Ryand'r finally smiled back at her and jerked his head as a signal for them to get a move on.

Just as they made it outside the front gate, an all-too-familiar voice slowed them down, "And just where are you two headed in such a rush?"

Ryand'r responded first. "It's none of your business, Kom."

Putting her hands up in a placating gesture, she soothed, "No need for all the hostility, brother. I just wanted to spend some quality time with my siblings, that's all." Her face betrayed a vulnerability they'd never seen from here before. "In times like these, I just thought we should stick together."

Kori's face fell in sympathy and she turned toward her brother, hands clasped in a silent plea for her to join them.

Under his sisters' imploring gazes, Ry found he couldn't say no. "Fine. You can come along. We're going into the city. Just having a look around."

"And seeing Vitalia, I presume?"

His blush told her enough and both girls giggled in unison.

Tamarus

Tamaran's capital city had definitely seen better days.

The main square was normally bustling with excitement and activity but today hardly anyone milled about, speaking in somber tones.

Smoke was swirling in the distance only a few miles outside the city. Faintly, the sounds of artillery and war cries could be heard, carried on the wind.

Ryand'r's look of longing only reminded Koriand'r of how badly he wanted to join the army.

As the prince, however, he was tasked with other responsibilities and he was considered too young. But Kori had no doubt in her mind that when the time came, her brother would be ready. Korthus and Galfore had taught him well and he was a natural.

Komand'r seemed to be scrutinizing it all, wondering how she would proceed if she were in charge, something Kori knew she thought about all the time. It was not uncommon for her to go on tangents about how things would be different if only she were Grand Ruler.

Unlike Ry or Kom, Kori had no idea what to do or how to change things. She just wanted to see her people's suffering end.

Every child's whimper, every tear-filled goodbye, every injured civilian on the street was like a knife to her heart.

Finally, they reached Vitalia's home. It was a meek and unimpressive dwelling but felt far cozier to Koriand'r than the palace walls.

They'd been wordless the whole trip until Ry turned and spoke up. "Okay, I'm going inside. Are you two staying out here?"

"Sure. I'll stand guard. You never know who the Citadel might snatch up." Kom interjected, with a meaningful glance at Kori.

Ry nodded, then went inside.

"Kom, do you want any company? I could…"

"Actually, sis…" She cut her off. "…I was thinking you could give us a bird's eye view."

"But what if I'm spotted?"

"Just stay on the roof. It'll be fine, I promise. You trust me, right?"

"I do." She smiled.

"Good."

…..

Perched on the roof, Kori had an even better view of the chaos.

She could see the fields of battle, the war-torn skies, the forest fires, and her home in the distance. If she squinted, she could make out her bedroom balcony.

She sighed, tugging at her purple skirt. Although it was a warm day, she still felt a chill as if cold fingers were worming over her exposed midriff.

She had gotten so bored that she had lost sight of Kom a while back but was sure she was fine. If anyone could take care of themselves, it was Komand'r.

A loud crash startled Kori out of her thoughts. It sounded like it was coming from below. Silently floating down to a side street, Koriand'r turned the corner to find Gordanian soldiers dragging a child between them. It had to be Vitalia's little sister.

For weeks, Tamaranian children had been going missing. No one knew why but Kori would be damned if she let it happen on her watch.

Her hands began to spark and glow with a familiar energy when a swift hand grabbed her wrist.

She whirled with glowing green eyes only to find her sister morosely shaking her head.

"Why not?" Kori asked, her power dying down.

"You know we can't reveal ourselves. These powers are supposed to be our secret until we get control over them."

"But surely we can…"

Kori's protests were drowned out by a loud string of Tamaranean curses.

To her horror, Kori watched as her brother, brandishing a pocket knife, leapt into the fray against the attackers.

There were 6 in total, and he was quickly able to take down 4 before they rallied and overcame him.

He was corralled and held down while their leader dealt vicious blows to his body.

Readying his plasma weapon, he prepared to fire.

"STOP!"

All eyes turned to see the Princesses of Tamaran emerge from hiding.

"Halt!" Koriand'r spoke again, firmly and leaving no room for argument. "I am told that your superiors seek to have me as their prize."

"Correct." Their leader snarled.

"Unhand the Prince and release your captive and I will agree to your demands."

"Kori, no-AHHH!" Ryand'r was silenced by a plasma beam.

"Silence, boy!" The Gordanian barked. Turning back to the Princess, they shared an intense stand-off before he relented.

"Release the girl. And get the young prince out of my sight."

Vitalia's sister was unceremoniously dropped before her mother scrambled to grab her and Ry was shoved at Vitalia's feet.

"We've kept our end of the bargain, wench. Now come along. Lord Trogaar is eager to make your acquaintance."

Taking a deep breath and steeling her nerves, Kori gave a glance behind her to her sister, conveying all the fear and vulnerability she was desperately trying to hide.

Kom gave a reassuring smile and a hug. "You can do this, Kori." She whispered in her ear. "I believe in you."

"HURRY UP, TROQ! We don't have all day."

Glaring at the derogatory name, Kori proudly walked over and allowed herself to be put in chains.

Ry began to race over but Kom blocked his path, nodding at her sister.

The look in her brother's eyes was breaking Kori's heart and she forced herself to look away as she was led onto the ship.

The last glimpse she saw before the doors shut was Ryand'r comforting a shaken Vitalia, looking as if he needed it just as much.

She hoped it wasn't the last of Tamaran she ever saw.

….

For the past few hours, Koriand'r had been sequestered inside a holding cell aboard the Gordanian flagship hovering above Tamaran. The transubstantiator satellites over the planet did their work well. Even onboard, Kori could feel her strength waning.

All she'd been told once being dragged here was that Lord Trogaar would like to make her acquaintance. In the meantime, all she could do was wait and pray to X'hal that help was coming.

Suddenly, her cell door was thrust open and the guards who brought her entered, weapons drawn.

"On your feet, Troq! Lord Trogaar will see you now."

Her hands and ankles were encased in thick cuffs and she was jerked to her feet as if she were livestock. Poked and prodded all the way, the Princess was led to the main control room of the ship.

Her eyes were shifted downward burning with shame and barely controlled rage but eventually Kori lifted her hateful gaze to the shadow looming over her.

Flanked by two smaller guards, the Gordanian known as Trogaar loomed large. His green leathery frame was thick with muscle and sinew and his tail swished behind him in glee. His golden armor signified his status among the elite of these heathens and his sadistic grin only served to make him look more repulsive.

"So this is the infamous Princess Koriand'r?"

The lizard slid a claw under her throat, prodding her larynx. She resisted the urge to bite it off.

"It would appear the rumors are true. You are quite lovely…for a Troq." He smirked cruelly.

Kori had to make a conscious effort to keep her eyes from glowing and her hands from igniting. "What do you want?!"

"Why don't we save that conversation for your parents' arrival?" Looking over her shoulder, his disgusting smirk only widened. "Ah, perfect timing. King Myand'r, Queen Luand'r. And your manservant."

Turning around, Kori saw her parents flanked by an incensed-looking Galfore.

"Koriand'r, are you all right?" Galfore inquired anxiously. "Have these animals done anything to you?!"

"Bite your tongue, infidel!" Trogaar spat with disdain. "I only asked the King and Queen to come, not their lapdog. Be thankful I even allow you in my presence."

Galfore growled low in his throat but Myand'r raised a hand, signaling him to stand down.

"What use do you have for my daughter?"

"Oh, I can think of several off the top of my head."

"You monsters!" The Queen shouted with venom.

"Ah, now I see where your spawn gets their fiery temper. Certainly not from their father."

"Will you keep your word?" The King asked, ignoring the insult.

"Do you have any other option but to trust that I will? Your planet is dying. Your people's corpses litter the streets. We bear down on your precious capital even now. How much more ground can you stand to lose? Accept my generous offer or perish. Either way, Tamaran is ours."

Koriand'r met her father's gaze, silently pleading. He only sighed and gulped in response, shutting his eyes in anguish.

"There is a third option, you know. Fight me in single combat here and now. If you want the girl back so badly, come and fight for her. Tamaranians are a warrior race, correct? As the king, you must be their mightiest warrior."

Myand'r seemed to wrestle with the decision before forcing out his next words with a shudder. "If we agree to your demands, you would halt this assault and leave Tamaran in peace?"

"Obviously. You would still answer to us but so long as you don't cross us, you may operate as you always have. One life for billions. What do you say?"

"Very well." He gravely replied, clenching his fists and turning his head away in shame.

Koriand'r's heart dropped like a stone and the betrayal in her countenance said more than words ever could.

"My king, you can't possibly…"

"Silence, Galfore! What your king speaks is law."

"So you do have a backbone after all, King Myand'r." Trogaar sneered.

"May we at least talk to our daughter before you take her away?" Luand'r pleaded, hands clasped.

There was a long pause as the Gordanian leader mulled it over. "You have 2 minutes." I suggest you make them count."

Luand'r spoke first. "Koriand'r, you are strong. Fight. Survive. Use what you've been taught. And know this: even if our actions haven't shown it, we love you. Please believe me." She reached out to touch her daughter's face, but Kori's guards yanked her back as a warning.

With tears threatening to spill, Myand'r stepped forward next. "My child, you have done your duty as Princess of Tamaran. That is all I could ever hope to ask of you. You have shown more courage…" He choked on emotion and finished in a small voice. "..than I ever have. Tamaran will always remember you for your sacrifice. I promise it will not be in vain."

"TIME'S UP!" Trogaar roared.

Galfore moved quickly, teary-eyed and fearful. "I'm sorry, my little bumgorf." Looking down to stare into her eyes, he whispered, "Make these klorbags pay for their insolence."

As she was jerked away like common trash, Koriand'r resolved to do just that.

And X'hal help whoever got in her way.