"Citizens of Tameran, it is always a great pleasure to get to address you. Over the 20 years that I have been in the position as your Grand Ruler, you have become much like a family to me, and I pray to Xhal that I can be the ruler that you all deserve." Myand'r paused in his speech to the planet that he so greatly treasured — not simply the planet, with magenta skies that had once been bright blue and full of golden clouds that seemed to glow in every sunrise and sunset, and its vast expanses of once lush forests full of strange and mysterious creatures that were now nothing but a barren wasteland; but the people that he had the pleasure of calling his subjects. As he stood on the balcony that extended from the second story of the Grand Palace, he looked over his people in awe. They were a kind and peaceful people, strong in their emotions and their combative abilities. They did not deserve the tiredness that now glossed over their eyes, nor the loss that they had suffered.
For the past two years, Tameran had been involved in a brutal war with the Gordanians, and it seemed as though there was no possibility of a Tameranean victory. Their army's numbers had been rapidly falling, causing normal citizens to fill in and fight. Though they are a more than capable species with superhuman abilities that would, under normal circumstances, give them an easy win in combat, the Gordanians had them outnumbered ten to one from the start.
Myand'r took a deep breath. What he had to do next would shatter his heart into a million jagged pieces. "I must first deliver to you the much anticipated news that this violent and tragic war is at long last coming to an end. I have reached an agreement with the commander of the Gordanian army, and they will be departing from our planet by sunrise." This news was received with much applause and hollering from the crowd beneath him. Myand'r lifted the corners of his mouth in a sad smile as he turned to look at the three women behind him: his queen, Luand'r; and his two daughters, Komand'r and Koriand'r. There was hope in their eyes, a hope for peace and a hope that Ryand'r, his son, could return from where he had been hidden away for his safety. He would one day be the one to carry on the family name after all. As Myand'r looked his bride in the eyes, she nodded. She knew what must be done for the sake of what remained of Tameran.
Turning back to his people, Myand'r raised a hand, quieting them instantly so he could continue. "The Gordanians have agreed to leave without any further conflict under one condition. They wish for a prisoner of war as their prize. Someone young, beautiful, and of high prestige." Komand'r and Koriand'r, as well as many of the citizens looked on in confusion. "As you all well know, Princess Komand'r is positioned to one day take the crown as your new Grand Ruler, so that leaves me with only one other choice. My daughter, Princess Koriand'r, shall be the trade."
There was a collective gasp from the crowd, followed by much whispering. Koriand'r staggered backwards at the declaration. She was instantly filled with so many emotions: shock, hurt, and most of all, fury. She turned to her mother, who was busy studying the ground. "Mother, surely he cannot do this!" Luand'r just shook her head, unable to look her daughter in the eyes. Tears started to well up in Koriand'r's eyes. She tried to summon some ounce of joy so she could take flight, and find her k'nofka, Galfore, for comfort. As her caretaker, he was the only one on this planet to ever show her any kindness. But joy would not come, and her feet remained planted on the ground as several guards entered the balcony and surrounded her.
Koriand'r may not have had any joy, but she did feel righteous fury, which was all she needed to fuel her star bolts, which she began to shoot at the guards in rapid succession. Then she turned to her father, the reason for all of her anger and heartbreak, and pointed the star bolts at him. He had a deep sadness in his eyes, but she would feel no remorse. He was choosing to sacrifice her safety rather than search for another solution with the Gordanians. And her mother knew! That much was evident in how she refused to meet Koriand'r's gaze. She was normally such a confident, albeit distant, woman, who raised her children to be self-sufficient, allowing her the time to be an active member of the High Council. But no such confidence exuded from her features now, only guilt.
Poised to fire at Myand'r, Koriand'r was suddenly knocked to her feet by the only other Tameranean that could produce star bolts from her hands, her sister. Komand'r looked down at her with a smirk on her face. At least she had been spared and could still one day take the crown. "You must go with them, sister dear. Do what is best for Tameran." Below, the crowd was yelling at her to do the same. They all were willing to let Koriand'r suffer for them. Not a one of them seemed to want to step in and stop her father from trading her off to the Gordanians. She searched the crowd for Galfore's face, certain that he would not allow for this to happen, but she could not locate the massive man.
"NO!" Koriand'r screamed, as she pounced on her sister and attempted to wrap her hands around her neck, ready to squeeze the life out of her for not showing even an ounce of remorse.
Komand'r threw her sister off of her with all of her Tameranean strength, sending Koriand'r flying through the air to land on the opposite side of the balcony, gasping for breath. Komand'r laughed and said, "Your task is simple. No need to get all angry." At this comment Koriand'r's eyes began to glow as she shot a slew of star bolts at her sister, knocking her to the ground. Koriand'r ran over and launched herself on top of her, only for the raven-haired princess to roll them over and place herself in the more powerful position. "You should give up. You know I was always the better fighter."
It was then that Koriand'r, using what little of her strength she had the confidence to muster up, kicked Komand'r hard in the stomach to knock her off of her. The younger princess was growing weak from the assault on her emotions from the crowd jeering at her from below, and the sheer strength of her sister who had no worries for her own future or safety.
As she was down and busy taking in all of the hurtful comments and stares from her family and the rest of Tameran, two guards proceeded to approach Koriand'r and place her hands in special cuffs that would prevent the use of her star bolts, then led her off the balcony and out of the palace. As the guards escorted her through the crowd, she was met with a mix of cheers from those who wished to thank her for saving them, apologetic gazes from others who knew that she was just betrayed by her family and would face any number of horrors from the Gordanians and their ruthless allies, the Citadel. But mostly, she saw a deep hatred towards her in their eyes, whether that be for not going willingly, or for attempting an attack on their Grand Ruler, she was unsure. Koriand'r hung her head and did not stop the onslaught of tears from pouring from her green eyes, her hair hanging as a red curtain to hide her face from the crowd.
When she and the guards had finally reached the Gordanian's ship, they were greeted by Myand'r, Luand'r, and Komand'r. Koriand'r shot tearful daggers at her family, to which Myand'r spoke up, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I hope that you will one day forgive me, my bumgorf. I had no other choice."
The young princess aggressively shrugged her father's hand off of her. "You had a responsibility to me as your daughter and as a citizen of this planet to keep me safe. There is always another choice. You would just prefer to do what is easy, and may X'hal let you rot for it." With that, she was led onboard the ship, and towards her future as a slave of the Citadel.