Terra burned within the darkness of the stars—pinpricks of orange glowing beneath the blood red shade of the distant moon. From her vantage atop the prow of the Imperial City, Princess Lunalah took in what was left of her former world with a mixture of bitterness and satisfaction in her heart.

  There you have it, Iron Bull, she seethed inwardly. You wanted that low born whore and useless planet over me? So have them both.

  She only wished she could see the look of despair on his face when everything he had traded her for was now burning and crumbling in ruins. She fixed upon his image in her mind, the object of so much desire now quickly turned to hate.

  This would be but the beginning.

  He had wounded her too deeply to get off so lightly as this.

  “Your majesty, shall we now set course for the Core Worlds?”

  It was her elderly Finance Minister, Wui Lang, who had spoken. The tan-skinned Dharmian looked even more hunched over and decrepit than usual. The sight both annoyed and disgusted her, as did his question.

  “No, we shall not be returning to the Core Worlds,” she said.

  Wui Lang stared back at her blankly.

  “You disagree, Wui Lang?” She leveled her eyes at him. “Perhaps you are one of those who seek to see me further humiliated before the masses of the Lower Courts then.”

  He let out a raspy gasp. “No, never your majesty. I simply seek your next instruction.”

  Old fool, she thought. Even his obedience perturbed her.

  “Set course for the domain of King Theos,” she said. “I have need of an audience with him.”

  “King Theos?”

  “Did you mishear me?”

  “Ah, very well, your majesty. Shall I prepare a communication to the Empress in this regard? She is expecting your return to the core worlds and travelling to the Hexean Empire will take some time.”

  “I will deal with my mother when time permits. I must make haste to King Theos’s domain first. My subjects deserve a proper refuge and I will not be able to subdue a suitable one without adequate assistance.” She then let out a scoff. “Besides, I would rather drift the void for a century than to be placed on display, orbiting some moon of the Core Worlds for all to mock and jeer.”

  “I see,” Wui Lang said. “And…speaking of your subjects, your Majesty, should you perhaps consider a public address to…explain what has transpired?”

  “Explain? What do you mean explain? The explanation was given. I have merely complied with the ruling of the High Council.”

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  “Yes, but with respect your majesty, there were many who were caught unawares during your swift departure. There are people here who have lost members of their clan, even members of their personal families.”

  “Well, they should have thought of that before,” she said. “There is always a risk when one steps foot out of the protection of the Imperial Cities.”

  A pause lingered as if Wui Lang was expecting to hear her say something else.

  “Go now and make course for the Hexean Empire and King Theos’ domain,” she said. “And tell those sniveling sympathizers that if they wish an explanation, that they should seek it from the cowards within the High Council or the Duke Iron Bull himself.”

  Her stomach heated with anger and resentment as Wui Lang bowed and left.

  The events of that horrific day replayed itself within her mind like a nightmare relived. The bitter sting of betrayal from both Ling Wei and the Iron Bull, plus that of her royal sisters and the High Council itself.

  Her skin burned at the thought of them now.

  Celebrating her defeat.

  Rewarding that whore as a duchess.

  They would all pay as well.

  In time.

  The same as all those burning in those cities below.

  Lunalah would have scorched the entire planet had she the time.

  But the Bloodmoon would see fit to doing that on its own now.

  She looked to the moon next, its reddish glow only partially visible from her vantage.

  Destroy them, she whispered to it with hatred in her heart. Destroy them all. His child. His whore wife. Everything he holds dear. Let him feel the pain and loss of what I have felt. But leave he himself…for me.

  *   *   *

  Within the darkness of the Cosmos, It stirred.

  A plea…a call…

  Through Its myriad eyes did It seek the source and then saw.

  It marveled at the mortal flesh now beckoning before it.

  How many eons had it been now since a mortal did seek to Commune with It so?

  And with a desire so pure and aligned with Its own.

  Perhaps It was simply more attuned now.

  Within the mortal jail of Its confinement—a tortuous eon of lost control—It had tasted of the sins of mortal flesh firsthand. Fear and Pride, Want and Desire. They were but tenets of influence before, but now It had tasted thereof and knew of what power such held over mortal flesh.

  This mortal soul yearned with a desire so strong, of such It had not sensed since perhaps the Chainmaiden itself did seek an Accord. It dared to reach back to Commune with the mortal—to answer its call.

  But Its reach was repelled—shielded by some malignant force born of the Cursed Flame.

  No matter...

  This was the Divine Providence of the Greater Will, It sensed, for even within Its confinement did It yearn to produce a champion to vanquish the Husk. It then did vow to scour the thousands of worlds within Its influence, seeking a divine host fit to be tempered by Its will.

  The search would take time, It knew.

  And that time had now come.

  Not a vessel to the inhabited like some husk or thrall.

  But an Apostle who would make an Accord by its own will.

  The same as the Husk had formed with the Foul Traitorous Flame.

  The mortal had already paid the price of sacrifice.

  Even now, It glutted upon the mortal souls consumed on the surface of the world below.

  The domain of the Foul Husk. With them It grew in strength, able to extend Its influence further. To fulfil Its purpose and Bloom each moon, making way for the Cleansing Wrath of the First Flame.

  Such would take time.

  But with an Apostle, Its Will could be fulfilled even beyond Its influence and control.

  It would wait and observe then.

  Wait for the mortal to make available its soul.

  It could sense the Desire of this mortal would not soon be quelled. For It desired Power, Retribution and Death. All gifts It could provide though an Accord. It need only wait now, for the opportunity to Commune.

  And then, by the Greater Will, Its true Champion and Apostle would be born.