CHAPTER 7
Ambra had plans; figuratively and literally. She looked down at the hologram of The Civic, the epicentre of political life on Kalenth. The complex of governmental offices included the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Science, and the Arts, among others. She tapped a control and the holographic image shifted to focus on the central square. There was the Council Chambers: a grand edifice designed in the neo-classical style of the First Expansion, when the seat of government moved from the capital city of Ralkatar to a location some two hundred and thirty kilometres away. The building had five sides, representing the five original families that formed The Kalenth Hegemony. Displayed next to the chambers was a tower as yet unbuilt.
A beep attracted Ambra's attention and she turned the image off. She left her drab office and walked out into a drab, overcast day and headed across the central square to the Council Chambers building. The outer walls were made entirely of photochromic-graphene composite glass that automatically lightened and darkened based upon ambient light levels. The overcast sky meant the outer walls were clear today, and she could see the outer corridor, the inner chamber where The Council of Administration convened was visible through an open door.
It looks small from this perspective, thought Ambra. She smiled to herself. Hopefully it will soon look even smaller.
Ambra entered the building and walked calmly into the inner chamber. She settled into her seat and waited as others arrived.
The Council was gathering for an emergency session. A single representative from each of the ninety-one Elit families was either present or connected via a secure communications link.
Ambra was planning to address the Council today, and rather than make small talk with the other councillors around her, she sat alone going over in her mind what she wanted to say. She looked out of the nearest set of doors. She observed the people walking across The Civic campus, oblivious to what was about to happen inside these hallowed walls. A bell sounded and the doors started to close. Ambra gave one last look out at the ordered buildings that made up The Civic. Will it look the same when those doors re-open? she pondered.
The large metallic doors on each of the five sides closed in unison with barely a click. Ambra started to feel a rush of anticipation. She was ready to put her plans into motion and shake this august body to its core.
Chairman Guljein ap Maldan, an imposing figure with greying temples, took his place behind a tall wooden desk on a raised dais at the apex of the pentagon-shaped room. The desk incorporated a leather seat covered by an intricately carved canopy that featured the Great Seal of The Kalenth Hegemony: a stylised dryg in a circle. Inscribed around the outside of the circle were the five words of the official motto: Dothi, Cyfaw, Cydra, Fynia, Cymda. Wisdom, Justice, Equality, Prosperity, Society.
Much simpler, more utilitarian desks for each of the other ninety Council members were positioned around the rest of the chambers, angled towards the chairman's position. He called for order and everyone took their seats.
"This meeting has been called under Article Twelve by Councillor Lothila ap Taliss and supported by Councillor Toman ap Karthen," Maldan announced. "As allowed, Councillor Taliss now cedes the floor to the designated head of the Taliss family, Darith Durell ap Taliss."
A hologram of the lean face of Darith ap Taliss appeared in front of the chairman's position at the front of the room. Images of it were also projected on monitors at each councillor's desk.
"Darith Durell ap Taliss, the Council recognises your right to address it," declared the chairman.
"Thank you, Chairman Maldan," said Taliss. "As you are all aware, a member of the Council, Ambra ap Lentol, entered the Governor of Yun'thul's residence unannounced and accused a Taliss family member of helping a slave escape and of engaging in unnatural practices with her own slave. This accusation was without evidence. The family member was interrogated without legal representation. The family member was coerced into making a false confession and then made to watch her slave be put down in an unusually cruel manner. All of this was done without any legal right or authority from the Council."
A low murmur rose up from the Council members in attendance.
Ambra stood up at her desk. "With respect, I am a sworn member of the Council, and therefore all my actions are Council sanctioned."
"Councillor Lentol, you will be given your chance to respond. Please sit down and wait for the appropriate time," Chairman Maldan admonished her.
"My apologies." Ambra sat back down.
"Please continue."
"Thank you," said Taliss. "Councillor Lentol's actions were provocative. They were purely for the purpose of besmirching the good name of the Taliss family. I hereby submit an action to formally censure Councillor Lentol and require that suitable reparations be made."
"Thank you Mr. Taliss. Councillor Lentol you have the right to explain your actions before a decision is made whether to proceed with a vote on the proposed action."
Ambra appeared outwardly calm. Inside, her adrenalin was churning. She wanted to take a deep breath, but knew that would be a sign of weakness. Now to take the first step, she thought. She glanced around the assembly room and met the gaze of several representatives whom she had approached beforehand for support.
Ambra rose from her seat and walked to the front of the room. In contrast to her usual black suit, Ambra wore a red suit so that she would stand out from the other councillors and could be seen from the back of the chambers.
She climbed up to a podium just below and to the left of the chairman. On the podium was a pitcher of water and a glass. A less confident person would pour some water and take a drink. Not Ambra. She deliberately moved it to one side and began speaking.
"In response to the ludicrous suggestion that my actions were not authorised, I remind everyone that I am Council Member for Military Operations. As such, I oversee the military. That includes investigating any misdeeds by those in the military. Aloyd Kikola ap Karthen was a military officer. Her actions, while serving, fall under my jurisdiction. Therefore, my interview of Jenissa ap Taliss was fully justified and within my authority."
She paused to glance at the image of Darith ap Taliss and judge his reaction to the dismissal of his claims. He appeared to be annoyed. Good. You're about to get even angrier.
"During the interview, and I stress interview, not interrogation as Darith ap Taliss so offensively claimed, Jenissa ap Taliss admitted that she had feelings for her slave. It wasn't just a case of 'engaging in unnatural practices' as Taliss suggested. It was a profession of love."
There were a few gasps from the assembly.
"The termination of the slave was witnessed by several people who observed Jenissa fall to her knees in grief and cradle the slave's body. For anyone to come before the Council and try to dismiss this abomination of our society as some personal attempt on my part to besmirch the name of Taliss is grossly mistaken. They either do not know the full facts or believes the name Taliss carries more weight than the name Lentol."
Murmurs spread through the assembly of councillors. Maldan called for order.
So far Ambra had felt she was in free fall, but now it was as if her feet had stepped gently onto solid ground. I have survived the first step. Now is the time to land the first blow.
"We have a society that has slowly lost its way. A society that has become corrupted from the inside, corrupted by such a slow, insidious corrosion of our morals that we cannot see it for what it is." Her voice was level, but raised slightly above normal volume. She wanted everyone to hear every word.
"We are weak." She allowed the last word to sink in. The Elit despised weakness. It was something to be pitied in others. To call another Elit weak was a great insult.
Ambra asked the question on every councillor's mind. "Why are we weak?" she asked. "Because we train our children to be artists and business leaders, authors and musicians.
"We are meant to be strong.
"We are meant to conquer.
"We are meant to rule.
"We are meant to be equal, but we are not.
Ambra paused and cast her gaze around the room before continuing.
"Let us examine the Sylfainer."
She allowed the word 'Sylfainer' to sink in. The families that founded the Hegemony were given the honorific 'Sylfainer'. The title had fallen out of common use, but was still maintained in official Council business.
"The Maldan family. The esteemed leader of this Council is a member of the Maldan family. Are you aware that over seventy percent of all Council leaders have been from the Sylfainer? The majority of those have been Maldans. Is that the equality The Kalenth Hegemony was founded on?" She didn't wait for any response. The pretence that this was anything other than a statement of intent was gone. She raised the volume of her voice a bit more.
"The Willenth family. Twenty of the top twenty-five Elit businesses are owned or co-owned by the Willenth family. Was the Hegemony established to make them rich? If they want money, let them run their businesses, but let us not call them Elit.
"The D'Angel family, famous for its great artists, poets, and sculptors. Can we rule the people with art?" Her verbal blows were coming fast. She could see faces getting angry. Some angry that the very fabric of their society was being attacked, others that such a travesty had been allowed to continue for so long. She wasn't about to relent on her onslaught.
"The Taliss family and the Karthen family. Are they as useless as the others?" Ambra paused for dramatic effect. "'They are strong families,' I hear you say."
Anger began to show in her voice.
"Yes. Out of the fourteen Rivelors that have shaped this great Hegemony, there have been five from the Karthen family, three from the Taliss. Only two of the others have been from outside the Sylfainer. The latest Rivelor, Kikola ap Karthen, turned out to be a degenerate who indulges in debauched acts with her female slave! And what do we do?
"We turn a blind eye and hand the position of Rivelor to the Taliss family. The Taliss family who also condone acts of depravity from one of its own with another slave. Jenissa ap Taliss with her female slave!"
There were audible gasps from some and agreement from others.
"Two families that worked together to try and hide such unconscionable, disgusting, perverted behaviour. Mariantha ap Karthen was present when I arrived on Yun'thul. She tried to stop my lawful actions. She comforted Jenissa ap Taliss after the slave was put down."
"This disease has infected the very heart of the Elit, and we need to cut it out to make us strong again."
Ambra waited for the clamour from the assembly to fade away. She lowered her voice and slowed the pace of her delivery.
"We Elit are soldiers, politicians, and governors.
"These are the Elit roles we must fulfil. These are the Elit roles that make us strong, not scientists, businessmen, artists... you know the rest of the list.
"We need to get rid of the Sylfainer. Excommunicate them. Make them Fethusal. They are no longer fit to have control over this so-called equal society."
She smiled to herself. After her tirade, her casual call for the removal of the founding families passed by with barely any strong reaction.
She raised her voice and picked up the pace of her speech.
"We cannot carry dead weight.
"We must make ourselves leaner and stronger if we are to survive.
"The Sylfainer are no longer needed. If we want the Hegemony to prosper and expand, we need to discard the old and embrace the new. We need to adapt if we want to survive."
Ambra spoke with more fervour. "If we lose respect for ourselves, the Quernal will lose respect for us!
"If the Quernal lose respect for us, they won't need us!
"The whole of the Elit will suffer!
"We need to act before it's too late! We need to act now! We need to cure ourselves before the Quernal take it upon themselves to put us out of our misery!"
The swell of voices had risen and fallen as her speech went on, but when Ambra stepped back after finishing her speech, pandemonium erupted. Heated debates broke out among the councillors. The Council members for the founding families found themselves being barraged from all sides. Only Chairman Maldan seemed immune to the argument. He glared across from his dais at Ambra. She smiled back.
"Order!" bellowed Maldan. "Order!" Eventually the melee subsided, councillors returned to their seats, and he made an announcement. "As chairman I reject the action brought before this Council today. Need I remind Councillor Lentol to refrain from making inflammatory speeches that border on treason in future?"
Ambra addressed the chairman. "I wish my speech to be considered a proposed action. I want a vote on the need for reforms." She turned her attention to the assembly once more. "We must be united on this, because I intend for us to reform the Elit, one way or another."
Chairman Maldan looked around as if trying to find support. He realised he only had one option. "We will reconvene in twenty-five hours. We will discuss any reasonable reform proposals that Councillor Lentol wishes raised. This session is closed. Records to be for Council Only."
A bell sounded and the chamber doors re-opened. Ambra left her podium and waited for the chairman. He climbed down from his position and approached her.
"A point of note, Chairman Maldan. I have at my disposal over three quarters of the fleet. Make sure that my proposals are not met with too aggressive an opposition."
"Is that meant to be a threat?"
Ambra smiled. "Yes, it is. Very good of you to notice." She walked away from any response he might have given.
She paused at the chamber doors. The sky was still overcast and the clear walls still offered the same view, but the outside world looked very different to Ambra.
~~~~
Ambra pulled her robe tight as she hurried through her penthouse to answer the comm in her office.
"Lights. Thirty percent." She settled down at her desk, and took a moment to compose herself before answering. Her parents' faces appeared.
Ambra felt a duty to love her parents. It was the Elit way. They both had respectable roles: her father, Benlen, was a diplomat, her mother, Kartrine, was a planetary governor. Yet, Ambra felt they were weak. When her father was sent on pointless missions, he didn't complain. If Benlen ever had an important assignment, he was usually given a subordinate position to another diplomat as part of a team.
Her mother was governor of Edalcim. While it was one of the first planets to become part of the Hegemony, its glory days were long gone. The Hegemony had expanded, and what was considered an important outpost fifteen hundred years ago was now seen as little more than a quaint oddity. The population had dwindled to less than a million, and her mother seemed disinclined to halt it. No one wanted to live in the old cities that hadn't seen any major new development in centuries, not when they could live in modern luxury on another planet, or live on the nearby capital planet of Kalenth, just a mere seventeen-hour spaceflight away.
Both of them seemed to have settled for less. Ambra was not going to do that. Therefore, it came as little surprise when they called her after her recent speech in the Council meeting.
"What are you doing?" asked her father. His face conveyed his usual standoffishness when talking to her. No matter how hard Ambra had tried, she couldn't break down that barrier. It had been there her whole life. He had never mistreated her, but she always felt that he never loved her unconditionally – not the way she loved her own children.
"Ambra," said her mother. "We have heard news about the Council meeting. You appear to be stirring up trouble. Say it isn't so." By comparison, her mother's face showed the love she had for Ambra. Yet, Ambra felt she did not deserve it. It was her mother who had instilled in her the imperative to get married and have children. It was her mother who had taught her the proper way for an Elit to behave.
It was down to her mother's teaching about Elit morals that Ambra loathed herself every time she felt attracted to other women, and every time she felt ashamed for feeling repulsed when her husband lay atop her and she did her duty.
"It is so," said Ambra. "We do not have equality in the Elit. I am sick and tired of being at the bottom."
"The bottom?" queried her father. "You have one of the most important roles in Elit society. You have one of the most important positions on the Council. You're not on the bottom."
"It's not just about position, it's about respect. It's not just about me; it's about the family. All families that are not considered part of the inner clique."
"This is not the way to go about things if you want equality," said Benlen. His once fine blonde hair had turned grey and was very thin, almost gone, revealing his baldpate underneath. The lines on his face made it seem lumpy, but the dominant feature was his bulbous nose. Ambra was always grateful that she had inherited that aspect of her features from her mother.
"I don't want equality," said Ambra. "I want to be on top. I want to rule. I want them to know what it is like to be disrespected, to be looked down upon."
"Ambra, it is not the Elit way to look down on other Elit," said Kartrine. Her thin, lined face topped by recently cropped and dyed brown hair was still regal, deserving of the name Elit, but Ambra had long ago learnt to read the bitterness behind the pretence of strength and nobility.
"Then tell those Elit that look down on us. Tell those that honoured you with the title of Governor, but gave you a backwater planet, not worthy of being governed by a Lentol."
Ambra's parents had been old when she was born: her mother had been fifty-five, her father sixty. She was their only child, and until now she felt like their only disappointment.
"You are creating hostility where it should not be," her father stated coldly.
"I am eliminating hostility where it should not be. I see no need to continue this discussion. I have made my decision. The Council will be taking a vote. There is no going back now."
"Ambra—" her mother started to speak.
"Goodbye." Ambra terminated the communication. She stayed at her desk for a few more minutes, expecting her parents to call back, but they didn't.
Eventually she got up and walked to the window. The weather had closed in as night fell, and the usual galaxy of lights beneath her was limited and diffused. The sound of the rain, pattering against the window as gusts of wind ebbed and flowed, made her feel uneasy.
"Sarray, drin—" Ambra sighed. She had left Sarray tied to the bed. She wandered over to a side table and poured herself a durmywid. She settled down in a chair and turned on the news.
The main news headline concerned the report that the tensions between The Losper Empire and The Andantian Republic were escalating and shots had been exchanged along their border in the disputed Aquin system.
Other items were of less interest. A new, faster transport ship service had started operation between several of the core planets. A contract to build a new manufacturing complex on Franlence had been signed.
The local headlines were just as boring.
Wait until they hear my news, Ambra thought as she settled back and drained her glass.
~~~~
The Council Chambers had an electric buzz to it. Tensions were high among the Council members in attendance. Ambra's proposal for reform was up for a vote. There were formalities to observe. A short statement from the proposer and a counter statement from an opponent would be made, and then the topic would be open for discussion. Any Council member could voice an opinion, and the proponent and opponent would have right of reply.
Ambra stepped up to the podium at the front of the room and looked out over the assembled faces. This was her moment.
"Sixteen-hundred years ago, our founders had a vision. A society governed equally by an Elit few. Unfortunately, the descendants of those people have lost that vision. They don't share the power equally.
"It is the time for a new Elit. It is time for the Sylfainer, which have skewed power in their favour, to be removed. It is time, not for change, but a re-establishment of the social order – a return to old values, with new families.
"If I win this motion, then any family that votes against me will find themselves discarded with the Sylfainer.
"Vote wisely."
Subdued murmurs followed as Ambra stepped down from the podium.
Chairman Maldan called for order as Toman ap Karthen stepped up to the podium. All eyes turned their attention on him. He filled the glass from the pitcher of water.
He looks scared, thought Ambra. He should be.
"This Council has had its divisions in the past, but has always spoken with one voice after a vote has been cast. Councillor Lentol spoke of old values. That united voice is the oldest value that the founders laid down. No matter what internal differences we have, one family, one vote, one answer, one voice. Vote for her proposal, and we will lose that voice and that core value."
He paused to take a sip of water.
"The Hegemony has only ever got larger and stronger, and the Elit has done the same. Let it continue to do so."
Toman stepped down.
He already looks defeated, thought Ambra gleefully.
Councillor Maldan addressed the meeting. "We have heard a statement from the delegates for and against. I am opening the floor up to discuss the matter before any vote."
Ambra looked around and saw many Council members signalling for attention.
"Councillor Kendai," Maldan announced. "You may speak."
The representative from the Kendai family stood behind his desk and addressed the assembly. "The Kendai have served as members of the Elit for close to eight-hundred years, yet are still looked down upon by the Sylfainer as newcomers. I can only imagine how members of the Talcolga and Despani families, our newest members, must seem to them."
Ambra looked towards the representatives from the families mentioned. Councillor Talcolga was nodding his head vigorously in agreement. Councillor Despani on the other hand kept her face neutral.
Councillor Kendai relinquished the floor.
"Councillor Karthen, you have right of reply."
Toman ap Karthen stood up at his desk. "I would like to remind the Council, and Councillor Kendai, that length of membership of the Elit has no bearing on the closeness to any family, Sylfainer or otherwise. My own son married into the Despani family. He even took their name. Also, the Lentol family have had close ties with the Karthen family and have enjoyed the support and friendship from my family over the years. Councillor Lentol's parents were close friends of my late brother, Strambik ap Karthen."
"Councillor Lentol, you have right of reply."
Ambra got to her feet and addressed her comments to Councillor Karthen. "I have not forgotten my parents were close friends with your brother." She turned her head to look around at the other councillors. "It was even proposed that I marry his son, but that was vetoed by his wife, Mariantha. She only maintained a perfunctory friendship with my parents after Strambik's death and that has dwindled to non-existent at this point in time. For those that do not know, Mariantha was a Willenth, before marriage." She sat back down.
Councillor Maldan selected another to speak. "Councillor Genacket. You may speak."
The Genacket representative remained seated at his desk. He was a frail man; at one hundred and twenty-five he was the oldest serving councillor. His voice wavered as he spoke. "The Genacket family was admitted into the Elit at the same time as the Kendai family, yet unlike the Kendai family, we have earned respect by being valued members. And you, girl." He raised a withered arm and pointed at Ambra. "You advocate this decimation of all we as Elit have achieved because of a minor issue that does not warrant discussion at this level."
"Councillor Lentol, you have right of reply."
"The Genacket family was not admitted into the Elit. It was formed by a branch of the Maldan family. As several other families were also created from branches of the Sylfainer. As if they do not have enough power biased towards them." Ambra stood up to deliver the conclusion to her rebuttal.
"To suggest that this is a minor issue shows how out of touch some Elit are becoming. We had someone chosen to be the Rivelor fall in love and run off with a slave. Perhaps one of you can explain how that is in line with Elit standards. Standards that we dedicate our lives to uphold."
"Councillor Karthen, you have right of reply."
Councillor Karthen had remained standing at his desk. He turned to look everyone in the eye, before settling on Ambra. Ambra smiled sweetly and sat down.
"There are standards. There are rules. There are laws," Karthen began. "If Councillor Lentol is dedicating her life to uphold standards, then she is focussing on the wrong thing. We make the laws. We uphold the laws. If someone breaks them, then they are punished. However, rules are not laws and neither are standards. If someone breaks a rule, they are not punished with the full might of the law. If someone does not conform to the standards we set, they are looked upon with scorn, or mocked. They are not executed. They are not imprisoned. They are not used as an excuse for revolution. My niece broke no laws. She breached no rules. She merely chose to go against the standards we set for ourselves. Ourselves. That is the crucial word." He paused to scan the assembly. "Councillor Lentol speaks of history. Standards change, rules change, laws change. The only changes that sees us become stronger are the ones that move us forward, not backwards."
As Toman sat back down, Ambra could detect a shift in the room. Council members that had been neutral or only leaning slightly in her favour looked to be in agreement with Karthen.
"Councillor Augree. You may speak."
"As you all know, I was vocal in condemnation of the actions of former Aloyd Karthen when she killed Supreme-Aloyd Taliss. I felt her actions demanded a severe punishment, but the Council voted for a minor reprimand. It was not the outcome I wanted, but I accepted it, as did Councillor Lentol who felt the same as me. My reasons for wanting punishment were not borne of malice or hatred for Karthen or her family. It was borne of what I felt was right. What our laws demanded. That is why I oppose Councillor Lentol's proposal."
"Councillor Lentol, you have right of reply."
Ambra laughed derisively. She didn't even bother to look in Councillor Augree's direction when she countered him. "There are no laws that prevent a restructuring of the Elit. If there were, then it would not have grown."
"Councillor Karthen, you have right of reply."
"Councillor Augree has been a staunch opponent of mine on certain matters in the past, and also a staunch ally on other matters. His honesty and integrity in voicing his opinion, and for accepting victory with humility and defeat with grace, has been an example to us all. What will happen to those who oppose Councillor Lentol in her proposed new vision for the Elit? Will she try to get rid of them as she is trying to do with the Sylfainer now?"
Voices of support for Karthen sounded. Ambra seethed inside. She stood up to make her rebuttal but was cut off by Councillor Maldan.
"Councillor Karthen, you will refrain from speculating as to the future actions of Council members."
"Apologies, Chairman Maldan."
"Your comments will be struck from the record."
The bastard, thought Ambra. Karthen knew exactly what he was doing. The words might be struck from the record, but not the minds of those that heard them.
Other councillors voiced their opinions. Some for, others against Ambra, but little further was said that swayed any fence sitters to change their minds.
Finally, it came to the vote.
The wait was agonising. It went on far too long for Ambra, far longer than it should have. Ambra's monitor showed that one more vote needed to be cast. Whether that vote was enough to sway the outcome or not was not shown.
Eventually the ninety-first and final vote was registered and the final result was displayed for all to see. Ambra's heart sank when she saw 'For: 45' appear.
Uproar filled the chamber. It took a while for Ambra to filter the noise and realise that no one was celebrating. Then her eyes read the second line displayed, 'Against: 45'. Before registering the final line, 'Abstention: 1'.
Councillor Maldan once more called for order. "The vote is a tie. Councillor Lentol has the option to withdraw her proposal or call for another vote."
Ambra knew that another vote could not take place within seventy-five hours. I hope that's enough time to find out whom I need to sway. "I wish to re-submit my proposal for a vote."
"We will reconvene in three days," announced Maldan.
Even if I lose the second vote, the damage is done, thought Ambra. The Council is split, and I will make sure the split is final, one way or another.
~~~~
Ambra had ordered Gral'hilanth to her private quarters on the Relentless to go over possible battle strategies in the event of armed resistance from the founding families. Gral'hilanth was one of the best pilots in the Orion Spur, but her knowledge of tactical formations was rudimentary at best. Her benefactor was not in the mood to tolerate Gral'hilanth's inexperience.
To Gral'hilanth's dismay, the councillor demanded another 'loyalty test'. This time it escalated.
"Sarray, number three."
The slave obeyed its master. It disappeared into the bedroom and returned shortly, naked, and wearing a phallic device. With one nod from her mistress, the slave approached Gral'hilanth.
Gral'hilanth swallowed hard. She received no order from Ambra. It was implied in the order for the slave that she would have to lay there and take it.
This is for the family, she reminded herself as she lowered her trousers.
Ambra sat in a comfortable chair and watched as the slave positioned Gral'hilanth at the end of the table and made her lie back. The slave mounted Gral'hilanth, entering her roughly.
Gral'hilanth was no stranger to rough sex, but the slave took no care to ensure Gral'hilanth's pleasure. She tried to gain some enjoyment out of the experience, and settled a hand on the slave's slender waist.
"No touching," said Ambra. "Just lie there and take it."
Gral'hilanth removed her hand, closed her eyes, and waited for the humiliation to be over.
The slave had been pumping her for several minutes.
Does it never tire?
Gral'hilanth's felt the urgency of an orgasm was imminent. She couldn't bear Ambra being witness to it.
"Okay, Ambra, you've had your fun." Gral'hilanth tried to get up.
The slave pushed her back down.
"That is not for you to decide," said Ambra. "Sarray, harder."
Gral'hilanth tried to control her body's reaction to the thrusts coming hard and fast, but she couldn't. Finally, she had to give in and let go. Her muscles tensed; her body quivered as the orgasm erupted inside of her.
To Gral'hilanth's relief, Ambra finally ordered the slave to stop. Gral'hilanth climbed to her feet.
"Go," Ambra said. "I will call you when I have thought of another suitable loyalty test for you."
What more do you want from me, you sick bitch? Gral'hilanth wanted to say, but she swallowed her reply. The bile of resentment, humiliation, and anger left a bitter taste in her mouth, but Gral'hilanth was resolved to comply with everything and anything Ambra's perverted mind could dream up. Maybe she'll grow tired of the games and move on, but then maybe she'll grow tired of me, she thought. What have I got myself into? What choice do I have?
"Yes, Councillor." She quickly dressed and hurried back to her own quarters.
When she got there, her slave was standing next to the wall, eyes downcast, ready to attend.
Ever since Ambra had started her humiliation of her, Gral'hilanth would inflict on her slave the same humiliation she had suffered. Tonight, her rage and self-loathing needed a different kind of release – something more visceral and brutal. "Come here," she commanded.
As the slave got within reach, Gral'hilanth backhanded it hard across the face. The slave reeled from the blow, but tried not to react to the painful sting. Gral'hilanth didn't wait for the slave to recover. She swept the slave's legs from under it and kicked it in the kidneys as it hit the floor. Her anger was on full boil, and she was just getting started. Gral'hilanth reached down, grabbed the slave by the neck, and hauled it to its feet.
Gral'hilanth could see the slave was scared, but doing a very good job to maintain its façade of acceptance. That angered her even more. She wanted it to show fear. She wanted it to break down and cry. She wanted it to beg for its life.
"Tell me, slave, should I kill you now? Put an end to your miserable existence?"
"If that is your wish, Mistress."
"No!" Gral'hilanth bellowed as she leaned right into the slave's face. "I am ordering you to tell me. Tell me, shall I kill you right now? Do you want to die, right now?"
"I cannot say, Mistress," the slave replied blankly. "I live only to serve you, Mistress. It is not my place to want or ask for anything."
The slave's words ran through Gral'hilanth's mind like an indictment of her utter enslavement to Ambra's will. Something inside her snapped. Gral'hilanth grabbed her slave by the hair and forced it to its knees. Her free hand settled around its throat and squeezed. The slave's usually dull eyes were starting to reflect the terror it must have felt as it fought for breath.
Suddenly it was Kamina's face staring up at her. Gral'hilanth gasped. The face of her deceased lover disappeared and was once again her slave's terrified visage.
Gral'hilanth released her grip around the slave's throat and pushed it away. Her anger spent, her mind unnerved, Gral'hilanth retreated to her bedroom, fell back onto the bed, and gave in to exhaustion.
When Gral'hilanth opened her eyes, she was a little disoriented at first, because the room was very dark. "Ambient lights, twenty-five percent" she called out, but nothing happened. She was aware of a naked form lying next to her. It wasn't her slave, that much she could tell. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, her heart leapt. It was Kamina! The same full lips, the same cute dimples. Gral'hilanth reached out to touch her. Kamina laughed, threw the covers off and got out of bed.
"Kami!" Gral'hilanth called out, as the young woman headed for the door.
Kamina playfully smiled and beckoned Gral'hilanth to follow. She followed Kamina into the corridor. The young woman reached a door at the other end. She smiled again as she looked back to see if Gral'hilanth was following her.
"Kami, wait."
The surroundings were very familiar to Gral'hilanth. She had followed Kamina into the cockpit of the Glyndwr, but Kami had disappeared. How could this be?
Kamina's laugh came from behind her. Gral'hilanth turned and just caught a glimpse of Kamina disappearing back down the corridor towards her bunk.
"Kami!" Gral'hilanth called. There was a faint beeping coming from somewhere.
Gral'hilanth gave chase. Kamina stood at the far end of the corridor, her face in shadows.
"Aren't you going to answer that?" Kamina's voice whispered in her ear.
The beeping got louder as Gral'hilanth ran down the corridor. Kamina was in reach now. The beeping intensified. Her hand reached out and Kamina melted away.
Gral'hilanth bolted upright in bed with a start, her heart pounding. It must have been a dream, but she still heard the beeping. As she came into consciousness, she heard a voice calling "Aloyd Falentha". She realised she was back on the Relentless and her comm was beeping.
Gral'hilanth was still wearing her uniform. She selected voice-only on the Personal Utility Panel built into the cuff of the jacket and activated the comm. "Aloyd Falentha here."
"Sir, you need to come to the bridge right away," said Captain Eadmon urgently. "We have a situation."
~~~~
Gral'hilanth entered the bridge, closely followed by Ambra.
"Aloyd on the bridge."
All eyes fixed on Gral'hilanth. She ignored them. "Report!" she demanded of Captain Eadmon.
"A striker group, the Sword and Crusade, entering the system. They should reach orbit in ten minutes."
"What about them?" asked Gral'hilanth.
"They are not responding to communications," replied Eadmon.
"I have not ordered them to Kalenth," said Ambra. "They must be taking orders from someone else."
"Let's not jump to conclusions," said Gral'hilanth. "Who's in command of the group?"
"I should be!" Ambra declared.
Gral'hilanth ignored the councillor and looked towards Eadmon. Ambra, however, did not want to be ignored.
"I told you there could be resistance to my plans. This is clearly an aggressive move."
"Maybe your opponents feel the same and called them in for protection," Gral'hilanth countered.
"We don't have time to debate," said Eadmon. "The incoming group is operating outside expected protocols. They will be here soon. What are your orders?"
We need support, thought Gral'hilanth. "Communications, contact the Formidable, get them here to support us."
"Already done, Aloyd," said Eadmon.
"Good work." Gral'hilanth took a moment to examine a readout. "What are their capabilities?"
"The Sword has the same capabilities as us. The Crusade is primarily a troop carrier, not designed for combat, but it can deliver a punch and it's heavily shielded."
"Who is commanding the group?"
"Aloyd Tokask. I don't believe she has any combat experience. However, Commodore Heln is very experienced, but he is cautious. I believe he'll keep his distance and try to talk to us." Eadmon glanced to Ambra. "Unless he has orders to the contrary."
Gral'hilanth nodded. "How long until the Formidable arrives?"
"Twenty-eight minutes."
"We'll need to stall until they arrive and we have the advantage."
"Or hit them straight away," said Ambra. "They'll know we have back up on the way. They'll want to deal with us before then. We need to do the unexpected and gain advantage while they least expect."
The strategy sounded good to Gral'hilanth, but she didn't know if it was sound. Stalling and avoidance were tactics she knew about. She looked at Captain Eadmon for her opinion of the councillor's plan.
"In a fire fight, against the two ships, we might last long enough for the Formidable to reach us," said the captain. "But we'll take a lot of damage and incur major casualties."
"Suggestions?"
"We could put the planet between us and the incoming striker group," said Eadmon. "We've encrypted the military satellites in orbit, so we'll know where they are, but they will not know where we are. They most likely will split up in order to find us. That way we can engage one of them for a short while before the other gets within range. With luck we can keep the other one away long enough, so we're not too badly damaged by the time the Formidable arrives. However, the best strategy is to remain hidden for as long as possible, as far away as possible, until reinforcements arrive."
"I will not hide!" said Ambra. "I will not run! I will face my enemies and defeat them!"
"We still don't know their intentions," said Gral'hilanth.
"The ships have dropped to sub-light and are on an orbital insertion vector," the officer on the tactical console announced.
"Intercept and engage!" Ambra commanded.
No one acted. All bridge staff looked towards Captain Eadmon, who in turn looked towards Gral'hilanth.
"You have your orders Aloyd Falentha," said Ambra. "Intercept and open fire."
Gral'hilanth swallowed hard. At that moment she wanted nothing more than to be back on the Glyndwr hauling freight.