the one she used with her staff, weaker and higher pitched. Girlish. His voice had only just turned and yet was nearly indistinguishable from hers over the tiny speakers.
"I can't talk long tonight. I'm going on a hunt in the morning. I must rise early to make ready my weapons," said Ketar.
Kaleen leaned in to study her screen closer. It made her own face larger on Ketar's screen.
"You look different. Have you been somewhere exciting today?"
She shook her head and sighed. "No. Same old boring school and dealing with my nagging mother."
He looked disappointed. She tried to make her life seem boring and average while he seemed to have exciting adventures that she loved to hear about.
"Where is the hunt this time? The dark forest or in the high country?"
He smirked. "Neither. We're heading off world. Somewhere in the system, I think. We're going to need environ-suits and radiation shielding. I'm guessing one of the inner planets."
"Sounds dangerous."
He smirked again and acted as if it were naught. "Nothing to worry about. I'll be off line for a few days though. Think you can live without me?"
She smiled broadly, her smooth face creased by the lines. "I'll manage."
Ketar looked away and she could overhear a male voice talking curtly. He returned his eyes to his screen and said, "I have go, talk to you soon."
"Goodbye," she said as the connection closed.
She switched off her tablet and returned it to the hiding spot at the head of the expansive bed. She had wanted to tell him to be careful, among other things. He lived such an adventurous life compared to her. He wasn't restricted to one planet or to the duties of the Imperial court. Despite being the Empress of the greatest stellar empire in the universe there were many limits to her freedoms.
***
The Kwizarra Lonn stood over the fire pit that burned the sacred bush. Vocra was indigenous to the high desert plateaus of the planet's northern hemisphere. Very early on it was discovered that inhaling the smoke of the burning Vocra produced hallucinogenic waking dreams. When certain individuals smoked the dried leaves they had visions of the future. Those who were able to harness the mind altering visions moved into advisory roles in the primitive tribes. Before long they began to move underground, where isolation and silence let them focus their visions. Thus were born the Soothsayer Dens.
The den of the Soothsayers was buried deep beneath the Imperial castle on Voton. It was understood that the Soothsayers manipulated the ruling Kastra as puppet masters, hidden beneath a stage. It didn't matter which Kastra ruled the Empire, they were in turn manipulated by the clairvoyant powers of the Soothsayers.
They were an incestuous coven of gray skinned, red eyed people who never ventured into the light of day except for the few individuals granted permission to be consultants to the ruling Kastra.
There were Soothsayer dens on each of the nine core worlds of the Empire. But all Soothsayers are born and raised on Voton and then shipped to whichever world needs them. There are no Soothsayer families on the core worlds, only on Voton.
They were not recognized as their own Kastra, but they were taken in by others and used as medicine men and clairvoyants. Kastra leaders depended on their visions to guide them. The Soothsayers slowly became invaluable to the Kastras and when they were united by force and the Empire's capital city was first constructed, the Soothsayers carved their home under the castle and have remained there, for several thousand years.
Another robed Soothsayer entered the quiet chamber and stood beside the Kwizarra Lonn.
"I have been instructed by the Empress to create a sporting event in which the winner will take his place beside the Empress and sire the heir to the Empire."
The second man nodded under his heavy gray cloak. His name was N'arvon and he was the trusted right hand of the Kwizarra Lonn.
"This contest will be one of physical strength,
"I can't talk long tonight. I'm going on a hunt in the morning. I must rise early to make ready my weapons," said Ketar.
Kaleen leaned in to study her screen closer. It made her own face larger on Ketar's screen.
"You look different. Have you been somewhere exciting today?"
She shook her head and sighed. "No. Same old boring school and dealing with my nagging mother."
He looked disappointed. She tried to make her life seem boring and average while he seemed to have exciting adventures that she loved to hear about.
"Where is the hunt this time? The dark forest or in the high country?"
He smirked. "Neither. We're heading off world. Somewhere in the system, I think. We're going to need environ-suits and radiation shielding. I'm guessing one of the inner planets."
"Sounds dangerous."
He smirked again and acted as if it were naught. "Nothing to worry about. I'll be off line for a few days though. Think you can live without me?"
She smiled broadly, her smooth face creased by the lines. "I'll manage."
Ketar looked away and she could overhear a male voice talking curtly. He returned his eyes to his screen and said, "I have go, talk to you soon."
"Goodbye," she said as the connection closed.
She switched off her tablet and returned it to the hiding spot at the head of the expansive bed. She had wanted to tell him to be careful, among other things. He lived such an adventurous life compared to her. He wasn't restricted to one planet or to the duties of the Imperial court. Despite being the Empress of the greatest stellar empire in the universe there were many limits to her freedoms.
***
The Kwizarra Lonn stood over the fire pit that burned the sacred bush. Vocra was indigenous to the high desert plateaus of the planet's northern hemisphere. Very early on it was discovered that inhaling the smoke of the burning Vocra produced hallucinogenic waking dreams. When certain individuals smoked the dried leaves they had visions of the future. Those who were able to harness the mind altering visions moved into advisory roles in the primitive tribes. Before long they began to move underground, where isolation and silence let them focus their visions. Thus were born the Soothsayer Dens.
The den of the Soothsayers was buried deep beneath the Imperial castle on Voton. It was understood that the Soothsayers manipulated the ruling Kastra as puppet masters, hidden beneath a stage. It didn't matter which Kastra ruled the Empire, they were in turn manipulated by the clairvoyant powers of the Soothsayers.
They were an incestuous coven of gray skinned, red eyed people who never ventured into the light of day except for the few individuals granted permission to be consultants to the ruling Kastra.
There were Soothsayer dens on each of the nine core worlds of the Empire. But all Soothsayers are born and raised on Voton and then shipped to whichever world needs them. There are no Soothsayer families on the core worlds, only on Voton.
They were not recognized as their own Kastra, but they were taken in by others and used as medicine men and clairvoyants. Kastra leaders depended on their visions to guide them. The Soothsayers slowly became invaluable to the Kastras and when they were united by force and the Empire's capital city was first constructed, the Soothsayers carved their home under the castle and have remained there, for several thousand years.
Another robed Soothsayer entered the quiet chamber and stood beside the Kwizarra Lonn.
"I have been instructed by the Empress to create a sporting event in which the winner will take his place beside the Empress and sire the heir to the Empire."
The second man nodded under his heavy gray cloak. His name was N'arvon and he was the trusted right hand of the Kwizarra Lonn.
"This contest will be one of physical strength,
Similar Books
Suddenly Expecting
Paula Roe
The Snowball
Stanley John Weyman
The Ramayana
Ramesh Menon
Sweet Southern Betrayal
Robin Covington
Witness Pursuit
Hope White
Arcadia Falls
Carol Goodman
Hide Out
Katie Allen
Fall of Colossus
D. F. Jones
The Book of Basketball
Bill Simmons