The Emperor's Daughter Read online

  THE EMPEROR’S DAUGHTER

  THE ETERNAL FLAME – BOOK ONE

  Contents

  INTRODUCTION

  PART I

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  PART II

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  CHAPTER 40

  CHAPTER 41

  CHAPTER 42

  CHAPTER 43

  CHAPTER 44

  CHAPTER 45

  CHAPTER 46

  CHAPTER 47

  CHAPTER 48

  CHAPTER 49

  CHAPTER 50

  CHAPTER 51

  EPILOGUE

  Introduction

  Augustus Renald was the first Emperor of Namari, the original Harbinger of Flames.

  Within the emperor’s palace walls today, in the throne room’s center, sits a pedestal. Atop it is a bright flame that has burned for nearly a millennium. In the nine-hundred-and-seventy-three years since Augustus set the pedestal ablaze, the fire has neither flickered nor faded. It has since been known as the Eternal Flame.

  It is said that, after uniting the Provinces under his rule, he lit the pedestal with the fire in his blood, laying his fingertips on the stone and bringing the flame to life on a surface that, in normal circumstances, cannot burn. Even after Augustus’ death, the flame did not change. It remains eternal at the palace’s center, symbolizing the everlasting unity of the Provinces under the Namari Empire.

  What happens, then, if the flame dies? Hopefully, the citizens of the empire will never have to find out.

  —Jerard Levellin, History of the Renald Dynasty, Vol. I

  ∞∞∞

  Let it be noted that governing an empire is an arduous task, though governing the Namari Empire is made to appear seemingly impossible by the divisions among the races. Centuries ago, before the reign of Augustus Renald the First, war plagued the land. Augustus was able to accomplish the inconceivable and unite the warring peoples under one empire: Namari.

  To maintain unity, Augustus granted each of the former nations the title of Province and the freedom to establish their own kings and queens to handle provincial laws and affairs. Each of the seven kings and queens would serve on the Concilium—the emperor’s royal advisory council and Namari’s primary lawmaking body—and each ruler’s coronation would be approved by the emperor and the Concilium. Only the emperor could raise and maintain the Armed Forces, levy taxes, declare war, and had the final say on all laws proposed to the Concilium. Imperial laws would, in all cases, be superior to those made at the provincial level.

  Though significantly more diverse now, each of the seven Provinces is home to its own native race of people, and each race possesses distinct physical features and characteristics. Many of these races are hybrids of the ancient natives of Eterra and the human immigrants that came to the planet several centuries ago. When the Earthens landed on Eterra, they had the tendency to remain with the others from their Earthen nation. The Polynesians integrated with the clan of Darci, making modern day Darcinians, such as High Queen Daiena Renald. The Laroi as we know them today are a hybrid race of those from the East Asian Commonwealth and the ancient Laroi. Those from the United Nations of Africa are the ancestors of today's Mordans, and so on and so forth.

  A particularly interesting brand of people, called the Primori, are only present in the Capital Province, within the palace walls. The only known Primori are of the imperial bloodline. Renald men are generally very lare in stature, whereas the women vary in sizes. The most recent child, Calla Renald, is quite short, for example. However, don’t let the smallness of her stature deceive you; the Primori characteristics are much stronger in women, making their abilities innately more powerful than those of the men.

  Today, most of the Provinces have populations of a varying mixture of the different races. Roran Province has the most skewed ratio, with the natives making up more than three-fourths of the population. Monarchs are most often native to the Province they rule. The recent coronation of King Talon of Roran is an exception to this tradition. Son of the emperor and his mistress, the new king is Primori, his genes causing much controversy in the Province.

  —Lliana Blanchard, Governing an Empire

  ∞∞∞

  Augustus Renald was the first of his race, the Primori, seen in Namari. The Primori genes are so dominant that they are present even if diluted through generations of interracial mixing. The current emperor, Augustus Renald the Fourth, is a full-blooded Primori, even though only a small portion of his genes are directly inherited from his great ancestor.

  The Primori are most commonly known for their remarkable abilities to manipulate, control, and even summon the elements at will. Augustus the First was gifted with power over fire, an ability so common in the Primori bloodlines that they possess the most well-known name: firebloods. Remus Renald, Augustus’ great-great-great-great-grandson, could bend metals to his will (Metallurge), as well as generate lightning and electricity from his own hands (Lectric). His abilities brought Namari into a new technological age that would have otherwise taken centuries more to achieve. The other powers on record are those of water (Oceanus), ice (Glacial), air (Aero), storm (Tempest), healing (Vitalis), and earth (Terra).

  One other supernatural ability has been noted in the history books. Ramsey Renald, youngest daughter of Emperor Remus, was born with incredible powers that had never before been seen, and that have yet to be seen a second time. All records regarding the specifics of her power have been removed from the National Archives, though it is important to remember that her ability—though powerful—was so abhorrent, her own father disowned her and exiled her from Namari.

  —Dante Levellin, History of the Renald Dynasty, Vol. XIV

  ∞∞∞

  Human settlement on Eterra began in the year 23 OE (Old Era). When Earth was finally deemed too hostile an environment for human life, the governments of the Old World came together to create the Exodus, a massive passenger ship capable of intergalactic space travel. Only the most valuable citizens from each country were granted a spot on the state-of-the-art spacecraft. They fled their dying planet to reach the much larger super earth, nicknamed Eterra by Earthen astronomers.

  When humans touched down on Eterra, they were more than surprised to find intelligent humanoid organisms already thriving in the ideal environment. The aliens from Earth went one of two ways: Some followed Jynna and Anakin, the former the mother of Augustus Renald, to join the native way of life, while the others secluded themselves in the mountainous chunk of land that is now the northern region of Roran Province. The latter group’s descendants eventually moved farther north and founded the kingdom of Helkyn.

  Meanwhile, those that had followed Jynna and Anakin divided themselves amongst the seven tribes in the western region of the continent
of Acani. It was Jynna herself that gave birth to Augustus Renald the First and Primori as we know them today. Anakin died shortly after, and it is not known whether he was Augustus’ father.

  —Giovan Dannar, Exodus: Journey from Earth to Eterra

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  Calla

  I am beginning to forget the sound of my brother’s voice. His voice. It was always so distinct to me, like a fingerprint, and I could easily pick it out in a chorus of hundreds of other voices. His singing used to soothe me to sleep when I was a young girl, chasing the demons of my nightmares away. Of all that is happening at this very moment, what plagues my mind is how I may soon forget Talon’s voice entirely. If it weren’t for the portraits throughout the palace, I wouldn’t doubt my ability to forget his handsome face as well.

  Lady Mira sobs beside me, my father doing his best to comfort his only remaining mistress, a Roran native and the mother of my half-brother. I ignore her, my gaze resting on the young man before me. I pity him more than I do myself. A close friend and adviser of my brother, Rysen had to come all this way to deliver heartbreaking news to the emperor and his family.

  So, here I am, standing in the middle of a hallway just outside my room. My feet are bare and the coolness of the obsidian floor seeps into my soles, my sleeping clothes not doing much to keep out the cold, either. I know my long hair is a mess, hastily tied up in a knot. My father and Lady Mira don’t look any more imperial than I. It must be quite the sight, seeing the emperor’s own family in such a scrappy state.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss, Your Highness,” he says to me, his Rorani accent lightly lilting his words.

  “How did it happen?” My voice is sharper, angrier than I intend. I’m not angry, not at this man who can’t be more than two years older than myself. He lost Talon too and is suffering alongside me.

  “We don’t know. The king was holding the morning meeting, speaking to the officials like it was any other day, when he was shot. The sniper wasn’t caught. There was nothing any of us could do.” His chestnut-colored gaze falls to the ground.

  I gulp down my emotion, my sadness and sorrow. “Very well,” I state, voice empty. Rysen looks taken aback at my sudden shift in demeanor. I ignore the reaction, turning instead to my father.

  “If you’ll excuse me, Father, I should be going.” I don’t wait for a response. I walk briskly down the hall, breaking into a jog once I’m out of sight. There is only one thing I desire at a time like this, only one person who can make things feel even the slightest bit all right.

  ∞∞∞

  Blade is in the palace courtyard training with some of his fellow guardsmen. He glances in my direction when he hears my bare footsteps crunching in the dirt. Dismissing the other men, he begins to make his way toward me.

  “What’s wrong?” he asks immediately, concern plastered on his features just as grief must be plastered on mine.

  I choke on the words, sobs escaping instead of a coherent sentence. Blade wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a warm hug. My dam of self-control crumbles, tears streaming down my cheeks. My best friend just holds me, squeezing me tighter as I cry into his chest. I don’t know how long we stand there in that way; it feels like several minutes, maybe even close to an hour.

  “Shh, it’s all right,” he soothes after the length of blissful silence, placing a kiss on top of my head. “I’m here, Calla, I’ll always be here.”

  I pull away, meeting his blue-grey eyes, full of their familiar kindness and warmth. He reminds me of Talon so much so that it hurts. They don’t look alike in the least, but they grew up together. Their personalities are practically identical at times.

  That’s why, even though I need him, I cannot bear to be near him. I was wrong to think he could make everything feel all right. “Thank you, Blade,” I whisper. “I need to go.” I try to turn away, but he grabs my arm with a strong hand, keeping me from leaving just yet.

  “At least tell me what’s happened, Calla. I haven’t seen you in this much pain since...” he trails off.

  “Since my mother died,” I finish, slowly tilting my head back up to meet his. “Talon... is dead. He was assassinated yesterday, right in the middle of his own home, in front of his wife.”

  “Dear God, Calla,” he breathes, face full of sympathy as he reaches to pull me into another embrace.

  I step away, not saying any more as I walk back into the palace, dirt clinging to the soles of my bare feet. I collapse on my bed once I reach my room, lacking the motivation to do anything more. I ran out of tears, a frigid emptiness beginning to fill the hole Talon’s death has left me with. Any moment, now, I say to myself. Talon will just walk through that door, laughing like he was sixteen again. I can’t manage to rid myself of the hope that he may come striding through those doors. I pray for the memory of Rysen’s dreadful news to fade away from existence.

  I cannot accept my brother’s death. If I do, I fear I will break.

  Chapter 2

  Rysen

  All I can think of as I follow the emperor and his mistress to the guest apartments is the grand duchess’ response.

  Very well.

  Devoid of all emotion, as if I had just told her dinner would be an hour late, not that her own brother was dead. Half-brother, I guess. Was this why Talon’s wife, Sybella, hated her husband’s family? Were they all as cold-hearted as the emperor’s daughter? I hope I’m wrong. The emperor himself seems kind, as does Lady Mira. Perhaps it’s just Grand Duchess Calla, an entitled little girl with no mother to set her straight. Talon used to speak so fondly of her, as if she were and angel from the heavens above, sent straight from the gods to bless our sorrowful lives. If that’s what angels are like, I don’t think I will ever want to meet another.

  The royals in front of me stop walking once we reach the chambers I will be staying in. Lady Mira faces me, her eyes red and puffy from silently crying during the walk here. I’m suddenly filled with a sense of guilt. Here is a mourning couple, and I let them take the time to escort me.

  “Since you were such a trusted friend of my son, you may stay in our nicest available guest chambers. Remain as long as you like. It would be comforting to have another soul to grieve with.” Lady Mira manages a small smile before she disappears down the hall. Emperor Augustus watches her carefully as she walks away, seemingly afraid that he will lose her too, if she is out of sight too long.

  “I must apologize for my daughter. I noticed the look on your face,” he says slowly. “She... takes some getting used to. Conveying any pain or sad emotion is not something she does easily, unless your name is Blade. Calla tends to bottle it all up until she explodes. I would recommend you look for her, try to speak with her,” he pauses, struggling to get out his next words. “Talon was more than a half-brother to her. He was her best friend. Those two, along with Blade, are... were inseparable.”

  The emperor pats my shoulder as he follows his mistress deeper into the palace. I don’t know how to react to such a gesture; I stand there in awkward silence as the emperor makes his leave. Once I am alone, I decide to ignore Augustus’ advice for the time being. Instead, I go into my chambers and collapse on the bed, unable to quell the sadness and despair boiling within.

  ∞∞∞

  Calla Renald is not a hard girl to find. I didn’t know I had fallen asleep until I woke up to the glow of a setting sun filtering through the windows. And there the grand duchess sits, slumped at the foot of my bed in the exact same clothing I first saw her in. Her deep black hair is even messier than it was this morning, and her eyes droop with a sorrow I hadn’t seen earlier. The image of her before me now is a stark contrast to the way the grand duchess is depicted across the Provinces: A warrior princess, the great and powerful High General of the Armed Forces, the emperor’s right-hand-woman.

  “I didn’t know you would be in here,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “Talon’s old rooms are just down the way. These used to be Blade’s, before he mov
ed closer to me. The three of us would spend entire weekends in here when we were younger.”

  I don’t have any idea what to say to that. It appears to me that I had misjudged her, but I’m still cautious, not wanting to dismiss my initial thoughts too quickly.

  The grand duchess swings her feet onto the bed and crawls closer to me. Grabbing one of the plush pillows, she plants herself right beside where I lie, crossing her legs and hugging the pillow close to her chest. Her eyes, a stunning amber shade, are red from irritation like Lady Mira’s. She has been crying, too. So, the emperor’s daughter really isn’t as heartless as I had assumed.

  I shiver slightly. The palace is remarkably frigid. “Doesn’t this place have a heating system?” I ask.

  She nods. “But I only just changed the thermostat in here before you woke up. It’ll take a while to kick on.” Her eyes look past me to the fireplace set a few feet away from my bedside. She waves her hand, a fire roaring to life within the brick confine. “I don’t feel the cold.”

  “No, I guess you wouldn’t.”

  We both fall silent, the only sound filling the room being that of the crackling fire. The sun dips even lower, vanishing behind the mountain range, the only light now an eerie orange glow. Another few motions of her small hands and several candles around the room come to life, adding a bit more light to the space. There are chandeliers and lightbulbs, but I assume the young Fireblood woman’s preferred light source is her own flame.

  “Tell me about him,” she says after a while.

  Her question confuses me. “You’re his sister, you know... knew him better than anyone else, even Sybella.” My throat hurt at the use of past tense. I don’t think I will ever truly grow accustomed to the loss of my friend.

  Her face falls, and her next words are full of despair and heartbreak. “I knew him before everything... changed. Before he ever thought he would be anything more than the emperor’s bastard son. He was the only normal one, the only one without any sort of responsibilities or expectations resting on his shoulders. He was just Talon, no real titles or formalities. But, then the issues in Roran grew, the king betrayed the Empire, and before I even knew what was happening, my brother was a king engaged to a Rorani girl he just met, expected to tame a rebellious Province.”