Free The Blood Empress by Ken McConnell Page B

weapon. She could see by the fire in his eyes that he more than approved.
    "What if they retaliate, my Empress? We are but one warship. They have fifty ships of the line either at or near Sett."
    "Fear of losing their Capital city will compel them to obey me. Fear of offending the Empress on their doorstep. We will not leave orbit until their ships start heading towards the front."
    Verrad turned away from her in thought. "Then what will you do?"
    "We shall leave for Vac One and do it all over again. They will either comply or suffer my wrath."
    He looked at her directly. "You truly are the Blood Empress."
    She took a step back from him offended by the term used behind her back and never to her face. She slapped him hard across the face.
    "You call me that again and I will cut off your head!"
    He lowered his eyes, his face burning from the slap. She went to the wall where his falchion was mounted and took it down. Carefully she pulled it out of the sheath and held it up with one hand. The curved blade flashed in the cabin light as she turned to face him.
    "I'm the Kamsa-riecht. You will promise me your life and I will reward you by not killing you."
    Verrad got down on his knees and bowed before her. She rested the falchion blade on his shoulder. She brought it to his face and flicked her wrist. The tip of the blade nicked his cheek and drew his blood. One does not draw a blade and not use it. He did not flinch as blood fell from the cut down his cheek.
    Verrad looked up at her as she put the metal blade to her face. It felt cool and smooth. Her eyes closed as she held the blade against her forehead. When she lowered it she could see the reddish tint to her eyes reflected on its surface and knew that she was the very definition of divine power.
    She calmly wiped the blade off, sheathed the falchion, returned it to the mount on the wall and then faced him.
    "Have my baggage brought to this room and find me suitable officer's clothes. I will take command of this ship and then I will bend the will of this Empire to do my bidding."
    Verrad saluted her with his right arm across his chest. Then he rose and quickly left.
    ***
    Nykostra entered the bridge of the warship and stood defiantly before the crew. She was dressed in a cut down version of the black and red command tunic. Her family falchion was at her side and on her head the small, metallic crown with the inverted "A" symbol of the Votainion Empire.
    Verrad called everyone to attention, "Empress on deck!"
    Crewmen immediately noticed her and scrambled to attention. There were less than a dozen men on the bridge at any one time. All of them now stood by their posts at attention.
    She could see the startled looks on their faces. Many probably wondered if it was some kind of a test. No sitting royal had ever stood on a warship's bridge before, she was pretty sure of that.
    "I, Empress Nykostra take command of this vessel. We are en-route to Sett. Our arrival will be unannounced and my presence will be kept secret."
    She stepped forward and walked with as much authority as her youthful frame could manage. Her eyes flashed over the crewmen with icy resolve. Nodding to Verrad she sat in his Captain's chair.
    "Back to your stations," Verrad barked and the men returned to their duties, their eyes down and their mouths closed.
    Verrad took his position at her side and motioned to the main view screen. The red glow of tunnel space fluttered as the warship dropped out into normal space. A small round circle grew larger until it filled the screen. The planet Settwas smaller than Voton and covered in verdant forests and white cloud patterns. She had never seen a more beautiful world.
    Verrad motioned to his comm officer who opened a channel to the capital city, Se'nar.
    The main viewer shifted to show the Kastra shield for Sett. Nykostra quickly glanced at Verrad with a nervous look. He nodded reassuringly as if delays were normal. She took a breath.
    The viewer changed to show an elder