-KAJA-

  Yanda talked as they flew, but Kaja kept quiet. She peered out of the window as the slim Chintari woman spoke about where they were.

  Apparently, the planet Chin had 3 continents. The one they were currently on was called the 2nd continent. The other two were the round continent and the shattered continent.

  Kaja didn't know how there could be a second continent without a first continent, but she didn't bother asking.

  She just continued staring out the window. She saw various collections of lights on the ground below: Cities.

  If Yanda was to be believed, the 2nd continent was the largest and most populous continent on the planet. It was also the most technologically advanced.

  "And now everything you see down there belongs to us," Yanda said with pride.

  "Almost everything," Kivessa interjected without looking up from her book.

  Yanda shrugged.

  "Everything will be ours soon."

  A strange question popped into Kaja's mind. "How many people have you killed?" she asked, looking at Yanda.

  Yanda scrunched her nose. "Why are you asking that?"

  "My father once said that people who start wars rarely think about the number of people they kill. He believed that if they were made aware of each individual life lost, they might change their methods."

  "Your father is a strange man," Yanda said, looking in Kivessa's direction. Kaja followed Yanda’s gaze and realised that Kivessa was looking right at her.

  "Two hundred thousand, one hundred and seventy-eight," Kivessa said. "That's how many people we've killed. I check the numbers every day. And your father was wrong. We haven't killed enough."

  [She's scary.] The Master Cube noted.

  Kaja held Kivessa's gaze for a while, then when she found she couldn't any more, she turned back to the window.

  They flew in silence for some time, then Yanda started again. "What is that strange mark on your face Kaja Khan?"

  Kaja didn't respond, and Yanda spoke again. "Kaja Khan, I know fate brought you here, but please do not be like the blood queen. Silent journeys are very boring."

  If Kivessa found Yanda's jab disrespectful, she didn't react.

  "It's...personal," Kaja said.

  "Ah. That means there's a story."

  The Master Cube chimed in. [Don't tell her Kaja.]

  Yanda probed. "Something happened to you, didn't it?"

  [I don't like her.]

  "Someone died," Yanda said smoothly.

  Kaja flinched.

  "Ahhhh," Yanda purred in satisfaction. "This is very exciting. Now I get to guess who-"

  "My father," Kaja said, not wanting it to go on. "My father died."

  "Who killed him?"

  Kaja shook her head. "I didn't say he was killed."

  "Yes. But that is what you meant. Who killed him, Kaja Khan?"

  [She's dangerous.]

  Kaja glanced at the woman. "The collective," she said. She didn't want to talk about this. Yet strangely, the words were coming out.

  [Telepath.] The Master Cube said.

  Yeah, Kaja realized. And a subtle one at that. Kaja hadn't felt a touch on her mind. She steeled herself in the ways she had been taught as a child.

  "Who's the collective?" Yanda asked.

  Kaja looked out the window. Something inside her told her to answer but she ignored it. She heard Yanda chuckle softly.

  "You've caught on already. That's impressive. Sorry about your father, but I have one last question for you. How many people would you kill if it would bring back your father?"

  Kaja didn't respond, but she felt tears begin to well in her eyes.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Yanda continued, "Two hundred thousand, one hundred and seventy-eight isn't such a big number anymore is it?"

  -BREAK-

  The flight took about an hour. Yanda continued to parrot, narrating the whole journey and giving Kaja insights into what was happening.

  They were apparently flying to the shattered continent, which was a group of several islands which lay close to each other.

  Their destination was an island named Hardaz, and they were going there for peace talks.

  Kaja found that hard to believe.

  Kivessa had said they were going to war. She had also said they hadn't killed enough people. So why were they going for peace talks?

  She asked Yanda the question and Yanda responded by saying, "Because they asked for it."

  She was lying. Kaja knew she was lying, but she didn't probe any further.

  Yanda said Hardaz was supposedly a historic neutral ground. Kivessa was at war with several city states on the planet Chin, and some of their rulers had asked her to meet there for peace talks.

  And for some reason, Kivessa had decided to bring Kaja along.

  They flew past the edge of the second continent and kept going. Shortly after that, Kaja caught sight of a landmass below them, a small island covered with lights.

  The StarRunner began to descend. They landed on a small landing pad in front of an imperious building. Yanda gestured at Kaja to get up and come stand next to her.

  Kaja saw Kivessa snap her fingers, and the Magic Ledger twisted on itself and vanished. Kivessa stood up. Her guards walked with her, one in front and one behind.

  The leading guard opened the door and they stepped out.

  Yanda patted Kaja on the back. "Let's go Kaja Khan."

  -BREAK-

  There was a welcoming party waiting for them. They were Chintari people but with slightly different statures than Kivessa and Yanda.

  These Chintari had darker skin and no horns on their foreheads. They were short with stubby fingers and round faces. Kaja counted about fifteen of them.

  One of them stepped forward. He looked older than the rest and was dressed in fine clothes. He bowed to Kivessa.

  "Lady Kivessa," he said. "We have been waiting for you."

  "Hello Qatan," Kivessa replied. "Yes. I was delayed."

  "That is unfortunate," Qatan said. "The other rulers were getting a little anxious."

  Kivessa scoffed, "There are no other rulers," she said.

  "Yes, my lady," Qatan replied hurriedly. He curtsied several times, his forehead practically touching the ground.

  Kivessa wrinkled her nose at him. "Spare me the theatrics, Qatan. You know they annoy me."

  "Certainly my lady. My apologies, my lady. If you would just follow me, I'll lead you to the meeting room."

  Kivessa raised her hand. "No. I gave clear instruction, Qatan. I said I would meet my people first, then I would go to the meeting."

  "Yes my lady, but your lateness has-"

  "I will meet my people first. Then I will go to the meeting."

  "...yes please."

  "Lead me to my people."

  Qatan led them towards the imposing building. It had a long flight of stone stairs leading up to it. As they ascended the stairs, Yanda shuffled closer to Kaja.

  “Impressive, isn’t it?” Yanda said.

  Kaja nodded.

  The building seemed to be constructed from some white stone which glistened in the light made by the mana spheres that adorned it.

  There was a row of white columns separate from the building but arrayed in front of it. Each column was wider than Kaja and rose several feet into the air.

  Atop each column sat a stature, unique for each one. Most of the statues had unique humanoid features except for one in the middle.

  Kaja recognized the shape. That was a dragon, no, a rhega. There was something different about this stature though. Jakku’s rhega had one head, but this statue boasted a creature with 5 heads. The heads pointed in different directions, jaws wide as if roaring into the night sky.

  Kaja felt Yanda’s hand on her shoulder.

  “You’re staring too hard,” Yanda said with a chuckle.

  “What is that?” Kaja whispered.

  “They call it Kiyrin,” Yanda said. “It’s this island's protector?”

  The Master Cube spoke up in Kaja’s mind. [That makes it sound like it’s real, and that it’s still alive.]

  Kaja had the same question. She gave Yanda what she hoped was a concerned look and asked the question. “So it’s still alive?”

  Yanda’s smile faltered slightly. “In a sense,” the Chintari woman said. “Don’t worry,” she added. “You’re safe as long as you are with us.”

  Qatan led them through the massive double doors at the entrance to the building. The inside was decorated lavishly. Kaja was acquainted with wealth and knew how to recognize it. Whoever had decorated this room, was very wealthy.

  Qatan seemed to catch her staring.

  “This palace is a remnant of our past,” he said to Kaja. “It is a remnant of a time when kings came from this island. You will find that most of the homes here are more subtle. However, we choose to maintain this place in its state to honour the past.”

  “So this place doesn’t produce kings anymore?” Kaja asked.

  Qatan shook his head. “Our royal line died out many years ago,” he responded. “They were killed.” He glanced at Kivessa and Kaja understood the implication in the look.

  They were killed by Kivessa’s family.

  “Why didn’t Kiyrin protect them?” Kaja asked.

  Qatan chuckled. “You’re a smart girl,” he said. He had led up a set of stairs to a set of double doors. He placed his hands on the handle and paused.

  “Our royal family was attacked when they were away from the island?” he said. “It was a well planned assault. That is why no one leaves our island anymore.”

  He pushed on the handles and opened the doors revealing what looked like a small conference room.

  There were people inside. Kaja instantly recognized Jakku, the rhega rider who had attacked the StarHawk. He noticed her too and inclined his head towards her as a greeting.

  [I guess he likes you.] The Master Cube said.

  There were three other Chintari people in the room. They all looked like high ranking military officers with immaculate uniforms, which had multiple badges attached at the chest. Some had swords or guns strapped to their side.

  One particular person stood out though: A man dressed in a long black cloak. Kaja blinked several times in disbelief. He was not a Chintari. This man had pale pink skin and red hair. He was a default human.

  The redheaded man stood up and turned to face them.

  "Kivessa," he said, a touch of exasperation in his voice. "You're late."

  Kaja noticed the way some of the Chintari men squirmed when they heard his voice. They did not appreciate his tone.

  The red headed man was tall and had a matching red beard. He also had several freckles and green eyes.

  Kivessa stepped towards him. "My timing is irrelevant to you, Cash. I arrive when I arrive. And that is all."

  Cash seemed to find her words amusing, but he didn't press the matter. "Okay then," he said. "But I'm sure you understand the urgency of-"

  He paused, now seeing Kaja. First his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, then his face darkened. "What is going on Kivessa? Who is that?"

  Kivessa glanced back at Kaja. There was something in her eye. Mischief? Kaja wasn't certain.

  "That," Kivessa said. "Is your replacement."