The third book of the 6-book Princes' Game series covering the Chatcaavan War.
The third book of the 6-book [[Princes' Game Series]] covering the Chatcaavan War.
==Publication Data==
==Publication Data==
Line 28:
Line 28:
http://books2read.com/u/bQp1Z4
http://books2read.com/u/bQp1Z4
==Synopsis==
===Prologue===
Despite everything that had transpired, the [[Queen Ransomed|Queen]] remained surprised that the [[Emperor]] had made her a promise and kept it. The Emperor shows up at her door, reminding her that she'd asked to see the sea. As he saw her looking out the window, he ads that he'd looked outside for contrails, too. They spend a few moments talking about their [[Lisinthir|missing third]] before again inviting her to see the shore. The way he does so, however, with her hand slipping over her palm, reminds her strongly of how the Ambassador made a gift of his pattern to her. Cryptically, the Emperor says that they'll discuss that later tonight and doesn't say more.
The actual trip to the sea took longer than she expected, though probably because she was measuring it against how it looked from her tower window: a straight drop down. But the Emperor drove her (!) to the shore. From up close, it's nothing like the view from the tower, with the cold tide and the beating water and the scent...! She spends a few moments mesmerized by the novelty of it before abruptly asking the Emperor if Chatcaava can swim ("With difficulty"). It's almost an overwhelming experience, but when she turns away, reflecting on the events that got her to this place, she is beckoned to leave as the Emperor needs to get back to work. She asks if he'll come to her later, and he reiterates that they have much to discuss.
The conversation turns out to be about the Touch and the Change, since the Queen has the greater experience in it. She tells the Emperor that practicing the Change improves speed and ability to hold the shape, but ''patterns'' are created at the moment of the Touch, and one can only practice that by Touching other species to make them truer to original forms. Even so, she's flattered that he accepted her greater mastery so easily, showing his obsession with understanding reality.
The Queen confirms that initial patterns won't be as good as later ones, but also that paying attention to the process, losing oneself to the Touch helps the pattern set better. After mumbling to himself that it's hard for him to lose himself to anything, he states that he needs practice at the Touch and, thusly, aliens. The Queen mentions that they should be willing, and he dismisses any other possibility before, curious as ever, wondering aloud if it makes a difference. Reflecting on her own experiences (first two patterns from frightened slaves, the Eldritch princess who pulled away, the Ambassador who made a gift of it), she concludes that she thinks it does, since a good Touch takes time and concentration.
He approaches and, noting that she doesn't have to curl up in order to Change, asks her how much practice she's had at it. She replies that she was alone a lot and Changing gave her something to do. Noting that this was something she could do well and be proud of doing so, the Emperor uses that to dismiss the idea of Chatcaavan females having no desires. The Queen amends that to Chatcaavan females having no ''needs'', but the Emperor says either way, the idea is wrong and kisses the corner of her mouth. However, the Queen continues, saying those in power can make it so if they want to, but he counters that they will until their blindness causes them to make a mistake, and the oppressed destroy them.
This spooks the Queen, because she had spent so much of her life powerless to effect change, but now that she is aware of her own agency, that brings it's own set of stresses. So, he distracts her from that path by asking if he will find aliens, and he tells her that his next trip will take him near enough to the border that he may find an opportunity to visit some of the Pelted worlds. He makes an offhand comment about the [[Admiral-Offense]], which causes the Queen to worry about him doubting her Emperor. However, the Emperor says that the Admiral-Offense is his, and that his actions with [[Second-Who-Was|Second]] have proved his mettle, even guessing he may become as dependable an ally as [[Command-East (Second)|Command East]], who he plans to leave here as the new Second.
The Queen offers her help. The Emperor presses her, asking her if she means it, and if she would tell him she is nothing, which the Queen recognizes as a small trap. However, she sees the way out as he waits patiently for her answer, and thusly concludes that while she may not be like other allies, she has unique talents to bring to the table. She reminds him that she is the [[Queen Ransomed]], most exalted of all females in his Empire and... that she is not used to thinking of herself in this way. The Emperor reminds her not to let anyone tell her differently, and that she already helps by teaching him, and that she will serve him here better than she may know.
More to the point, he hates to leave her and expresses a desire to take her with him, hardly caring if it makes him look weak. He suggests that instead, they practice the Change and indulge themselves in some pleasure before he has to leave. The Queen hates that he has to leave, and the Emperor admits that he hates to leave, but they must pass through this to reach the other side. He asks for her help to walk that path, no matter the cost. She tells him that in the past, she thought that if she died, she couldn't be caged again, and that she still has that thought sometimes, and asks him if he feels pity. Instead, he feels pride, because it is a thought worthy of any Chatcaava.
They comfort each other by wearing the borrowed shape of their lover when they spend time together. In one particular moment, she has a thought that the Emperor choosing to use that form would draw her compliance with a glad heart, especially since it reminded them of what they'd lost. However, they are interrupted by the sound of boots on the landing, which means a guard. Seeing who it was causes the Emperor to tell her to watch closely. The guard, professional in demeanor, initially tenses when he finds an alien in the arms of the Slave Queen.
But having recognized the Emperor, he relaxed some, passing along that he was told to find the Emperor. The Emperor, after making him wait a few moments, rolls to his feet in a distinctly dragon-like way, telling the guard that he's discharged his errand and calling him by name. The guard gives a brief hesitation but bows, and as he rises again, the Emperor catches him by his nose and he freezes, though he still has his wings tilted forward in respect. When prompted, the guard states that the Emperor wears the shape of the alien who came from the Alliance and killed [[Third-Who-Was|Third]], and confirms that he is not repulsed by this appearance. Pressed to explain his lack of repulsion, the guard hesitates, then finally says "The Change is our birthright, Exalted... yet I have never seen it. That seems... wrong... to me."
The guard asks if it's wrong to be curious, but does state that he hasn't been punished for it though he has been cautious. The Queen notes his pose, how still he was, and guessing this is a reason why he stood out. Saying that he rewards curiosity coupled with respect, he asks if the guard has wished to see the Change. Then he presses the guard on whether the Change is greatness, and his initial answer ("Because we can do it") is insufficient. He gives a better one: "Because through it we may understand the subtle and unknown... and knowledge is safety, and power."
Impressed, the Emperor drops his hand from the guard's nose and invites the guard to a greater test. The look in the guard's eyes... the Queen recognizes it as one of hunger for something never had before. The guard, Huuru, asks the Emperor to have his mettle, and the Emperor surprises everyone by stepping back to include the Queen Ransomed, calling her by title. More intriguing is him asking her what she thinks of Huuru. She asks Huuru if he recognizes her title, and he states that he's read the histories. "The Empire was different at its inception." The Emperor chimes in that it's not usual for males to read such histories, as it gives males and females dangerous ideas, the latter only if they were allowed to read. The Queen states a desire to read them, and Huuru is surprised she can read. Surprised and ''fascinated.'' It turns out that he is curious about the Queen, noting her lack of punishment for not speaking the way most females speak, and that she reads and has seen the Change. But then he's further shocked that ''she taught the Emperor the Change''.
The Queen throws out a challenge of a question: "Does that make me great?" but Huuru surprises her by laughing with delight, then saying that the Queen reminds her of his dam. She's shocked to find that she likes him. The Emperor then turns to the guard, touching him with a finger under his chin, and asks him if he's offended to be judged by a female. The guard, however, states that she is the ''Queen Ransomed'' and -- after some gentle teasing from the Emperor -- that he loved his dam dearly. The Queen ''really'' likes him now, but the Emperor says that he could be lying. She looks at him askance because he's touching the guard with ''Eldritch'' fingers but the guard might not know what that means. So she plays along, saying that he couldn't say what he said out loud without being visibly disgusted.
Huuru pipes up that a practiced enough liar could and cautions her not to trust everything she's been told. Then, the Emperor asks her again if she's certain she likes the guard, and she reiterates that she does, reflecting on the grace with which Huuru submitted to this test. The Emperor then recaps the guard's assignment, then discards his name and gives him the title of [[Knife (Title)|the Knife]]. To the Queen, he gives a brief rundown of the title, which is the head of security for the Queen Ransomed, as well as her personal guard. The new Knife tries to pass off this responsibility as too great and himself as unworthy, but the Emperor tells him that he's been watching this new Knife, who couldn't hide his curiosity from every test. Further, he quizzes the Knife on what shape he's wearing, and the Knife answers correctly that it's an Eldritch's shape. It's here that the Knife puts together that since Eldritch feel through their skins, that the Emperor touching him was an additional part of his evaluation. When asked if he accepts, the Knife says "who would say no?"
Then, the Emperor checks with his Queen Ransomed to make sure she likes this choice, for her own reasons, then Changes back to his true form and leaves them to confer.
The Emperor returns in the evening agitated. When asked, he states that he has to leave tonight as matters have become urgent, perhaps even pivotal. They could even pass through this gate and thereby make the change that is needed. At her shiver, he quickly reassures her that in so striving, they shall know glory win or lose... but he has no plans on losing. Still, she fears for her Emperor against those of the status quo and how they would fight change. He changes the subject to how she finds the new Knife. It turns out that he's changed the guard rotation and is working on fortifying the base of the tower to increase security.
Another thing that stuck with her was that the Knife loves his dam, and through that she brings up the Emperor's comment of the Empire not being the court. Elaborating, the Emperor tells of the Empire's size and how change foments in urban areas, then erratically trickles outward depending on trade routes and military expansion. In essence, the more provincial the Chatcaava, the less extreme attitudes towards females and aliens they have. Conversely, they also are far from centers of commerce and power so those beliefs remain those of the poor and disenfranchised. This is one of the Emperor's challenges. The Queen catches on, saying that he began with the Navy and is using it to break apart existing power structures, since the Navy is widespread.
Complimenting her on her underestimated understanding, he says that his intentions prior to the Ambassador tearing through the court were less noble, that he wanted the throne because it was what males with ambition ''do'', and speaking very slightly of his origins. The Queen feels a sudden desire to pry into these origins, but doesn't know how to frame the questions. Instead, she shifts the conversation to finding new uses for these tools, like with the Knife. The Knife was apparently due a reward for his exemplary performance, so the Emperor assigned him harem duty as a prize. After a brief digression into whether or not the harem is treasure, the Emperor tells her to use the weapon he's given her, and also see to the safety of the children. Now, he sees his children as seeds to catalyze the changes needed so they survive in the Empire.
Unfortunately, he has to leave the disposition of the children to her, as he has fight the more obvious battle against those who see the change and believe it weakness. The Emperor will kill them all if need be, if it drags on too long, and that some forms of compassion "are a little too Alliance for me yet." The Queen pushes him on this, and he says he doubt he'll change, but also a year ago he also doubted he would change. Then, he drops on her that she now has computer access and the Knife should teach her how to use it, even to send a note to [[Laniis Baker|her "pretty Seersa girl"]].
After a night of sex, the Queen wakes up, bereft of the Emperor's presence even in the form of bruises or aches. Dismayed at how fast he had to leave, she guesses that he'd left securing the court to this new Second, once Command-East. So she had her own tasks as she saw it: contact Laniis, secure the 'treasure' in the tower, see to the children. And, she had a Knife to do it. This seemed significant, because even though he didn't seem concerned, the Emperor had still left her a weapon... so was he expecting trouble?
The Queen comes to the realization that he was treating her as a true partner, like how her new title entailed. Thus, she had a responsibility to make her own title true. After allowing herself a few moments to just be astonished that she had work to do, she takes a few breaths to calm her anxiety, then goes to consider how to grapple with these tasks.
In an effort to stop a war and hold the Thorn Throne, the Chatcaavan Emperor has embarked on the bloody subjugation of the rebels who are tearing the Empire apart to serve their ambitions. He has left the palace in the hands of the newly christened Queen Ransomed and encircled her with his allies.
One of them is a traitor.
All the lessons the Queen has learned—in personhood, in agency, in courage—may not be enough to equip her for the challenges before her. Nor is she the only one facing a revelation that could shatter worlds: Lisinthir Nase Galare, newly returned to the Alliance, has invited his cousin to their promised assignation, and discovered by accident a weapon that could turn the tide.
Book Three of the Princes’ Game begins with a tryst and ends with a clarion call to battle. How many will answer the call? And will they see the end of the conflict unchanged?
