War Prize

Epilogue: PRINCE JAMES

      "This had better be good." I growled as I entered the empty room, thinking about the beautiful bride I had just left alone during the reception. I doubt that Katirina would ever forgive me for leaving her alone with the people she so charmingly calls 'wolves in sheep clothing'.

        "It is, sir." A dark voice responded next to me.

         "Commander O'Neil. So you have at last returned." I grin, slapping a hand upon his shoulder in welcome.

         "A bit to late, as it would seem." He replied. I noticed that his swords were lying upon a chair next to the door.

         I laughed a bit. "Not at all, my friend." I moved further into the room, and poured us a drink. "As it turns out, I did not require any intel at all."

          He tilted his head, and stared at me. "How so?"

         Taking a deep drink, I hand him the other glass. "Well. Katirina completed the Dividing, lent her power to heal the planets core, and defused the war before it could even begin." I sighed thinking of her sitting alone at our own reception.

         "And Miss Eva?" he inquired.

         "Dead." I replied, taking another long sip of my drink.

          He glanced down at his glass, and swished the liquid around before bringing it to his lips. "I see. How, may I ask."

         "My new wife." I replied, then cleared my throat. "She challenged Eva to the Fight of Warriors, and emerged victorious."

        He nodded. "I see." He stared at me quietly. "How is she taking it?"

        I stare back. "She is a survivor."

       He let out a chuckle, "Yes she is." He agreed.

       We sat in silence for a moment, taking periodic sips of our drinks.

       "I learned something during my travels. Shall I share it with you?"

       I wave a hand of encouragement. "Please do."

       "Eva was not the Life of the Universe."

       I tilt my head in thought. "Explain."

      "I traveled to Pallu, the Second planet of the Kebo Galaxy. I found noble survivors of Avita. Two survivors to be exact."

      "Continue." I encouraged.

      "They told me that in the final hours before the Fall of Avita, the royal family sent their child into space to save her from their violent downfall." He paused. "The only way to ensure that the Heir could escape safely, was to send out a decoy. A child of common blood, that the Barsite would take in believing she was the Life."

       "Eva was this decoy?"

      "She was."

      "Then what happened to the True Heir?" I asked.

      "She escaped. And landed on a small planet in the Paix Galaxy. She was raised in a poor orphanage surrounded by other lost children of War. When the orphanage could no longer support the children, the nuns sold them into slavery." He paused. "They say that the Heir could be distinguished by a trinket that she wears upon her neck. It is a small blue crystal, a stone from the Avita moon Mi, encased in unbreakable silver."

       "Katirina." I murmur, thinking of the necklace I have caught he clutching onto from time to time. "Katirina is the Lost Heir of Avita?"

        Drake nodded. "It would appear so. Yes. She is the official owner of the Avita Galaxy." He bowed his head slightly, "Or should I say you both are."

         Katirina is the Heir to Avita.... She should claim what is hers.. it is her birthright....

         I sigh, and down the rest of my glass. "As of right now, the Avita Galaxy has not heir. When Katirina is ready to claim the galaxy, I will support her, but I shall not force the issue."

         "I agree." Drake replied. "Congratulations on your marriage. I hope you have a blissful life together."

         I threw my head back and laughed. "Nothing has ever been 'blissful' with Katirina. It is one of the many reasons I love her. Speaking of which, I should probably return to my beautiful bride before she tracks me down to rip out my tongue."

        I hear Drake let out a small chuckle, as I exited the room.

        Upon passing the library on the way back to my own wedding reception, I noticed that Katirina was occupying the empty room.

        "Katirina." I call, watching her as she stared out the large windows at the ocean below. "It is very rude to leave a celebration half way through."

        My beautiful wife let out a very graceful snort, "Says the man who abandoned his wife to deal with those wolves alone."

        I stand beside her to stare at the view that had her so transfixed. The two moons were glowing brightly in the sky, causing the ocean to appear calm and smooth. "It appears as though you survived the experience without being bitten."

        She laughed softly. "That is only because I have learns to have teeth of my own."

        "And they are quite sharp little things, I must say." I respond. This was so peaceful, standing here watching something some beautiful. I could understand why she enjoys it.

        "I have an answer to your question?"

       I glance down at her. Her silver eyes were glowing brightly in the darkness, reminding me of the two moons that filled the sky. "Which question?"

       "The first you ever asked me." She supplied, glancing up at me. "The day we first meet. Do you remember?"

      I give her a small smile. "I do."

      She glanced back out the window. "I favor neither the darkness or the light. It is rather how the two work together that intrigues me. You can't have one without the other, so they work together to create something beautiful." She stares wistfully out the window. "Some much beauty that can be stripped away so quickly by violence."

     I rub a hand across her back, in a soothing motion. "It is all over now, the Barsite have flee this quarter of the Universe."

     "This was only a battle." She whispers, staring off into the distance. "I foresee an entire war raging in the horizon."