Path of the Berserker

Empress Revenah scoffed at the invitation and tossed it aside.

A debutants ball—the Emperor’s youngest child now coming of age.

Revenah could barely remember the last time she had been to one.

In fact, she could barely remember her own daughters’ debuts now, being so long ago. The thought caused a sudden bitterness within her. For all the splendor and ease of her life, even the comfort of a permanent concubine like Jin Yoo Sai—a husband in everything but name—the thought that Yin Yee, her true husband, was still bedding new wives and fathering new children, ate at the depths of her soul.

It shouldn’t matter.

She should be content that she had been the one picked from the many within her era.

The diamond of the season that caught Yin Yee’s eye.

And the decade they shared together was indeed one of the happiest of her life.

Yet a season is all it was.

The only thing permanent of their union now was their daughters.

And the youngest was proving far more curse than blessing.

Releasing a tired sigh, Revenah sampled her tea, staring over the ornate rim of her cup and out at the sprawling, country side of her summer home beyond. Since Lunalah’s disgrace she’d been forced to leave society. The mockery and snooty glances were growing far too brazen in the city.

Perhaps it was just as well that Lunalah had absconded off to King Theos’ territory instead of returning home to bring her armada of shame to orbit the core worlds. Over half a year had passed now and the stigma still lingered like a foul stench.

“Is there any word from my daughter?” Empress Revenah said, calling to her lady in waiting, Hinna, who stood behind her.

Hinna presented herself, rounding the side of the wicker chair Revenah was sat upon with short, shuffled steps. “This one has received no communications from the Princess herself, ma’am, but King Theos has sent his usual correspondence. Your daughter remains in seclusion on the second planet of his domain.”

Revenah harrumphed. “Still brooding, is she?”

Hinna paused. “I know not, ma’am.”

“It was a rhetorical question, Hinna.”

“Apologies, ma’am.”

Although to be honest the one now brooding was definitely herself, Revenah realized. How long would this play out, she wondered? She had done all within her power to discredit the Iron Bull while protecting Lunalah from further shame. Even the feast she had hosted to commemorate the fallen upon Terra and shift blame of the genocide to him, was poorly attended. At least the beast was known as the Bloody Duke now.

But there would need to be more done to restore Lunalah to grace.

Revenah glanced at the invitation again.

An opportunity perhaps? she thought.

Her mind churned with machinations.

“Hinna, fetch Councilman Jin Yoo Sai. I need to speak with him.”

As Hinna bowed and shuffled away, Revenah’s mind went deeper. The Debutants Ball was six months away. Enough time would perhaps have passed by then. Enough for both the stigma to leave Lunalah and also for the Iron Bull to let down his guard.

“You summoned me, my love?” Jin Yoo Sai gave her a playful chuckle as he sat down next to her. “Fancy another afternoon stroll through the gardens?”

“I need you to call for a favor within the council,” she said.

“I see. Straight to business. Hinna said you were in a mood.”

“What?”

He chuckled again. “Do not blame her. What is the favor. Not that I have much political currency these days.”

“Fear not. It shouldn’t cost much. Not with the Speaker pandering to the likes of the Iron Bull’s every whim.”

Jin Yoo Sai cocked a brow. “Now you have my attention. What the hells are you concocting now?”

Revenah tossed the envelope to him. “Have a look.”

Jin Yoo Sai only seemed more confused as he read the invitation. “Princess Ordellia’s Debut? Don’t tell me you wish me to ask pardon for you to not attend?”

Revenah laughed. “And miss my dear stepdaughter’s introduction to Society?” She smirked at him. “Not a chance. In fact, I wish you to propose the opposite , at the next council meeting.”

“What do you mean?”

“I believe that the invitation should be extended to our Sovereign Dependent Territories as well as the royal families within the empire.”

“Such hasn’t happened since the emperor was last present.”

“Yes, nearly twenty years now.”

“What are you playing at, Revenah?”

“We have a new Sovereign do we not? And he has a son.”

“As do many of the sovereigns.”

“Further to my point. The time to infuse fresh blood into the imperial family is at hand. And what fresher blood than that of the offspring of the empire’s newest sovereign? The great Duke Iron Bull himself.”

“His son is still but a child. A babe even.”

“Yes,” Revenah said as malice entered her heart. “And yet the entire empire seems to have completely ignored the fact that said child was in existence before the Iron Bull and his bride was married before the council.”

“So you seek to embarrass him?”

“The child is a bastard, Jin, a fact that should bring much shame within society. And yet somehow, he avoids it. The truth must be made clear.”

“There were odd circumstances, Revenah, The Lady Silver Light was thought to be dead. Even by the Iron Bull himself.”

“You truly believe that?” she said with a scoff. “But it matters not. Facts are facts.”

Jin Yoo Sai sighed. “And you wish to highlight these facts at the ball?”

“What better occasion? But not that only. It would be the perfect opportunity for Lunalah to emphasize why she should never have married him in the first place. His name and bloodline would be forever tarnished and Lunalah can walk away feeling vindicated.”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

“And how would you propose that?”

“I will seek King Theos’ aid,” Revenah said. “He has already offered Lunalah shelter. I will ask that he chaperone her to the ball. King Theos is still well favored as a Liberator. His support will no doubt help her image.”

Jin Yoo Sai sighed. “The things you ask of me.”

“You can do it. I believe in your power of persuasion.”

“All this for embarrassment?” Jin Yoo Sai harrumphed. “I’m not sure you’ve noticed but that savage seems to care very little about embarrassing anyone, including himself.”

“He may not realize it, but face is the only thing he has left to lose,” Revenah said as a smile curled her lips. “A bastard for an heir is no heir at all. His bloodline is already fragmented. And all of Society needs to know.”

* * *

I stood before a veritable sea of people, all decked in their finest of robes, but only one stood out for me. Fia bowed before me, adored in an elaborate red wedding dress, complete with an ornate crown of gold and jade, with silver tassels hung before her eyes.

I smiled with contentment.

After nearly a year, we could finally celebrate our union properly.

It had been three months now since I returned home with the Aetherite. I went straight to work, installing the huge chunks of crystal on large towers that Master Hei Dong had already began erecting the moment Ling Wei returned with the good news.

Now the radiance shone from above me, protecting the capital of Li Wan and beyond. In the last three months the city went through a renaissance, with people emerging from the sub way tunnels to restore the city and the fields. It was hard work and the transition wasn’t easy but people rose to the challenge under the leadership of Master Hei Dong and his new government. Jian Yi did the same back in Jurin and I spent much time travelling between the two cities to make sure things were progressing. In time, skiffs established a trade route between the two and we sent envoys to the core worlds to entice people to return to Terra via the Omni Gate, while we still had it anyway.

The door was closing on that opportunity and I knew I had to make my next move quickly. But rebuilding the planet came first. After that, I made preparations to head to Genisha with Hein and Blue Rose, but then Fia put her foot down.

“No way you are leaving on another crazy adventure without making me a proper wife.”

She’d said it jokingly, but I knew that it was a desire still deep in her soul. So as soon as we had reopened the planet, I called a public holiday to celebrate our official union.

I raised an ornate golden cup towards Fia, the vessel filled with Qi infused Tea and we both sipped from it in the Yee tradition. More ceremonial customs came next, with us dancing to folk music and harps. After that, the program was more relaxed and we called Bryce to join us on stage as we presented ourselves as the Duke and Duchess of Terra. My son, nearly a year now, sprinted across the stage, leaving Mother Dong’s arms.

I grabbed him up and placed him on my shoulder, presenting him to the crowd. “To the future of Terra! We will forge our own destiny and prevail. No matter what hardships we shall face, we have already proven, that we will always overcome!”

The assembly burst into praise and cheers, filling my soul with warmth.

Fia joined me at my side and together we waved to our people.

An immense sense of pride filled me.

We’d come a long way from the setback Lunalah had planted, but today I could finally say the Terran dynasty had begun in earnest. But there was one part still missing, the other reason I had called a public holiday.

“I would now like to call my father-in-law, Master Hei Dong, to the stage.”

Master Hei Dong squinted at me with both skepticism and surprise. I grinned back at him, pleased with the fact he knew nothing about what was coming next. As he stood next to me, I addressed the assembly again.

“Fellow Terrans, you know this man well. He is a public servant of the utmost caliber and esteem. He has rebuilt our great city, indeed our entire planet from the ground up. He is a man of wisdom and knowledge and one I look to for guidance daily. He has proven himself a faithful Warden of our city, but as I look to what lay ahead of us, I see a much greater calling for him. As I plan to leave our world to make a place for us in the greater empire, I must leave Terra in capable hands, and thus it is with great pride and pleasure that I today grant, to Master Hei Dong of the Silver Leaf Clan, the official title as Governor of Terra.”

The crowd erupted into applause and I joined in with them, turning to Master Hei Dong with a huge smile. For once, I’d caught the old man flat-footed and he stared back at me with wide glistening eyes.

“Congratulations Dad,” I said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Thank you.”

Fia tackled him with a hug and Mother Dong soon joined him on stage.

We joined hands and raised them to the crowd, a united royal family.

Music and drums played as the ceremony drew to a close. Ling Wei then took to the stage to announce the beginning of a week-long period of festivities. Everyone came onto the stage after that. Kelsey and her mom from back home. Yu Li, Su Ling and Gui Zu. Mal’Kira and Tu’lok, along with Hein and Blue Rose. Jian Yi, Zu Tien, Lee, Xi Xha, Mu Lin—the list was endless.

I embraced each and every one of them, loving squeezes from the ladies and manly bro-hugs and slaps on the back from the guys.

“Finally made her legal,” Gui Zu said grinning with perfect teeth. “About damn time!”

Fia swatted at him. “Enough of you. Come on. Let’s eat. I’m starving!”

We all retired to the wedding feast where no expense was spared to put on the biggest and most lavish spread I’d ever seen. Literally hundreds of dishes had been prepared and enough to feed the thousands we had invited.

Ling Wei had warned me about the bill, but I said to hell with it and approved whatever Fia had wanted. She deserved it and so did I. As we partied the night away, eating, drinking and dancing, I could almost feel content. Like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders, if just for a moment.

As evening came and guests began to depart, I found myself lounging with Fia, as we overlooked the city from the terrace of the Royal Palace. In the garden below, Gui Zu and Yu Li, were watching as Su Ling and Bryce played a game of tag. They had given us the night off, babysitting the kids while we had our official wedding night alone.

As I watched my son and niece play, I saw the future and wondered how they would grow up. And then something from the back of my mind stirred. I pushed it away at first, not wanted to think about it, but eventually…inevitably, I did.

This was the life I had fought so hard for.

Was still fighting for.

But if this—my family, my planet, my people—was to have a future.

I would have to leave it all behind.

The thought instantly brought a heaviness to my soul and I let out a sigh.

Fia turned her head to me. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I said reflexively and put on a fake smile.

Fia saw through it immediately and scowled. “Tell me what’s wrong, Max. This should be the happiest day of our lives. Aren’t you happy?”

She frowned a little then and I contemplated denying it further, but she deserved to know the truth. We were one flesh now. My soulmate joined and if I couldn’t share my deepest thoughts with her, then who could I?

“Being happy is the problem,” I said. “I’m not sure what it will mean…if I’m forced to leave you and all this behind.”

Her eyes flashed open with concern. “What are you talking about?”

I sighed. “We’ve come a long way Fia. And I wouldn’t give this up for the world.”

“This?”

“Us…our family.”

She smiled cautiously. “Who says you have to give any of it up? We’re with you, Max. In fact, I think we should think about expanding our family. Maybe even tonight?”

I laughed as she tapped me on the nose.

She’d given me an easy out, a way to skirt the topic and not have her worry. But I needed her to know the truth. “There is still a lot left undone, Fia. Bryce is still at risk and not just him. The entire empire.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, but nodded for me to continue.

“I don’t mean to be all doom and gloom, but I saw something while on the Hell Worlds this last time. Something that has me realizing that this battle against the Cursed Stars can’t be won in the mortal realm alone.”

“What?” she said. “What did you see?”

“I can’t explain it, but sooner or later, I’m going to have to ascend to the celestial realm and I’m not sure what that will mean for us. For our family. For everything.”

“Oh, Max…you don’t need to think about that. You’re already as strong as you need to be. Stop for a while. Raise our family. The next realm can wait.”

I shook my head, thinking of I’Xol’Ukz and the spread of the Blood moons. The Planetary Spirits like T’huet, keeping at bay, the Cleansing Fires of the Cursed Stars. “I fear I may have to go sooner than I think.”

“What? Why?”

“It will be the only way to protect what we have here. Our enemies lie beyond the stars, Fia. And I need to go there to defeat them…” I then paused as my heart broke. “But I really don’t want to. I don’t want to leave any of you behind.”

Fia nestled herself into my side. “Max, you’re probably overthinking this. Whatever you have to do, I’m sure you’ll find some other way. You always do.”

Some other way?

Was there?

I thought for a moment and a vision of the Chainmaiden’s core entered my mind’s eye. Perhaps there might be. Purifying her core to gain her knowledge was the original plan. Even if my final battle might lay in the Celestial Realm, if there was a way to defeat just I’Xol’Ukz from the Mortal Realm then that could at least buy me time. Hell, she could at least tell me if I had just months or years before he turned every moon red, or if I had decades instead.

The thought brought a sudden peace to my soul.

“Maybe there is a way,” I said.

Fia smiled. “See. I knew you’d think of something.”

I chuckled.

“And hey,” she said. “You’re not the only one who can ascend, okay? I know I’ve been ignoring my cultivating, but you don’t have to be leaving us behind. When we’re done raising our two sons and three daughters, I’ll catch you up and we can live in the celestial heavens forever.”

I laughed as she wrapped her arms around me and pressed her lips to mine.

“Four more kids?” I said.

“That’s right,” she said, still kissing me. “So we’d better get started. Like tonight.”