They’d been testing and poking and prying at our defense systems, looking for weaknesses and chinks in our armor. Once they found enough, they attacked us without mercy.
They took our homeworld and mining colonies. They threatened reprisals against our allies and killed those that stood in their way.
Like my elder brother, Qale.
Swatted from the sky during his trip to take command of our army. With the head removed, the army fell quickly, though not easily.
Now I found myself Lord of Taw, the most powerful lord in the Empire. And without the king on his throne, I was who the rest of the empire turned to for leadership.
But I was no leader. That was obvious from my very first decision…
We joined the queue for the palace. They handed over their invitations and were allowed to enter.
“You’re going to have to give up your weapons if you want to get inside,” I whispered out the corner of my mouth.
Zes snorted and drew his hunting knife.
“If they want my weapon, they’re going to have to take it from my cold dead hand,” he said.
Zes was a formidable warrior, if not the best tactician. His plans always consisted of, “Hit ‘em so hard an’ fast that it’ll make their heads spin!” or “Punch him in the face. That’ll show him who’s right!” And the incredibly subtle: “Kick him in the balls!”
You wanted him beside you in battle, not so much in the war room beforehand.
“You’re going to have to hand it over if you want to get in the palace,” I insisted.
Zes snorted again.
“We’ll see about that,” he said.
Another two lords handed over their invitations before we were ushered forward. I extended the invitations and the Titan servant smiled warmly and motioned for me to enter. He raised a hand to Zes.
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to hand that knife over, sir,” the servant said.
“I’m not the sir,” Zes said and nodded to me. “He is.”
“I still need to take it from you, si— Uh, if you please.”
Zes lifted the blade in its scabbard.
“This?” he said. “It’s ceremonial.”
“Be that as it may, I still have to confiscate it—only until after the celebrations are over. You can collect it again from us when you leave.”
Zes fingered the knife. He moved as if to hand it over before spinning it in his palm and drawing it under the servant’s neck.
“Which knife?” he said. “This knife?”
His eyes glinted with mischief. The servant quaked in his boots.
“P-Please, sir,” he said. “I’m j-just doing my j-job.”
Zes eased back and sighed.
“If that were true, Sunny Jim, none of us would be here to begin with,” he said.
He handed the blade over to the servant, who was still shaking.
“M-May I take your n-name?” the servant said.
“It’s complicated,” Zes said. “I’ll spell it for you. F-U-C-K Y-O-U…”
I left Zes at it. He was a genius when it came to annoying people. The guy had an inexhaustible supply of tricks and turns of phrase.
I entered the palace’s main ballroom. Lords and ladies circled, greeting one another in quiet conversation. Only those with the greatest dishonor appeared to be enjoying themselves—the ones that surrendered to the enemy without a second thought.
But who was I to judge? I had done the same thing.
We were not the only Titans in the galaxy. There were many others. Some still held to our old warrior ways. I often wondered what they would make of those of us who had become soft and easy to manipulate.
A quartet played soft music at the back of the ballroom. But it wasn’t just any music. It was the Titan victory celebration, played after great acts of valor.
Either the Changelings were welcoming us to share in their victory or they were rubbing our noses in our loss. I didn’t know the Changelings well enough to know.
I suspected that would change by the end of the evening.
To my eyes, there were two potential outcomes. Either the Changelings wanted us to swear fealty to them or they brought us all here to slaughter us. I put the odds at fifty-fifty for either scenario.
Despite the likely chance of death, I hadn’t hesitated to come. If they wanted me dead, they could do it at any time and anywhere. Coming today meant I had a chance to get to know our conquerors and figure out what sort of future we might look forward to.
A Titan servant extended a silver tray of champagne at me.
Champagne.
“Do you have any Titan ale?” I said.
“Only at the bar, sir,” the servant said, not raising his eyes from the floor.
“No champagne for me, thanks,” I said.
The Titan’s eyes flicked up and glanced at me. His anger burned visibly on his face.
I leaned forward and whispered in the young man’s ear.
“Watch your anger,” I said. “Some might take offense.”
He ducked apologetically and made a hasty exit. The last thing we needed was a scene, especially here of all places.
I didn’t blame how he felt, but turning his anger on me wouldn’t help anyone. Surrender was humiliating in Titan culture. ‘Better to die in honor than live a day in humiliation,’ was another pearl of Titan wisdom.
Words of wisdom from another time.
By now, the other Lords and Ladies had noticed me. There were two reactions. The first was to raise a glass at me in greeting. I smiled politely and nodded back. The second were those who grumbled under their breath and turned their backs on me.
Those I considered my friends belonged to the latter group. They had been loyal to House Taw for generations. I grew up with them, was like a brother to them.
And now they ignored me.
What a difference a single decision could make.
Meanwhile, those who greeted me warmly had always been those quick to sell out when a quick profit could be had.
It made me feel sick that these were the people who considered me a friend.
I wondered who would have the courage to approach me first.
Lord Flex.
It wasn’t courage that drove
