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and his brown eyes seemed more personable than most men that Nykostra had known. She liked his boyish smile and that twinkle in his eyes that betrayed his secret love for her.
    "I hear you are quite the swordsman, Lord Ku'nar," Nykostra said. She had been keeping the conversation as equal as she could between her suitors so as to not appear to favor one over the other.
    "I have won five duels my Empress."
    He said it without a hint of regret or boastfulness. His dark eyes fixed on Ketar when he looked away from her. She could tell he had said it not to impress her but to intimidate him. Ketar seemed more impressed than afraid. He held up a bone and used it like a falchion. He was being playful, she knew, but Ku'nar seemed to take it more as mockery. He stewed for a moment and then said, "And how many duels have you won, Lord Ketar?"
    Ketar's smile faded quickly.
    "One," he said.
    Nykostra's eyes grew large. He had told her that he'd never been challenged to a duel before. Was he lying?
    Ketar stared coldly across the table at Ku'nar.
    "Today will be my first."
    Ku'nar's stoic face slowly relaxed into a grin, followed quickly by a raised glass to Ketar. "Touché, my young friend."
    Ketar's boyish grin returned as he caught her staring wide eyed at him. He winked at her and took a drink.
    ***
    After the morning meal the contestants were treated to a tour of the royal castle grounds. Nykostra returned to her throne chamber to meet with her Chief Strategist, Lord Kasaga. He had returned to Voton to attend the games and had requested a meeting with her to discuss the Alliance front.
    He brought with him his First Officer, whom Nykostra had never seen before. The FO was taller than Kasaga and had knowing eyes that seemed to look right through her. She sensed immediately that he was both smart and cunning.
    "My Empress, it is good to see you in person again."
    Nykostra allowed him to bend a knee and kiss the back of her hand. She was still dressed in her royal gown and he his finest dress gray uniform. While he was down she glanced at the FO and he returned her gaze, unafraid to look away.
    Lord Kasaga stood and introduced his FO.
    "My Empress, allow me to introduce you to my First Officer, Verrad."
    She nodded to the tall warrior and he bowed at his waist.
    "It's an honor to meet you my Empress," Verrad said.
    It was her custom to not respond. She rarely addressed anyone below the rank of Admiral.
    "What news of the front lines have you brought me on this day, Lord Kasaga?"
    Kasaga's face tightened with concern.
    "My Empress the war progresses, but not nearly as quickly as it should. We're having difficulty getting more ships to the line. Many of the Kastras are refusing to release resources so that more ships can be built. I'm getting resistance from multiple Kastras. Some are concerned about supplying the other fronts and some are just being indignant for no apparent reason."
    She listened to him closely and did not react to what he told her. She appeared disinterested in what he was saying but she was in fact thinking about it. After a long pause in which Kasaga exchanged a look with Verrad, she spoke.
    "Lord Kasaga, I don't care about such trivial things. I want whatever ships and supplies you need for a full invasion of the human Alliance. If you, as Chief Strategist cannot make that happen, I shall have to replace you."
    Kasaga thrust back his shoulders taking immediate offense to her accusation that he was not able to do his job. She watched his body language carefully and ventured cautiously into his mind. He was embarrassed and offended in equal parts.
Good. It meant that he still had the wherewithal to do his job.
    "You have whatever Imperial decree you need to acquire your fleet. If the other Kastras ignore my wishes, I will deal with them myself. We are going back to Kerra-Jorro, or heads will roll from one end of this Empire to the other. Do I make myself clear?"
    "Yes, my Empress."
    Kasaga bowed sharply at his waist.