Asteron

ASTERON

I lean back on the large, uncomfortable, ornate throne and glare down at the three warriors beneath me. Their leader, Minoran, holds my gaze. His horns are nearly as wide as my own, and he is the veteran of many a clash, given the scars on his hide.

"Clan Roaan remains loyal to the throne," he says in a tone which suggests anything but loyalty.

I bristle, shaking my horns.

"I would expect nothing less," I reply, attempting to keep my anger under control. "My father gave your clan land and leeway to trade how they pleased. I am willing to extend the same courtesy."

Minoran widens his stance and places his hand on the sword at his side, a deliberate movement designed to have my guard snap to attention and to challenge my authority in my own palace.

" King ." He says my title as if it pains him. "Clan Roaan is grateful for your offer, but it is not needed. My clan can look after itself."

"Can you? I've heard the wells on your land are drying up," I say, instantly regretting giving away my knowledge.

Minoran narrows his gaze. "Then your sources are wrong. My clan is strong and has no need for anything the royal family has to offer."

He hesitates, whereas he could have left, sweeping out of my throne room without a backward glance, a distinct snub and one which might as well be the final nail in the stall of my short reign. I lean forwards and place my head on my fist, horns tilted towards him in a final show of strength.

"But regardless of what we need, we would still consider ourselves indebted to you, King . Your father was…"

A tyrant, a bully, so far gone in his desires for power he put this entire quadrant at risk?

"…not unreasonable in his demands on our clan. We presume you will be the same."

King Lathon's death was expected, but even given his poor health, him falling down the stairs in the middle of the night and breaking his neck was not. Years of overeating and failure to train left him with multiple problems. That and his ability to imbibe vast quantities of Xnosson wine until he passed out were always going to catch up with him.

"I am not my father." I stand, planting my hooves with enough force to make the entire vaulted room ring with the sound. "I intend to rule well and with honor, as the royal family of Xnos has always done. It is time for a new reign. My reign."

"And if you intend so much"—Minoran looks up at me, one eye squinting—"with honor , presumably you will be taking a bride and showing your fertility to all the clans. A fertile king is a great king."

He repeats the old saying, passed down from generation to generation. My muscles tighten and it's all I can do to keep my face even.

"You want me to take a bride?"

"It would be the honorable thing to do. I took a bride on my first night as clan leader," Minoran says, inspecting one of his hooves. "Best thing I ever did." He grins up at me disarmingly. "She is round and plump with young and completely irresistible." He licks his lips, nose glistening with health.

"I will consider it."

"You do that," Minoran replies. "And we will talk again."

He gives me the shortest of bows, and with his entourage, he exits the throne room, their hooves ringing off the polished floors.

"You are all dismissed," I growl at the remaining courtiers and clan members, sitting back down on my throne with a thump.

I do not want to take a bride. Not while my father's death hangs over me.

My royal vizier, Phinade, sidles over. He's a slim, pale Xnossan with hooves which are unnaturally shiny and only a small set of horns. He is no warrior and perfectly fitted to his task.

"My Lord," he says, holding out a handheld screen.

"What is it?" I snap, not in the mood for any more of his musings on what I should and shouldn't do, especially where Phinade is the worst offender.

"If you require a bride, there is the Starlight Brides program. It is an interstellar venture, and there are brides waiting for any eligible and compatible species."

"What about a bride from Xnos?" I query. "Surely the clans would prefer it if I took a bride from my own planet?"

"It would take too long, sire," Phinade says evenly. "For what Minoran is suggesting, in any event. He expects you to wed by the end of your first reigning moon. And produce an heir soon thereafter."

"What?" I stare out at the sky where Xnos' first moon hangs ghostly, low on the horizon. "That's a month! He expects me to wed and to have my bride carrying young within a month?"

"Not just Minoran, sire." Phinade doesn't meet my gaze. "My sources say many of the clans wish to see you wed within your first reigning moon, as our traditions dictate."

"They do?" I slam my fist down on the padded arm of the throne, which cracks under the weight. "At what point were you going to tell me this?"

I snatch the screen from his hand and stare at the vivid and vulgar net page which details this ridiculous Starlight Brides scheme. It all seems designed to make as much money for the owners and operators as possible.

What other option do I have, if the clans expect me to wed? As much as I hate it, Phinade is correct that it would take too long and far too much negotiation with the clans to find a suitable bride on Xnos. I stare ruefully out of the throne room over the deep valley where my castle sits at the head. I should have heeded my father's desire to have me wed before he died.

If only I'd considered his death would come as soon as it did. Even while I was plotting my escape from Xnos, away from him and from everything he wanted me to be. Instead the old bull pulled the fringe over my eyes by going ahead and dying far too soon.

Now I have no option but to rule, and to hold the fractured clans together for the good of Xnos. To take a bride.

I slam the screen into Phinade's belly, and he takes it without a sound.

"Do it. Find me a Starlight Bride."