The Dead Dove Locker -- "I don't know what I expected."

[Mamorien]

The Greenfield Family.

Here we see spring break nearing its end, and with it Marcus and Raven's time together. Better make the most of it.

Will Marcus give his blessing for THAT certain part of Raven's plan before he leaves?

And why is Raven being so coy about the details of her visit with the Ishizawas?

https://storiesonline.net/n/52852/the-gr...d-family/9

Princess of the Void with its last chapter of 2025 (mark your calendars for January 5).

Grant’s sister-in-law gives him a chilly smile from the cabin’s main screen. “Hello, Majesty,” she says. “A genuine pleasure to see you.”

Grant nods, hands clasped behind his back. “Narika,” he says. “I want to discuss Marquess Shoskia.”

Evil and Stupid

“Ah,” she says. “You’ve found out, then.”

“So you’re not even going to bother denying it?”

“No point,” Narika says. “She came to me requesting funding and I gave her some.”

He scoffs. “What the hell, Narika?”

Narika tilts her head. “What do you mean what the hell?”

“You know what she is, right? The kind of woman she is.”

“I have an idea of her reputation, yes.”

“You’ve seen her business plan, then,” Grant says. “The ways she’s going backwards. My methods of working with the Eqtoran Council and the union. She wants to tear them up and keep things prehistoric.”

“That’s not her goal,” Narika says.

“What is?”

“She wants you back in your chains, Grantyde,” Narika says.

Grant’s heart skips.

“Your parole citizenship is nearly at an end,” the Princess of the Glory Banner continues. “It’s come to her attention. She is organizing a case to the Empress and to the sector that you are unready, and your freedom is a dangerous folly of Sykora’s. Your failure at Qarnaq will be the cupola on her argument’s citadel. Do you know, Prince, that should your wife be incapacitated, by disease, or an accident, or some other incident… going into labor, for example.”

She smirks at her own words.

“Do you know you will be the first alien in recorded history in undisputed command of a ZKZ? The first ever. That is what my sister has caused you to represent to these people. The seizure or destruction of the Empire. That is what the Marquess is fighting.”

“That’s insane.”

“Mmm.” Narika picks a piece of lint from her seat arm. “Not insane, I think. Just evil and stupid.”

“And yet you’re funding her.”

“That’s right.”

“That really disappoints me, Narika.” Grant puts his hands on his hips. “I thought you were more virtuous than that.”

Narika brushes her epaulette straight and grins. “Good angle, Majesty.”

“I’m serious,” he says.

“Here’s my thinking,” Narika says. “I’m calculating that you’ll be able to fend this evil, stupid woman off—and not only that, you’ll lay her out. She’s underestimating you, and overstepping, because she’s a misandrist and a xenochauvinist. So, I’ve set up a preoccupation that will operate autonomously and occupy you and Sykora, with only a modest expenditure of funds on my part. I’ve also encouraged Shoskia further into a confrontation that will ultimately prove disastrous for her rather toxic ideology. And I’m abetting a good first crisis for you. You’ll learn a lot.”

He snorts. “You’re really going to tell me you’re doing this for my benefit?”

“I don’t mean to insult you by suggesting that.” Narika leans forward. “But I am glad to see this metal in you. The more Shoskia beats you, the more of my investment I recoup. The more you beat her back, the stronger you become. Either way, I’m satisfied. You have it in you to be a splendid Prince, Grantyde. You have entered the Empire at the perfect time for a man like yourself, with the goals you have. A time of change. You are a catalyst. Sykora will try to protect you, but there is only so much she can do. And she loves you, but there is only so much she is willing to change. Some of what you hope to accomplish, you must do on your own.”

“You don’t know what I want.”

“In my defense, Grantyde, you don’t either. If you do still hate the Empire, you’re doing a good job hiding it.”

“You presume a lot about me.”

Narika snorts. “You came in as a kidnapped sex slave, Grantyde. You either hated the Empire or you were a lobotomite. I imagine you remember how it was when all this began and you were not free. Much has changed. You have developed a certain imperial ambition. I’d like to nurture it.”

“Still sounds like an excuse to me,” he says. “Just being honest.”

“You’ve wondered at times why Sykora and I don’t get along,” Narika says. “This is why. Ask her about the things that she does to me, when you get the chance. Ask about the Prgiot protestation I’m wrestling at the moment and the nonsense she put into Marquess Owiaxa’s head about me.”

Grant tries not to make it obvious that he’s filing those names away. “She’s pissed about this.”

“Of course she is,” Narika says. “If I was speaking to her, I’d feel no need to explain myself. But I like you.”

Grant doesn’t want this to please him, and blunt his anger, but it kinda does. “What if I expose your hand in this?” he says. “Make it known to the peerage that another sector’s moving on our turf.”

“Now, that would be satisfying.” Narika holds up a finger. “But would it be productive? You need to balance your response. Let’s game this out. What happens if you make our tiff over this planet public?”

“You’re trying to manipulate me here.”

“I’m trying to convince you of something, I’ll give you that. Take me with a grain of salt. But humor me. You broadcast that I have a hand in the Countess’s maneuvering. What’s the benefit?”

“I show outside influences are at play,” Grant says. “If she’s really opening a competitor on Qarnaq, it’s Pike versus Glory Banner now.”

Narika hums. “The problem there is that it isn’t as populist a message as you’re making it out to be. Sykora and I care a lot about who’s running what. Your citizens mostly just want to feel looked after. And I have as fine a reputation on that score as she does. It wouldn’t damage me among the coterie, or even particularly chip the paint with the plebeians—I’m acting in the expected ways Void Princesses act against one another, especially when it comes to Sykora and I. And you know I already have communications with your unions. They don’t hate me enough. Anything else?”

“I garner support from the peerage?”

“Mmm. From some corners, but, again, they were likely to support you regardless. These people you’re hoping to activate are activated already. You don’t need to turn them twice. Now what are the drawbacks?”

“You’re eager to tell me, I imagine.”

“I am. But see if you can come up with some.”

“This feels patronizing. Uh—matronizing.”

“I don’t mean to be,” Narika says. “Indulge me.”

“They’re going to think I’m a whiner,” he says. “Stamping my foot at the first sign of unfairness. They’ll think I’m unready, and running to mommy.”

Narika’s chin-tapping pauses. “Oh, that’s a good one,” she says. “I hadn’t thought of it, but you’re right.”

“What was yours?”

“This is an attack of opportunity I’ve been given,” Narika says. “She came to me. I found that quite brazen. If you let it be known that my money is going against your Qarnaq operations, you’ve given your opposition legitimacy, and you end up sending more of them to my doorstep.”

“And you’ll finance them.”

“I will,” Narika says. “For the fire-and-forget funds they’re looking for, it’s a no-brainer.”

Grant sighs. “So it’s me against you, huh?”

“If you want to look at it that way,” Narika says.

“I really wanted to avoid this.”

She shrugs. “It was not avoidable. But if you don’t take it personally, I won’t either when you stab me back.”

“When that happens, call me again,” Grant says. “I’ll remind you of what you just told me.”

She chuckles. “I will.”

And despite himself, Grant grins along with her.

https://www.scribblehub.com/read/1419041...r/2053635/
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/120617...and-stupid