Their War, Our Fate

Ten years ago, Prince Caelum of Vorrath and Prince Seren of Lysara swore love on the Stargazer's Perch. Caelum gave Seren an heirloom and promised to choose him. Then Korrath Lysara, Seren's father, hit Vorrath's home world with his fleet and wiped out Caelum's family. Korrath forced Seren to kill Caelum. Seren avoided the vital points.

Ten years later, a masked Caelum returned with a fleet and killed Korrath. He made Seren his slave. Korrath's body was hung at the main gate. Caelum made the new rank clear: "You are my slave now, Seren." He promised to return every ounce of pain Korrath had inflicted, ten times over.

Caelum had Seren bathed and brought to his quarters, then took him sexually and sent him out. Seren was left shaking, calling it paying off debts. Caelum arranged a private physician. Vexis Thorn, Caelum's companion, asked to teach Seren the rules. Caelum allowed it. She sent him to the black rock mines to extract blood quartz for Caelum's ceremonial attire. Seren did it because he owed Caelum a life. His hands were injured. Caelum never needed the stone. He ordered medics to bandage Seren's hands.

Caelum then forced Seren to attend the Hall of Glory ceremony, Korrath's creation, where slaves were stripped of identity and given to any lord present. Seren pleaded. Caelum said the debts Korrath left behind would be repaid while Seren stood on that stage. At the ceremony, lords mocked Seren. One tried to claim him publicly. Caelum stopped it, declared Seren belonged to him, and left with him. In private, Caelum took Seren again and made his claim absolute: no one touched Seren but him.

Vexis challenged Caelum over the decision. Caelum said Seren was not ready. Vexis warned him not to forget Korrath's crimes. Caelum ordered her out. Alone, he thought he should make Seren pay in blood, then asked why he kept making excuses. He ordered Orin Vex, head attendant of the Vorrath Government Hall, to have Seren cleaned and medics apply medicine without waking him. Vexis learned of this and decided to hurt Seren herself. As deputy commander, she tortured Seren in the underground brig with electrocution. Orin tried to stop her, then ran to Caelum. Caelum initially allowed Vexis to discipline disobedient slaves. Orin warned that Seren would die. Caelum went to the brig. Vexis was still going when he arrived.