Stars drifted past my viewport as the ship slowed to a perambulatory pace. As soon as I felt the lurch of disengaged thrusters, I knew a summons from Mother was imminent. I put on a fresh gown, braided my hair into a crown, and snapped golden bracelets onto my wrists before the speaker in my chambers even blipped.

 

She sat before the floating game board, its pieces set. I took my place across from her, tapping into my training to calm my racing pulse and covertly scanned the room. A fountain burbled softly, plants flourished under synthetic light. My eyes slipped over the large pod in the corner, unwilling to linger there. I noted the absence of Mother's handmaidens. It was to be a truly private family meeting, then.

 

The rings on Mother’s fingers clacked as she moved her knight-ship up three spaces on the z-axis and two forward on the y. “Zarina. You look well.”

 

I combed through my catalog of strategy, noting her opening play, and moved the rook-silo.

 

Mother slid another piece across the board, unbothered by my silence. “The Delegates will be pleased to court a bride with such deference.”

 

I did not allow my face to crease into unseemly lines of distaste. I was a First Daughter, molded into obedience, shaped to perfection through hours of toil and blood. Dozens of maidens and I would enter the Delegate Court tomorrow. The wealthiest among them would vie for our hands.

 

Atop the board, Mother’s moon-queen was guarded by her sun-king and a few pawn-soldiers. “It is an honor to serve our house,” I said. I took her knight-ship with my arch-priestess.

 

She countered, capturing my rook-silo. “Prince Sylas has already invited you to a private party. We accepted, of course.”

 

Mother’s machinations had been fruitful. Out of the dozens of holographic dossiers of eligible maidens, a prince had singled me out.

 

Minutes ticked by. I mourned the loss of my rook-silo, relying on simple soldier-pawns to fill the gap. Mother played quickly, assured of her strength. But my victory was made as I slid my moon-queen from below to seize hers. One moon-queen topples another; a story as old as the stars. Taking her knight-ship had been a distraction, meant to make me look weak.

 

Mother glared at me through the wavering blue squares of our game. “Stand.”

 

I rose and let my mind float away, thinking of the calm blue oceans of our home.

 

She came around the table and withdrew the pendant she kept around her neck, buried beneath her robes. She extended the grotesque, mottled talon wrapped in cord. One touch of the priceless Dortharian Claw would enfeeble any being.

 

She grazed it along my exposed throat.

 

Stars imploded in my ears as my body caught fire. The venom was quick. I kept my eyes open as a single tear leaked down my cheek. Years of exposure to her venom and my training as a First Daughter had made me strong and cold as an ice-laden comet.

 

“Good. Use it well.”

 

As Mother pressed the claw into my hand, I let my eyes find Father’s pod. He stared blankly, a husk of a once-great Delegate now kept alive by tubes and machines.

My fingers tightened on the talon. I looked to Mother, a moon-queen in need of toppling, and I slid across the checkered floor.