Princess Rualoh: Shadow of the Dominion, #6

By Blaze Ward

Valentinian and his friends never imagined being trapped underground with their worst enemies—the Widow and her crew.

Above-ground, an entire tribe of sex-crazed cannibal mutants rampages, coming for their souls.

Enemies must make deals with each other, planning for the inevitable double- and triple-crosses, as well as ferreting out the secrets of the long-forgotten vessel known as Princess Rualoh.

Princess Rualoh—the sixth novel in the Shadow of the Dominion series—forges new deals and trickery between enemies as well as friends. And, oh yeah, maybe they'll talk with each other as well.

Be sure to read all the books in the series, starting with Longshot Hypothesis.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Knotted Road Press
• Release date: Feb 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781644700938

Blaze Ward

Blaze Ward writes science fiction in the Alexandria Station universe (Jessica Keller, The Science Officer,  The Story Road, etc.) as well as several other science fiction universes, such as Star Dragon, the Dominion, and more. He also writes odd bits of high fantasy with swords and orcs. In addition, he is the Editor and Publisher of Boundary Shock Quarterly Magazine. You can find out more at his website www.blazeward.com, as well as Facebook, Goodreads, and other places. Blaze's works are available as ebooks, paper, and audio, and can be found at a variety of online vendors. His newsletter comes out regularly, and you can also follow his blog on his website. He really enjoys interacting with fans, and looks forward to any and all questions—even ones about his books!

Book preview

1

Valentinian

Valentinian had never met the Widow in person. Only heard descriptions of her from Dave and Kyriaki.

They had not done the woman justice.

He knew she was in her mid-fifties, several years older than Dave, but he would have placed her just barely past forty if pressed. Coldly beautiful face, with lines just starting to be etched into her lips and cheeks with time. Wasp-waisted between broad shoulders and round hips. Blond hair fading to silver but held back in braids.

Glacial blue eyes that promised all the cold of the grave, rather than the warmth of spring.

Armed. Pistol and sword, both.

Valentinian had seen Dave kill people with a blunt length of flattened pipe, so he had no doubts about the lethality of the Widow.

Next to her was Stephaneria. Or at least the woman who had once been the Librarian of Bohrne Station. She had changed, no doubt from being in the close company of the Widow.

On the one hand, she had lost weight, but on reflection, she had rearranged some sprawl from waist and bottom into shoulders and thighs. Honed herself down to a fine, killing edge, as someone like Athanasia would probably demand.

Valentinian had purposefully walked away from the woman, back on the station that night, rather than press to see how she might have reacted to a proposition. Unlike the Widow, this one had dangerous eyes, even then. Brown like a pool of dirty water just waiting for you to make the mistake of stepping into it and drowning.

Stephaneria was focused on him right now in ways that made Valentinian want to take a step back and put a hand on his pistol grip. Kyriaki would happily kill everyone over there if they became a threat, but she might not understand that Stephaneria really didn’t seem rational any more.

If her quest ever had been.

Dangerous eyes.

So, Athanasia turned her attention his way with a jolt. You are the famous Captain Tarasicodissa that helped my husband escape justice.

Valentinian shrugged. The woman had a peevish tone to her alto voice when she spoke, but he couldn’t tell if that was the situation or the participants.

And you would be the woman who couldn’t leave well enough alone and get on with her life, Valentinian replied with just exactly the same derisive snap.

Stephaneria stirred, as if to say something, but the Widow shook her head and the librarian subsided in silence.

There is an entire tribe, possibly the entire species, above us on the surface, the Widow noted. Coming here now to kill us all, I am given to understand.

Most of us, Valentinian agreed.

He paused for a beat to let the moment hang before he continued.

According to friendly locals I’ve spoken with, only the males will be killed outright, Valentinian locked eyes with the Widow. The females will go into breeding harems rather than cook pots, were we all to be taken.

He liked the blink of shock that suddenly colored her eyes. Knocked her metaphorically back onto her heels, just a bit. Let her know that she maybe should have done better research before she landed and decided to get violent around here.

As Marduk had intimated, fates worse than mere death were possible.

And then the bitch surprised the hell out of him.

I will defer to your expertise, Tarasicodissa, she nodded. And your authority while we have our truce. What does my team need to do for all of us to get out of here alive?

And Valentinian was suddenly back on his heels as well. Trust Dominion warriors to leave ego at the edge of the mat when fighting and get right on with things when it came to killing.

Only fools fight in a burning house. And this place was just waiting for the wind that would carry the fire surrounding them closer.

Now he was responsible for four women, two crews, and one escape.

Valentinian licked his lips.

This chamber contains the object of our quest, he said, gesturing a thumb backwards at Princess Rualoh in her ancient, dowager glory. However, it cannot be made to fly in the time we have been allotted. I have ordered my crew to forget about it forever.

Forever, Captain? Athanasia asked with a new look of surprise in those eyes.

We presume religious connotations are associated with the ruins, he explained. Those will extend to this underground facility. That would make this a holy relic to be venerated by heavily-armed psychopaths. Once we leave Kryuome, I do not ever intend to return, as there is nothing in Meeredge or Soulrake worth carrying cargo. I suggest that you instruct your team similarly, although if you wish to come back later, that is your prerogative.

Palaiologos spoke up now, but he didn’t sound like a Dominion Armada captain. It was the pirate speaking.

Noted, he said sharply. Which avenue gives us the longest likely lead time against infiltration and engagement?

Valentinian took a half-step back and held his arms out sideways, turning slightly to line them up with an object in his head. He had always been good at that level of visualization.

This is the axis of the teardrop marketplace above ground, he replied to the officer. If you have hurt them at the high end, it is likely now that they will exercise care in pursuing, but I also expect some leader to know about the rest of the tunnels, so they will need to traverse to the stage in order to approach us from that direction. As well as any others we have not yet discovered.

And this long tunnel? his mind went to the same place as Valentinian’s had. A secret launch tube?

It goes at least four kilometers deeper into the city, towards the mountains, Valentinian nodded. "As that takes us away from both ends of the incursion, my original plan had been to follow it, hoping we could fly the old ship, Princess Rualoh, out, or, failing that, possibly sneak Longshot Hypothesis in. In the current situation, that path still gets us away from others."

I agree, the captain said. We can hold this tunnel more easily, as long as we continue to move away. With your permission, I will retrieve my team and deploy them here.

You defer to my authority? Valentinian asked him, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.

Palaiologos shocked him even more with an honest smile in return.

Young man, you’ve out-run us, out-thought us, and out-maneuvered us at almost every step of the way, even going back to before you likely had any idea who the man was you were transporting. Plus, the Dominator himself chose you. I’d rather have your skill and luck in charge, than to suggest I could beat you, when nobody has been able to do so yet.

Oh, Valentinian said, humbled.

It made sense, but he sure as hell had never put it into that context before.

Go get your folks, Valentinian shifted back to Dominion Admiral mode. We have at least three approaches to cover from where we stand, so I’ll assign your team two of them for now. Later, I think my team will handle scouting and yours will hold the rear until we make contact, with the Command Element in the center to react to threats as needed.

Valentinian nodded to Dave, and back over his shoulder, where Kyriaki was somewhere.

Excellent, Palaiologos said. I will return shortly and begin assigning covers.

He turned without a hitch and walked quickly away.

Valentinian noted that the man had just turned back into a Dominion Armada officer in the last few moments, and wasn’t sure what that said about him. About any of them.

Captain Palaiologos had not been reacting to Dave. Might not have even noticed him.

Instead, Valentinian had just inherited a whole other clan of folks to save from certain death. Was it something in his aftershave?

He turned to the two women standing before him.

That was a measure of desperation and trust, that both would choose to stay behind when their soldier left, armed or not.

Valentinian took a deep breath and released it.

Okay, we need to be ready to move, he said, gesturing to his left and more or less ushering Dave and the women towards what cover existed over there. This way.

Kyriaki seemed to materialize from thin air as Valentinian got everyone beyond the work benches. The three women had a silent pissing match for a moment, but Valentinian wasn’t having it.

All of you, stow it, he ordered with a hard voice. I don’t care what you think or who said what. Nothing. Am I understood?

He waited a beat and raised his voice.

Am I understood?

Dave turned along with the women, all looking a little sheepish. They nodded.

Good, Valentinian almost snarled, feeling rage that he had been put in charge of saving folks he’d have just as soon put down like Truqtok as have to talk to, but that was tomorrow’s problem.

He turned to the two relative strangers and stepped in front of Kyriaki’s scowl.

Athanasia, I’m going to assume you know how to shoot and fight, he said simply. Dave’s got a high opinion of you, and I’ve seen him kill people at close hand.

The Widow nodded, slightly withdrawn.

Good, Valentinian continued, arm gesturing back towards the offices. You and Stephaneria stay here, ready to shoot that way if someone you don’t know appears. I don’t trust any of you right now, so if you point a weapon at me or my crew, I’ll kill you without any warning. And then probably kill the rest of your crew as well. You could ask Truqtok about my promises, but he’s dead. If you wish to join him, try me. Otherwise, you’re under my command. Do you have a problem with that?

I do not, Athanasia said. Stephaneria is not generally recognized as a soldier, but she’s probably a better shot than most of my men.

Valentinian looked the lady with the dangerous eyes square in the face. Saw indecision underneath all the rest of the problems bubbling up to the surface.

Decided to roll the dice anyway.

I don’t know what, if anything, I did to you, Stephaneria, but this is not the time for me to do more than apologize, he continued. And I am sorry. Later, we might talk and go from there, but right now, I have to get us all to safety.

He watched her eyes flicker over his shoulder to where Kyriaki was standing and suddenly understood.

Jealousy.

Her first husband had abandoned her. She had met Valentinian, then he had been forced to flee, right when he might have talked her into something. And topped it off by running away with a beautiful, younger woman.

Valentinian wondered if Stephaneria was seeing history repeat itself, every time she looked at him.

I’m sorry, he repeated simply, as honestly as he could. If you want to talk later, after we’re safe, I’ll be available. I will not tell you any lies, as I’ve done nothing that I’d be embarrassed to talk about. We good?

Dangerous eyes, but at least not crazy eyes.

Violence. Jealousy. Pain. Rage. Fear. Death. Hopelessness.

For a moment, he wondered if she would go for her pistol and try to kill him. Valentinian was the third-fastest person he knew to draw and fire, and since both Dave and Kyriaki were hyped up and watching these women for the slightest twitch, he figured they’d both kill the women in the blink of an eye.

And then something bizarre happened.

Light came into those brown eyes.

He wouldn’t call it sanity, but some of that mad energy receded. Not all of it, not by a longshot, but enough that he let himself breathe.

Promise? she asked in a quiet voice.

Almost a sane voice.

Almost.

He made a note to have Glaxu keep watch on the librarian. Dave or Kyriaki might kill her for other reasons. And Bayjy wasn’t dangerous enough to take down that level of crazy fast enough.

I promise we’ll talk, if you want to, Valentinian nodded.

She nodded back, barely a hiccup of motion, but it spoke volumes.

He wondered if nobody had ever actually spoken to the woman, just as nobody had ever apparently noticed the long, elegant librarian on the station who should have been somebody’s fantasy besides him.

Bayjy, Valentinian called to the room, unsure where she was as he turned to look, other than he knew she must be watching a flank, if Kyriaki had the Widow.

Those two had an unspoken communication that he didn’t understand, but was willing to accept at face value.

Here, Her Purple Elegance yelled back.

Valentinian turned and located her, tucked mostly out of sight behind a plasma rifle.

Dave, you shift over there and cover the rear for her, Valentinian said loud enough for everyone to understand. Bayjy, you and Glaxu are on point going up the tunnel as my scout team.

He paused, contemplating the Widow for a long moment.

Do you have anybody on your team trained as a salvager? he asked, willing to maybe take a chance.

No, the Widow replied simply. I only brought gunmen with me.

Are you willing to act as a colonel? he asked her.

What do you need?

Valentinian considered it.

Arcades. All seven cards dealt. Everyone trying to build the best hand they had, or bluff their way out of a bad situation.

And a really, freaking big pot on the table for somebody to claim.

Split your team into three elements when they arrive, he said finally, seeing it unfold in his mind. My scouts out front. Command Element is the three of us, plus Dave, Kyriaki, and Captain Palaiologos. Your teams will leapfrog backwards until we have to engage the locals. Being in three elements, one of them can shift forward or to a flank as needed without needing a lot of reorganization on the fly. Dave tells me you could have commanded one of his Caelon Brigades in the field. I’ll trust you to handle our rear flanks while we push. Are you comfortable with that?

Just you watch me, Tarasicodissa, she smiled.

Valentinian started to turn away to deal with the next issue, as Palaiologos appeared with the first of the combat troops, but Athanasia caught his arm.

She took a step forward until they were almost close enough to dance. Whatever heels she was wearing gave her a couple of centimeters or so on him, but Valentinian really didn’t care. Barefoot, he guessed the roles would reverse, not that he wanted to be even that slightly intimate with a woman like her.

Are you that good, Valentinian? she asked in little more than a heavy breath.

Valentinian thought about it for a moment.

I’m that lucky, lady, he replied. And that’s better.

For a moment, she had dangerous, crazy eyes like Stephaneria did before, as if maybe the crazy had leaked out of one woman and into the other when he wasn’t looking.

She wasn’t considering kissing him right now, was she? Kyriaki might just shoot the woman, if Stephaneria didn’t do it first.

Valentinian had never figured out the effect he seemed to have on women, other than how to use it to his advantage.

Now was not the time, lady.

You better be, Valentinian, Athanasia growled at him.

"I’m betting my life as well as yours,