See below snippets of the space opera,
Song of the Caged Warrior
The Curse of Sotkari Ta, Prequel
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Warning: There are some spoilers, violence, steamy scenes, and unaliving
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Snippets
Song of the Caged Warrior
Excerpt, Chapter 1
I peered out the window, searching for the source of the explosive sounds that were becoming louder by the second. Mother tugged me by the arm.
“Stay away from there,” she scolded. “Go to the back of the house until I call you. Take Arixa with you.”
I sensed fear in Mother’s tone, and even though we were the same age, I was protective of my twin sister. She was much shorter than me. I took my assignment to heart and led Arixa to the storage area in the back and waited. When Father arrived, he gathered us together in the kitchen.
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“Children, remember how we have talked about what is happening on our planet?”
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Father was referring to stories he had shared with us that I clearly had not paid enough attention to. At my young age, I was not so concerned with Aranda’s current events.
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“Aliens are meddling in our affairs and trying to turn the tide in our planet’s clan wars. I learned this morning that they are aiding the Morant clan. Our province is being bombarded by weapons beyond our known technology. It is not safe here anymore. I have rented a mobile home vehicle for us and Foxor’s family. We will have to hide out in the wilderness until the danger passes. Follow me.”
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“What kind of cowards are we? Why are we so ready to let those bastards take our home and land?” said Drator, my eldest brother.
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All our jaws dropped in unison. Drator was the only one of us who would dare to speak to Father in such a tone. He had been home for a few weeks on a break from his off-world business school. No one else in our neighborhood had ever traveled to another planet, even within our star system. He was kind of a celebrity in our small village.
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Everyone froze. My other older brother, Rimax, and I looked away when Father glared at Drator.
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“I am no coward, but I have a family to take care of.”
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Excerpt, Chapter 23
He leaned in so close to me his protruding brow bone almost touched my forehead.
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Finally, I see his eyes are as dark as coal.
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“Let me get straight to the point, Montor. If I have Kaya
teach you these abilities, will you promise to only use them
under my orders and to benefit the Lostai army? If so, I may
one day release your foster parents. This is not an empty
promise to entice you, Montor. I reward loyalty, and the possi-
bility of freedom for them is real, but if you defy me, you will
witness them going through the worst torture imaginable. Do
we have an understanding?”
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Kaya looked down. This was a decision I would have to
make all on my own. I remembered Father once said, “It is OK
to acknowledge when your opponent has the advantage. You
can revisit the fight when the battlefield is leveled.”
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I understand, Father, but you also told me even in compromise,
there are some lines that cannot be crossed.
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My father’s memory strengthened me. I met Zorla’s dark
eyes without flinching.
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“I understand your explanation, Commander Zorla. I want
to learn these abilities and pledge to only use them per your
instructions, but I have one condition.”
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I was so satisfied with the surprise in his eyes.
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“Never ask me to use those powers against the Arandan
people. The Lostai have a vast empire covering many planets
and governing many races. I will not hesitate to follow your
orders against any of those people, but I will not go against my
own, not even to save my foster parents or myself.”
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Zorla nodded and smirked for a moment before replying.
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“Well, well, well, Kaya. What do you think about this boy
trying to negotiate with me?”
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Kaya typed on her tablet, still avoiding my eyes.
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“He is indeed special, Zorla.”
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“Your courage impresses me, Montor. I want to harness it
for the benefit of the Lostai military, so yes, I accept your pledge
and your one condition.”
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