The planet Tanis was also known as the Dark Planet. Two hundred years ago a strange phenomenon had taken place and the sky was filled with dark clouds thereafter. The people of Tanis had done everything they could but the clouds would not part. When John’s shuttle ship reached the atmosphere there was massive turbulence. Sor Al didn’t seem to be worried by it, so John kept calm. Below the clouds the city was aglow with artificial lighting. There were artificial lights hovering in the sky lighting up most of the city.

The biggest building in the city was the palace at its center. It was resplendent, made of a white luminescent stone. It must have looked especially pretty when the moon still shone in the sky. Unfortunately, John would never see that sight. He was two hundred years too late.

Red and black flags decorated the terrace. The gatehouse was a grand affair, with colorful carvings and stylistic columns. The barracks to the side of the palace was a more utilitarian building, shaped in a circle and having many floors. John could see guards come and go almost every second. He wondered if the Death Walkers were staying there as well. The back of the palace compound was taken up by woodland, the lake and green trees a welcome reprieve in this place of stone and metal.

The shuttle finally landed and there was a speeder waiting for John to take him to the palace. The attendant on the speeder told John that he was expected in the courtroom.

“We will accompany him as well,” Sor Al said to the attendant. The attendant did not argue. Sor Al’s tone would brook no opposition.

When they reached the palace another attendant led them to the courtroom. As soon as they were announced the Empress glanced at them from her throne. From her expression it was clear that she had not been expecting Sor Al. Her look seemed to warn the Realm Mistress to behave herself. The rest of the courtiers glanced at John as well, curious about the Empress’ new champion.

“Wild Child, you have come at last,” the Empress smiled at him. “Let us get this over with then. I hereby confer on you the Barony of Fi.”

John bowed. “Thank you your Majesty.” He was a baron now. Was this his path to power, wealth and an expedition fleet? Perhaps it was a good thing he’d gotten entangled with the Empress. Maybe he’d even be able to buy Ovin the Destroyer’s participation in the expedition for Earth.

“Do not get so happy,” Sor Al laughed softly. “Fi is not a developed world. They have discovered no precious resources there and the only inhabitants there are primitive tribes of hunter gatherers. You’re a baron only in name.”

“Still, it’s a world that I own,” said John. “I can send my people there.”

“Your people? Who might that be?”

“Nobody yet, but someday… Hold on. There’s Spiz and Tusa.”

“Those clowns? Hush now. Something interesting is happening.” John felt indignant. Why was she so disdainful of his followers? Only one of them was a clown.

The Empress pointed at a man. He was strong looking, with a big chin. “House Trask will be given possession of Aroth.”

“But your majesty,” the patriarch of House Trask said, “we are comfortable holding just Cylria. Maybe you should…” Trask was a man with golden red hair. He had a short beard. He was shorter than average, almost as tall as John. The way he held himself made him look bigger than he actually was.

“Is it more important for my nobles to be comfortable or to obey the orders of their empress? ” She looked cool and aloof, her tone pleasant as though talking about something insignificant like the weather.

“The latter, your Majesty.”

“Good. Aroth is a rich world and taking it has cost me half my annual revenue. Take Aroth. It is your reward.”

“As you wish, your Majesty.” The man smiled and bowed, though it was plain to see he was very unhappy.

John whispered to Sor Al, “why does he look so unhappy. If Aroth holds monopoly on a precious resource he should be able to make a huge profit.”

Sor Al shook her head, “it will take at least ten years before Aroth is stable. House Trask will have its hands full taking care of uprisings and an uncooperative populace. It is not easy holding newly conquered territory. House Trask is loyal to the Empress on the surface, but plot against her behind her back. They will have to spend a huge amount of time and money to make Aroth theirs. She has bought herself ten years of peace from them. What she’ll do to them after ten years I can only guess.” Politics! There were too many things hidden beneath the surface. Sor Al seemed to understand things instantly.

The Empress looked at John and Sor Al while they were chatting. She clapped her hands and everyone in the courtroom became silent. “That will be all for today. Wild Child, follow me.”

“My name is John,” he mumbled, though only Sor Al heard him.

The Empress led John to a garden and made a sign to her guards to stay some distance away from her. “My champion, have you guessed what I have planned for you?”

John shook his head. He had not even tried to guess.

“You shall be my executioner in the dark. I saw how you infiltrated that beast tide right into its midst and killed them from the inside. The sight impressed me. You shall do the same here.”

“If it’s killing monsters I don’t have a problem.”

“Indeed it is monsters. Monsters wearing human skin. My enemies will do anything to destroy me. They are the most reprehensible specimens of humanity. A list of their crimes will make even your stomach sick.”

What did she mean ‘even your.’ Did she think he was okay with ordinary crimes?

“You can ease your conscience, Wild Child. I will not ask you to kill anyone who does not deserve it.”

“And I’m to do this for ten years?”

“You will do other things as well. maybe even for longer. I have given you a barony. You will need to take care of it.”

Who was she trying to trick? “Sor Al said it is an undeveloped world. There are no people on it and no precious resources. Besides, I’m your indentured servant. How can I be a baron as well?”

“The planet has not been fully explored. The Empire will pay for its development. You will get enough funds to build a city. People will come there once you have the basic infrastructure in place. It is a hellish world, but it has become strategically important to my empire after Aroth was taken. As for your contract, what difference does it make to me whether you’re a servant or a baron? I can do whatever I want to within my empire." She smiled at him with great kindness, "It is not so bad being a nobleman. You’ll find that I’m a suzerain who rewards hard work and loyalty.”

“If it is a hell planet then people won’t come to it.” Was this Empress right in her mind? Even he could tell that this was a losing proposition.

“You underestimate my populace. None of my worlds are paradise worlds like the elven ones. My people are tough. Where I tell them to go they will go.”

The prospect of being a baron was growing on John. “I will be expected to kill your political enemies only? As long as they’re not elves I’ll do it.”

“I will treat you well, Wild Child. You need have no fear over that.”

“My name is John.”

“John? I prefer Wild Child.”

John shrugged. Let her call him whatever she wanted to. As long as she was giving him worlds he was okay with that.

“When can I become a Duke?”

“A duke?” the Empress threw her head back and laughed. “When you have fought for me in a thousand battles, or won me a new star system I’ll consider it.”

“How about after killing a thousand of your enemies?” If he was going to become an assassin he might as well milk it for all it was worth.

“I cannot openly reward you for that. You will have my support from the shadows. Now,” she said, looking at him imperiously. Well, she was an empress. Every look of hers was imperious. “You shall make your oath.”

“What oath?”

“To serve me faithfully and loyally. It is an oath I require of all my nobles.”

“Some of them seem to be breaking it. That House Trask for example.”

“So, even an outsider could see through that little charade,” the Empress laughed. “Or did Sor Al inform you of the particulars.”

John didn’t lie, “Sor Al.” He didn’t want her to think he was clever, when he wasn’t. She’d just give him more difficult tasks to do.

“Swear to obey me now.”

“I pledge my loyalty to the Empress of Oor and swear to obey her as long as it does not involve going against elves.” He felt that owed the elves for his life. Without them rescuing him, he’d probably have turned into a mad man by now. Sor Al had said he could break his oath later. If the Empress asked him to do anything suicidal he’d break it and escape to Kumra. It would only cost him his honor.

“Your oath will do I suppose. I accept it.” It had better do. He wasn’t going to make another one.

The Empress made a hand signal and her guards and attendants came closer. “Luten, take Baron Fi to his room. You shall be waiting on him while he stays in the palace.”

Luten was a pretty woman, wearing a long elaborate red dress. She had black hair and blue eyes. She wore her hair in an elaborate plait. Luten bowed and waited for John to follow her. John nodded at the Empress and was taken to his room. His first day at court had gone pretty well, all things considering. ‘Baron Fi of House Smith’ had a nice ring to it. Knowing these people they’d probably call it ‘House Child.’ He went to bed thinking of all the great things he would do on his very own planet.