The village is quiet as I make my way over to healer Eldrin. The wooden bridge creaks underneath my heavy boots, and low-hanging twigs brush against my armor.

Despite the canopy of trees providing us with shelter, I have ordered my people to take shelter in the caves of Mount Thirna. The Qroq are making their rounds, circling high in the sky on their captured dragons. We can’t risk discovery. Koti is our last hideout. The last vestige of the Thalanil Empire.

The Qroqs have decimated us, and I’m the prince of a fallen empire. The heir to a broken world.

A long line of rulers will end with me.

I knock twice before entering Eldrin’s home.

“Come in, come in,” the old man says. He’s wearing a simple gray robe, and he walks with a cane. His long hair has gone white, but despite his old age, his mind is as sharp as ever.

He’s my closest advisor, and I’m in dire need of his help right now.

No matter how many times we had to move to stay out of the Qroq’s grasp, Eldrin’s place always smells like home. As usual, he’s concocting a strange brew in his cauldron, the exotic smell reminding me when I was but a young lad and I would accompany my father on his visits to the esteemed healer.

I miss those days. Before the war, all I had to worry about was not disappointing my father.

Now, the future of our people rests on my shoulders.

I freeze when I notice an unfamiliar smell — and it’s not one of Eldrin’s brews.

“Someone’s here,” I say as I pull out my blade.

“Put that thing away before you hurt someone,” Eldrin chides me. “I have a visitor.”

“Who?”

I sheathe my blade, but remain on my guard.

“All in due time. Where are your manners, Tau? Let’s have a drink first.”

“I’ll never say no to one of your drinks, old man.”

Besides healing and divining Eldrin is also very well versed in the art of brewing ale.

I sit down and gratefully accept the frothy drink.

“Cheers.”

We both take a sip, and let the silence linger for a moment. Difficult decisions have to be made. We are losing the war. For a moment, we can both pretend the world isn’t slipping through our fingers.

“How bad is it?” Eldrin asks, breaking the silence.

“Real bad,” I answer. “The Qroq have raided Kyla. The scouts have just come back… there’s no one there anymore. All captured. Or dead. Koti is our last home.”

“Betrayal.”

“I refuse to believe that,” I snap.

“There is no other way our hideout could have been discovered.”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

“Then it is as I had feared,” Eldrin says with a heavy sigh. “If Kyla is no more, then there are no eligible mates for you left in our society.”

“You are right,” I say. “We have to strike back, organize a raid, free our people. The time for waiting and hiding is over. We have to strike first.”

“That’s not what I had in mind,” Eldrin answers. “The most important thing right now is that the Thalanil line continues.”

“Bah, my line?!” I say. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Your lineage travels back centuries, Tau. You know that as well as I do. It would be a catastrophic blow to our people if it is snuffed out with you.”

I avoid his gaze and stare at my drink. I am well aware of the weight on my shoulders. Centuries of successful, proud, bold chieftains lead directly down to me.

And I am unmated.

“What do you suggest?” I ask. My voice is filled with bitter anger. “I am not taking the melethril of one of my men. I won’t consider it for a second. I’d rather die alone.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of an off-world bride,” the old man says. I can tell he’s weighing his words carefully.

“What?” I snap. “What are you talking about?”

Footsteps in the hall. A robed figure enters the room, and I place my hand on the grip of my blade instinctively.

“Put that away,” Eldrin says. “This is my visitor.”

The stranger removes the hood of his robe. He, or she, is fair-skinned, with silver hair and delicate features. I can’t tell if it’s a man or a woman, but one thing I am certain of: The stranger is no Thalanil.

“Allow me to introduce myself,” the stranger says. “I am Bodakin, of the Celestial Mates Dating Agency.”

Bodakin bows politely, and I accept the greeting with a quick nod.

“We connect souls across the galaxy. Eldrin has summoned me, asking us for aid, and I believe we can help you… assuming you are interested in our services.”

Eldrin leans in and grabs my knee. “Trust me, Tau. This is the only way.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. The Qroq are dealing us blow after blow. They got us on the back foot. Another major blow and we’re finished. All this pressure, and Eldrin is concerned with finding me a mate?!

It’s the least of my concerns.

“How will this help our cause?!” I say. “Some off-world bride is not going to change the outcome of this war!”

“She can give you a baby, Tau. A baby! An heir!” Eldrin says. “Think about that. Things look bleak now, but the Thalanil people are resilient. Even if the Qroq enslave us all, we will never submit. Your lineage is a symbol of our people, of our independence, of our history. It’s bigger than you and me. You need an heir, Tau.”

I ball my fists and utter curses. Eldrin’s right.

The thought of taking a mate has never crossed my mind — the war has taken up all of my attention. Besides, I’ve always wanted a melethril, a fated mate. A connection like that can’t be forced.

“Will we be compatible?” I ask.

“Yes,” the stranger answers. “I can assure you of that. Celestial Mates has never made a wrong match before.”

It feels wrong to bring a stranger into such danger. We are a hunted people. I have trouble protecting my own kind — what if I can’t protect my bride? Or my own baby?

Perhaps that’s why I’ve always stayed clear of the Kevan, the spring ceremony where young Thalanil meet and mingle. Out of fear. Fear I won’t be able to protect my mate, to shield her from the injustices that are so routinely inflicted upon our people.

My father always told me to welcome fear. Only in the face of fear can we be brave.

Time to be brave.

“Okay,” I say. “I agree.”

“Excellent,” the stranger says, clasping their hands together. “I have the perfect candidate.”

“Already?”

“Of course,” they answer with a mysterious smile. “Time is of the essence, is it not? There is only one problem…”

“What’s that?”

“Her world is very, very far away. I can open a portal to her world, but not for long, and it will certainly draw attention.”

“Qroq attention.”

The stranger nods.

Nothing ever comes easy, does it?

“The planes of Avik. Open the gate there. I will travel there at once.”

“You have made the right call,” Eldrin says. “Be careful when out in the open. The Qroq are never far away.”

I drain my cup of ale of its last few drops and rise to my feet.

Time to find my mate.