Serenno

[Alora]

Alora had to laugh at the antics of the panthers, especially how Shadow was imitating Krakis like she was. It was a case of leading - or misleading - by example. "It sounds like a good idea to take them hunting. In the mean time I'll have one of the servants to get them a snack to tide them over." She gave Draken a kiss on his cheek before he went to the War Room.

 

Beckoning to the panthers she headed towards the kitchen, laughing as the black felines figured out where she was taking them and ran ahead. The panthers both charged full pelt down the straight hallway until an oblivious servant stepped out from a doorway right into the black streaks path. A startled roar from Krakis and an echoing one from Shadow and the sound of claws trying to find purchase on a smooth floor were his only warnings as one large and one small fur-ball collided with him sending both human and felines tumbling onto the floor. Unable to contain her mirth, the Sith Mistresses laughter rang out down the passageway.

[darth shadowlord]

When the meetings had finished, Draken left the War Room and headed for the armory. He walked through it, looking for a particular type of weapon. He looked through the archaic section of the armory and located the weapon he was looking for minus a string. He opened a nearby drawer that was below the rack and removed a string and checked it against the weapon to see if it was a proper fit. When it turned out not to be, he checked a second and third string till he found on that fit. He grabbed a pouch full of arrows then after a second thought grabbed a second bow and quiver and left the Armory.

 

“Malachdor, put together rations and packs for two and have two horses saddled and prepared. The Lady Alora and I are going to go to the preserve.”

 

Malachdor nodded. “ Of course Milord, will the panthers be joining the two of you?”

 

“They will, but you needn’t worry about rations for them. I intend to let them hunt when we reach the preserve.”

 

Malachdor looked a bit shocked but nodded before walking away. Draken chuckled as he watched him walked away, he and Alora wouldn’t be the only one adjusting to the panthers moving in with them. He walked to the kitchen to see Alora laughing, the chef and staff horrified as Krakis had an entire bantha leg and was devouring it with the crunching of bones and the satisfied growling. Shadow was beside him, chomping down on a bantha steak with a higher pitched growling and some kicking of her hind legs as she rolled over with it.

 

“Care to take a trip my love?”

[Alora]

Alora wiped her eyes of the tears caused by her laughter and attempted to compose herself. It had been a very long time since she had laughed this hard. Her gaze turned to Draken as he asked if she'd like to take a trip. Once she had calmed herself enough and noticing the bows and quivers she answered, "Why yes my Love, we're taking these pair of misfits hunting I presume?" Her violet eyes sparked as she turned again to see the troublesome pair of felines in action.

 

She stepped closer, taking the proffered bow and quiver and slinging them before linking her arm through Draken's, "Maybe we should wait until they have finished their snack first." Alora was trying hard to keep a straight face but the two growling felines were making that very difficult indeed.

[darth shadowlord]

"Maybe we should wait until they have finished their snack first."

 

He chuckled as he watched the two of them. “I don’t think that will be a problem, Malachdor is preparing the supplies and horses for the trip while we wait for the panthers to finish their meal as well as for us to have a meal of our own.“ He went to a nearby hanging salted shank of bantha and sliced off several thin pieces and then grabbed some oil and bread from a shelf then sat down at the kitchen table to the surprise of the kitchen staff.

 

Draken reached into his cloak and removed a flask and two small cups then set them on the table and winked at Alora. He opened the flask and poured a measure of dark liquid into both cups. Almost immediately the smell of the brandy began to fill the air and he smiled, this would be the first true taste test of the new brandy.

 

When they were done eating and the panthers were done and had joined them at the table, Draken stood up and headed for the door with Krakis at his side. He knew that Alora and Shadow would join them shortly. They headed up to the courtyard where the horses were waiting and Draken vaulted up into the saddle as the horse baulked a bit at the sight of the great cat. It took him a moment to calm the horse while sensing the almost human like amusement from the panther as it looked at the horse and for a moment considered pouncing. After Alora and Shadow had joined them, they set off for the preserve and the Peak above.

[Alora]

When Draken poured her a glass of brandy, the Sith Mistress savoured the first sip... then every sip after that. “Excellent.” The meal was just as good, as per usual from the Palace Chef. Alora had heard rumours of some trying to poach the man away from the Palace to various restaurants. He had refused them all, not because his employers were Sith, but because he was well looked after. The Palace staff were all well taken care of.

 

Alora and Shadow followed Draken and Krakis out to the courtyard to the waiting horses. She gracefully mounted the waiting mare and since Shadow was still a young cub that would have trouble keeping up, she used the Force to lift the young feline up to the saddle also, seating the cub in front of her. The four were soon on their way. The scenery was beautiful, the air crisp. It was a relaxing ride as they went deeper into the forest. That soon changed as Shadow sat up straighter, sheathing and unsheathing her claws. Krakis dashed off into the undergrowth and Shadow wanted to get down. Alora used the Force to lower the young feline to the ground and then she was off, following the same path as the older panther had taken.

[darth shadowlord]

Draken smiled as Krakis ran off, he could sense the panthers hunting instincts come to the fore and it took off after a massive elk. He turned the horse towards the hunt and guided it up a nearby hill so he could watch the kill. After a moment or two, he reined in the horse and turned to look down the hill to where the panther was stalking through the tall grass. He smiled as he watched the panther, knowing where it was only by its presence. The grass barely moved as Krakis slipped through it, moving ever closer to the elk.

 

He watched the elk lifted its head as it sensed that something was wrong then return to grazing on the grass. He watched the panther get to within ten feet before the elk lifted its head once more and that was when Krakis struck. He grabbed the elk by the throat with its claw and with an audible crunch of bone that could be heard even where Draken sat on his horse. The roar that followed was nothing less than a roar of triumph and Draken laughed as he watched the panther and indicated the kill to Alora.

 

“Beautiful kill, silent, lethal. Our turn I think, but further on. Krakis can catch up when he is done here.”

 

He spurred his horse forward and rode over the hillside and into the next valley, this one was a bit more heavily forested than the previous one had been. He swung out of the saddle and slid the bow from the case as he strapped on the quiver. He drew an arrow and nocked it silently as he slipped soundlessly into the forest. He was after a massive horned with a thick hide that was similar in texture to the rancor, it would make an excellent set boots for Raia, at least once she got used to them.

 

He looked at the bodkin arrow and tested the four corners of the razor tip. It was had been sharpened to perfection. He rotated his shoulders, loosening them up as he went deeper into the woods. It took only a matter of moments before he heard the crash of the beast digging through the earth to get to the tender roots of the young saplings. He smiled and tested the draw of the bow for a moment before easing it back down. As he eased the tension off of the bow which was taller than he was and smiled as Krakis slipped up beside him and nudged his leg.

 

Draken reached down and gave the panther a quick scratch behind the ears then slipped forward to a small crest and looked down into the small clearing. There was the massive beast, its hide hardened as protection and its one horn worn to a sharp point from the ground and battles with others of its kind. Part of its hide had been pierced years before by the look of it by a another of its kind and the hold had never healed completely.

 

He drew the arrow back in a fluid motion that was was eerily reminiscent of an island bound archer with a yew bow from a world beyond the Outer Reaches in ancient times. Draken moved the arrow a millimeter to the right to adjust for the wind and then released the arrow with just as fluid a motion as the draw had been. The arrow streaked through the air with only the twang of the bowstring to announce its impending strike as it pierced the thin layer of armored flesh that had grown over the hole and penetrated the heart and ripped it open as the tip of the arrow glanced off a bone.

 

The beast dropped after a few panicked strides and exhaled one final time before its head dropped to the ground. He waited a moment then put the second arrow back into the quiver and and walked to where the beast had dropped. He set the bow down and slipped the shadowfire dagger from its sheath to slit the beast’s throat, then he began the arduous task of skinning the beast so that he could have the hide cured. The preserve staff would take care of the meat and see that it was salted then given to the poorer families of Serenno.

[Alora]

Alora reined her horse alongside Draken to watch the large panther in action. It was like poetry in motion to see how the big cat took down his prey. She caught sight of Shadow approaching the horses having given up on catching up with Krakis, “You’ll get your turn Shadow,” she murmured as she ‘lifted’ the cub back to her perch in front of her.

 

When Draken dismounted and moved off, Krakis joining him as he headed over the crest of the hill. Alora watched from a distance as he took down the large beast. When he and the male panther approached it, the Sith Mistress and cub dismounted and headed off into the undergrowth searching for their own targets. “Shadow…” Alora murmured softly to the cub. As the small feline looked up at her, she touched it’s mind, imprinting the vision of the avian’s she had noticed on the banks of the river. She readied her bow, taking the time to admire it as she notched an arrow, waiting for Shadow to do her part. The feline cub moved silently closer to their quarry then dropped into a crouch so still that if Alora hadn’t known where the cub was she might not have seen her. Shadow crept closer ever so slowly until she suddenly darted forward, pouncing onto her quarry and sending the others into the air. Taking aim, Alora set loose the first arrow, watching as it sailed through the air to it’s target. Just as quick she snatched up the next arrow, firing at the flock that had taken to the air. “Duck! … Duck! …” Shadow looked up as the first of Alora’s targets fell to the ground. Leaving the duck she had caught, the cub trotted over to the first duck felled by the arrow, dragging it out of a thicket to the open and then set off after the second one Alora had knocked out of the sky.

 

By the time that Alora and Shadow had rejoined Draken and Krakis in the clearing they had six ducks as well as the cub’s kill, the Sith Mistress figuring that the meat would be given out to those that needed it. The Preserve staff were already there so she turned over her catch to them while Shadow chewed on hers. “You know you can finish that back at the Palace girl” Alora said as she reached down to pat the smooth black fur of the feline. With a protest Shadow relinquished her duck for the staff to take back. The journey back was uneventful, though they took their time. Some of the time Shadow trotted alongside the elder panther and the rest of the time in front of her mistress on the horse.

[Alora]

Alora swept down the hallway headed for the kitchen with Shadow being just that. The cub was growing fast her body becoming sleek as the feline grew. She had a cheeky personality and it often amused the pair of Sith with how she tormented Krakis. Glancing back at the black furball Alora laughed, “He’s going to swipe you if you’re not careful girlie.” The Sith Mistress already thought Shadow was on borrowed time with the large male panther. She wouldn’t get away with being cheeky to him for too much longer. Shadow just looked at her balefully and swished her tail in annoyance. “Don’t come that caper with me missy. You know what I’ll do if you keep it up…” The threat was left hanging as the young female panther decided to behave herself. “That’s better Shadow.” A grin lit her features as she turned away from the mischievous feline. The last time Shadow had tried it on with Alora, the Sith Mistress had used illusions to subdue and wear out the mischief maker. It had been a fun game between the two but one the cub had been destined to lose.

 

With her violet eyes twinkling with mirth Alora entered the kitchen to discuss wedding cake and menus with the head Chef. She spent half the morning with the talented Mirialan, the cub curling up just inside the door so that no-one could leave or enter without Shadow knowing. Before she left the kitchen she packed up a picnic lunch in a wicker basket and went to find Draken, the black feline following behind her.

[darth shadowlord]

Draken sat down in his workshop and looked over the two cured skins that were in laying on the table, each had a similar color pattern and thickness which would serve his purpose well. He removed a scribing utensil from the table and began to trace a design over the newly tanned leather followed by a second one only a touch smaller. He set the scriber down and pulled a knife from off the table and slowly cut out both pieces from the larger portions of the hide then set them beside the scribing tool. He leaned back in his chair and reached out with the force to hit the ignition switch for the foundry and was rewarded by the throaty cough of the gases igniting.

 

He stood up and went to a nearby cabinet, he was looking for a few different metals that he could use to accent and also help protect the leather. After a few minutes he located the block of Phrik and placed it in the one of the foundry pots then placed it inside the foundry compartment. Draken walked back to the the cabinet and removed a second small block of metal from a shelf and examined it for a moment.

 

He pondered the Cortosis for a moment and whether to use it or not for a moment then placed it into a foundry pot. He watched the pots of metal slowly melt and began to trickle small pulses of darkside power into each of the pots along with a small bolt of lightning into each before swirling the metal around and trickling more power into the metals. Finally he was satisfied with the temperature of the metals and he turned the foundry down so that the metal would remain in a malleable state as he reached out with the force and pulled out two tiny pieces of metal, one from each pot.

 

Twisting them together with the force, he began to stretch out the metal till it was smaller than the wires used for an ancient upright instrument that one would sit at to play. He stretched out the metal further to near microscopic size then started to weave it through the pores of the leather. He pulled a second set of drops from the pot and repeated the process again, this time though he sent a tiny burst of lightning into the metal to fuse the two pieces together where they met much like a welding machine would.

 

He continued this process until the first piece of leather had been thoroughly laced through with a cortosis and phrik mixture. Setting down the piece, he removed a flask from his pocket and took at sip before he checked the time. Several hours had passed since he had started the first piece and he took another sip from the flask before picking up the second piece and starting the same procedure of implanting the metal within the leather until the second piece was fully woven.

 

He set the pieces beside each other and examined them closely for several moments. Draken reached out and grabbed two awls from a nearby drawer. He punched a guide hole into one of the pieces of leather then used the larger awl to widen the hole then did the same on the other side of the piece then checked the holes carefully before punching holes into the other piece of leather as well. He compared the two sets of holes then walked to the cabinet to find a set of rivets which he used to attach the two pieces together to form half of the first pauldron.

[Alora]

Alora headed towards Draken’s workshop where she felt him to be. When she arrived she saw him busy working on his project so she placed the basket down on a bench just inside the door and watched him. She observed as he cut leather and combined it with metal, never tiring of the sight of him. The only thing they had to do for the wedding now was wait on their guests. She fell into a light meditative trance as she watched him, waiting until he was ready to take a break for a meal before she would move.

[Raia Montar]

A message comes in on Alora's comm for Master Draken from the Ravenhammer's main comms, using Raynuk's encryption channels.

 

 

Instead of Raynuk, Raia stood in the holoprojector, wearing a black wrap-front, short-sleeved shirt, and loose training pants and was positively beaming at the projector. It might stand out that the tattoos which had run across her upper chest, shoulders, and arms when Draken and Alora had last seen her a week prior were completely absent.

 

Master Draken, if you still want me as your student, I am ready. Please tell Mistress Alora I said hello as well. I look forward to seeing you again when we all meet up with the Dark Lord.

 

[darth shadowlord]

Master Draken, if you still want me as your student, I am ready. Please tell Mistress Alora I said hello as well. I look forward to seeing you again when we all meet up with the Dark Lord.

 

Draken smiled and set the leather sleeve to one side then grabbed the comm unit beside him. He sent a quick response along with a query then left his workshop to find Alora. "Seems that Raia is ready to begin her training. Shall we?" He reached down and ran his hand over Krakis's head and chuckled at the headbutt that he received in return. He looked at Shadow and shook his head as she headbutted Krakis and received a swipe in return. after a moment of two of watching the panthers play, they finally headed to his ship and soon left the planet for Space.

[SithAcolyte]

Darla had never been to Serenno before. On her journey there she had found what she could from the holonet. It seemed a nice enough place, misty jungles and rain forests. She could certainly think of worse places to visit. At first she thought that it would be difficult to find Alora. Darla had expected to struggle we she asked the locals if they'd seen any beautiful Sith women recently.

 

It turned out that it was well known that Alora's beloved Draken was the ruler of the planet. Yet the world remained neutral, not affiliated with the Sith. This made Dara feel a ot more relaxed. She still wasn't sure how her old friend would feel about her dropping by to visit. Also, how would she feel when Darla asked for information about Faust? Darla was beginning to wonder what her true motives behind coming to Serenno were. Of course she wanted to help Skye. But she also wanted to see Alora and to be away from Faust , the Jedi, everything that was going on with them.

 

Even if that meant being away from her kids.

 

She did feel a little guilty. Travelling alone to a beautiful far away world. It was true that should could have brought them along. But Darex would not have been happy about her bringing their children to visit her Sith friends. As much a they had become estranged, she would respect his wishes when it came to the children. Their father was their hero. It seemed that the two of them would follow in his footsteps.

 

Maybe that"s for the best. Where would they end up if they followed in mine?

 

Darla was a little concerned that Alora hadn't responded to her comm. But she really had no idea what was going on in her friend's life. After travelling so far, Darla decided to give Alora some time.

 

Staying aboard her ship, Darla busied herself. Tentatively she began use the Force again. Reaching out with senses that she had neglected. It actually began to felt good. Not the overwhelming and scary experience that she had expected it to.

 

She passed her days with meditation and exercise. It didn't take long before she was begining to feel like her old self. Centered and stronger. Even if she didn't find Alora, it felt good to have the time alone. To breath, to clear her mind, to strengthen herself.

[darth shadowlord]

“Don’t worry, it won’t take you long to catch on. Confidence will get you almost as far as the education will among the nobles. The vast majority of nobles are vapid useless titleholders who do very little actually work or for that matter ruling.”

 

He glanced over the chrono on the wall and nodded. “Are you ready to see Serenno?”

 

Raia glanced up at the hovering medical droids for a moment, before nodding and getting Vex’s help to find her feet.

 

He winked and stood up then walked out of the Medbay. He could let the droid do the flying but he enjoyed piloting the ship whenever he returned home. This time though it going to be the scenic route around the planet before arriving at the palace. Once Alora and Raia had joined them in the cockpit, he brought the ship out of hyperspace and guided it through the atmosphere. Below the ship was the deep coniferous forest that bordered the southern ocean and a herd of deer burst from the depths, running along the beach before disappearing back into the trees.

 

“That is only the beginning.”

 

He turned the ship over the Southern Ocean and headed towards the southern pole of the planet. After a few minutes over the ocean, he set the engines to idle and let the ship hover on repulsors so that she could get a look at the crystal waters and the creatures that swam in it. “Members of the research council say that they are several thousand species of fish and aquatic mammals that live within those cold clear waters.”

 

After some time hovering over the waters, Draken guided the ship over the snow capped mountains to the east before flying over the plains and the two massive rivers that crossed them before coming into view of the Capitol city with the Palace soon coming into view with its gothic style architecture and sweeping towers. “Welcome to your home away from home.” Within minutes, he was landing the Grand Duke within the hanger where the Triumvirate and a contingent of Black Guard as well as a medical team stood waiting. As they disembarked from the ship, the members of the Triumvirate bowed as the Guard contingent snapped to attention and saluted. Acknowledging the salute, Draken beckoned to the medical team.

 

“I assume you looked over her file?”

 

We did Sire. She responded well to the Bacta treatments and we recommend two to three more and then nothing too strenuous for about five days. After that she will be fine.

 

“Very good, she will rest tonight and undergo the first treatment tomorrow morning barring unforseen circumstances. That will be all.”

 

The medical team bowed and left the hanger as Draken beckoned over the Triumvirate. They bowed again and passed him a summarized list of occurances during his absence. He pursed it for several moments then nodded.

 

“Very good Gentlemen, Inform the council of nobles that there will be an investiture in one months time under the full moon. I will be taking the girl you see behind me as my ward and should her father not be able to make the ceremony then his title will be proclaimed in his absence.”

 

The three gentlemen shared a look and then nodded. “Milord, do you have a holding in mind for them?”

 

“I do. He will have domain over the land of Wulfenmoor in place of the traitors and will bear the title Viscount Vilkswyn and she shall bear the title of Viscountess-elect until of age. See to it the paperwork and inform the Heraldic Master that I wish to see him tomorrow. Let him know that we are in need of a new coat of arms to be ready for the investiture.”

 

“Yes Milord.”

[Alora]

Alora grinned as Draken gave Raia the grand tour. Serreno was a beautiful planet and she was happy to call it home now. She grinned as he flew towards the Palace letting one hand rest on Raia’s shoulder, the other on Draken’s. “You’ll love it here. To answer your question, yes we are still getting married. We just have to send out the invites and have everyone show up. If you look down there…” Alora pointed to some waterfalls not all that far from the Palace, “That is where we’re going to have our ‘bonding ceremony’. Beautiful isn’t it…” she stated as her eyes met with her beloved’s.

 

Once they landed Alora watched as Draken gave instructions and called the medical team in to look after Raia. Shadow trotted around the hanger before coming back to leap up at her. Alora laughed as she caught the cub, shaking her head, “You’re nearly too big to be doing this Shadow.” She received a purr in response before the cub climbed out of her arms, up to her shoulder, draping herself around the back of her neck. “Are you quite comfortable?” Alora laughed, receiving a loud purr in her ear.

 

“Lady Alora!” A messenger came running up to her, the girl curtsying when she reached her. As soon as she caught her breath the girl gave the Sith Mistress her message, “A woman has been asking for you. She has been staying onboard her ship which is docked at the Southern Landing Pad. She said her name was Darla.”

 

Alora listened as the girl delivered her message, her eyes widening when she heard who it was. “What is your name?” she asked the young girl who seemed around Raia’s age. “Tresix, My Lady” Alora slipped her hand into her pocket, withdrawing a small but generous credit stick as she scanned the girl’s mind. It seemed that this girl was one of the Noble’s daughters that liked to earn her way rather than have everything handed to her. She also seemed friendly with a kind nature. “Tresix, this is Raia, Count Shadowlord’s ward. Once she is well enough I’d like you to show her around and introduce her to some of your friends.” Tresix took the offered credit stick again curtsying, “Thank you My Lady.” Then turning to Raia she added with a shy smile, “I’m pleased to meet you Raia.”

 

Catching Draken’s gaze, Alora said, “I’ll meet up with you later. I’ll go and see if this really is Darla.” Giving both Draken and Raia a smile, she turned and headed out of the hanger, catching a taxi to the Southern Landing Pad where she approached the visitor’s ship. The last time she’d heard anything from Darla she’d shut herself off from the Force. Tentatively the Sith Master stretched out her senses, her smile becoming joyful as she touched her friend’s mind. “Darla!” Alora paid the driver and headed to the boarding ramp to wait for Darla to come out. It had been years since she’d seen her friend and she couldn’t be happier to see her. Alora had been hoping that she was still alive and well.

[SithAcolyte]

Serenno was a beautiful place. Not at all what Darla had been expecting. What had she been expecting? A cruel place perhaps, like some of the other Sith planets that she’d visited. No, it had been a place like that, she surely would have been seized and captured. But Alora wasn’t like that. At least, she hadn’t been like that.

 

They had both been trained as Sith together. Darla had perhaps been the darker of the two at the time. So consumed with a rage that burnt inside her. A fractured woman after the cruelties of war, death and rebirth.

 

It has been a long time since Darla had thought about the ’Black Dragon.’ Her alter ego. The truth was that it was a part of her. Like night and day that both pass over the same world, both equal parts of the cycle of the Force.

 

Darla was getting stronger. She was amazed at how quickly her body responded when she began the combat drills that had once been a part of her every day. But she wasn’t readying for war anymore. When her body was exhausted, her mind found peace.

 

While she meditated her thoughts wondered, the past, the present, places far off in time and space. She sensed no danger, only a stillness. Darla focused on taking deep breaths, filling her cells with oxygen. Calling on the Force to strengthen the flow until her body was tingling. Then she would hold her breath and just be.

 

Day by day, she found that she could tech that stillness for longer. Soon Darla could hold her breath for quite some time without breathing. The Force sustaining her. But as always there reached point when her mind could no longer control her physical body and she would have to break her stillness, gasping for air.

 

Darla was in such a trance when she felt a presence in the Force. Her old friend, Alora had returned. For a moment Darla was anxious and worried at how Alora would receive her. Then she felt Alora’s joy.

 

She hurriedly got up from her cross legged pose and rushed to lower the landing ramp. As she did she realised that she was wearing sweaty work out clothes, her hair was tied in a messy bun. Darla was torn between wanted to look her best and just wanting to see her

What does it matter how I look?

 

Darla made up her mind and rushed outside to meet Alora. When she saw her she just stood there and smiled. A stray tear falling down her cheek.

 

“I’m sorry it took me so long to come visit.” Darla wanted to embrace her friend, but nervousness held her still.

 

But she smiled. Alora looked as beautiful as ever. This only made Darla feel more of mess.

[Raia Montar]

The short trip from the medbay to the cockpit had been painful, but bearable. Alora remained with her, and between the Sith Mistress and tuk’ata, Raia managed to make it to the cockpit under her own power. She took the seat next to her new teacher and took in the breath-taking and, to her, the somewhat alien beauty of Serenno, only vaguely aware of Alora’s answer to her earlier inquiry as she did her best to take in everything.

 

She managed to fight down her feelings of overwhelm as she descended the ramp with some assistance from Vex’aedr. Looking on, silently as Draken first addressed and dismissed the medical team, then dealt with his advisors in a similarly efficient manner. There was a fair amount discussed that she didn’t quite fully understand, but knew enough of Draken and how he ran things to know that it wouldn’t be long before those knowledge gaps would be filled. He demanded obedience, but not at the expense of understanding and learning.

 

Vex’aedr tensed as a girl came running towards the trio of Sith, but Raia leaned her head against his. “We’re under Master Draken’s protection now, Brālis. These are his people. We are safe here.” Raia wasn’t sure how much of that she’d whispered for the tuk’ata’s reassurance or her own, but she had little time to think on it before Alora was introducing her to the other girl.

 

Raia returned the blonde-haired girl’s shy smile with one of her own, before looking back to Draken unsure of what was expected next, so she dipped her head slightly. “It’s nice to meet you as well. Was there anyone else that arrived recently?” The question had been hopeful since her father had left Kashyyyk before they had.

 

Tresix's face wrinkled for a moment, whether it was recalling if there were any other ships present on the Southern Landing Pad or trying to parse past Raia's accent; the girl wasn't sure. "Not that I saw, milady. If you let me know the name of the ship you're expecting, I promise to come find you as soon as it lands."

 

"It would be the Ravenhammer, my father's ship," Raia answered. "He might be arriving in another, but I don't know the name of it," she added looking toward Draken, hoping that he would know the name of Raynuk's fighter.

[darth shadowlord]

"The ship was called Darksoul."

 

Tresix turned to see Count behind her and curtsied low. "MIlord."

 

"Greetings Tresix, how did your father's business venture turn out on Tatooine fare? "

 

"When we spoke last, he was due to return four days from now."

 

"Excellent, give him my regards and inform him that I have an opportunity that is in his area of expertise and would discuss it with him at his leisure. Now if you will excuse us, there are a few things that I must discuss with Raia in private."

 

He waited till she had said bye to Raia and the landing crew and taken the subtle hint to make themselves scarce for a few moments.

 

"Raia, what comes next will not be easy. I am the ruler of the planet as well as a Krath Master. This means that while I am here, I act with subtly as there are few here that are aware of my allengence to the Sith. Likewise you must act in a similar manner when you are in the public eye as what you do reflects not only upon yourself but upon your father, Alora and will reflect on me as well. But this is something that those who would be Krath must learn if they wish to be successful. But enough about that, Malachdor will show you to your room. There are clothes and a light meal waiting for you as well as food for Vex. When you have eaten and changed, ring the bell by your bed and Malachdor will bring you to the greenhouse so that you can ask the questions that you are ready to explode with."

 

Seconds later Malachdor arrived and bowed deeply from the hip, his wizened face lighting up with joy at his Masters return. He bowed a second time to Raia. "Welcome to Serenno Milady, I am Malachdor, I serve as Count Shadowlord's chamberlain and am at your disposal as well should you need council. Please follow me."

 

He lead her from the hanger leaving Draken alone in the hanger for a moment before the hanger workers returned to their duties. He looked down at Krakis who had been sitting patiently beside him. "Hungry?" Immediately the panther's ears perked up and it stood up. "Alright, lets see if Viktor has a second Bantha leg that you can have." They walked to the kitchen where the imposing figure that was the Head Chef Viktor stood directing the kitchen's staff in his deep voice. Krakis looked up at Draken and growled low for a second then prowled forward and swatted at Viktor's hip.

 

"Litte Kitten, you have returned to raid my kitchens? Now why would I give you the Master's food when kitten like you can hunt?"

 

Krakis growled playfully and swatted at Viktor again causing the big man to laugh. "Kitten if the Master didn't like you, I would turn you into a stew" AS he spoke he reached up and pulled a rack of Bantha ribs down from a hook and laughed again as Krakis snatched it from his hands. Draken laughed and clapped the cook on the shoulder.

 

"There will be no Krakis stew today Viktor."

 

"As you say Milord, though I know several delicious recipes if you decide another time."

 

"No Viktor, you will be busy enough soon. Lady Alora intends to have the wedding soon and I wouldn't sideline Serenno's best cook for it."

 

Viktor's face lit up with a smile then he bowed deeply. "Thank you Milord."

 

Draken nodded then left the kitchen, Krakis following behind while carrying the bantha's ribs in his jaws. He walked to his chambers and opened the door and watched the panther lope over to its bed and begin devouring the ribs. "Stay Krakis" He closed the door and walked to the greenhouse. Heading inside, he began to walk among the black roses, stopping to examine a few of them as he passed by them. They were flourishing and they bent towards him as he passed by them.

[Alora]

As the landing ramp lowered the Sith Mistress waited, stroking the black feline that was still draped around her neck. As Darla came into view Alora’s face lit up. “Never mind about that, you’re here now. I would have been harder to find if you had of tried before… even Draken couldn’t find me.” At the look on her friend’s face she added, “Long story short; I was held prisoner in a stasis field on board a ship belonging to The Cult of Morthos until recently. They slipped up when they let me out at the same time they brought Darth Quietus back from the dead.”

 

Alora stepped closer to Darla and gave her a one armed embrace. Her other hand was holding Shadow in place so the feline cub would behave herself. “This is Shadow. A recent companion I picked up on Dathomir…” She looked over her friend, noticing that she was gaunt. “What happened to you?” It wasn’t what she was wearing that made her comment - she didn’t care about that, only that her friend was here in front of her, it was her overall appearance, like she hadn’t been looking after herself properly.

[SithAcolyte]

Darla embraced Alora back, a little awkwardly, trying not to disturb the feline that her friend was holding.

 

"She's beautiful." Darla realised that she wasn't sure if the cat was a she or a he as she said it.

 

What's happened to me? Is grief written that plainly on me?

 

*It's a long story I guess." She paused. "It's been a lifetime."

 

It had indeed, the twins were eight now and she was sure it was years before they were born when she last saw Alora. It made sense that Alora had been kept in stasis, she had barely changed since Darla had last seen her.

 

"How about we have a sit-down and I'll tell you all about it." Darla gestured towards her ship.

 

When they were both inside, Darla made some refreshments and excused herself while she quickly cleaned herself up. She came back wearing a smart black jumpsuit, hair tied neatly back. Darla hadn't wasted any time putting make-up on, she just didn't want to chat in her sweaty clothes.

 

"Well. I got married." Darla took a sip of the tea that she'd prepared. At least the ship was clean and tidy. She'd been keeping herself busy the last week. "I don't know if you ever met Darex. It seems so strange, me marrying a Jedi. It seemed like the perfect fit. He grounded me. We had two children, twins. I guess it all got too much for me. I was terrified that they'd be a target for my enemies, that I wouldn't be able to protect them. So I took them away. As far away as I could. They mostly grew up on this ship in fact."

 

Looking around, Darla was filled with memories of her toddlers rushing around the space yacht, not a care in the world. She smiled to herself.

 

"I just shut myself down from the Force completely. I wanted them to have a normal life. I wanted to have a normal life. I thought that without the Force I could just be a mom. I didn't want them to be Jedi. Darex ended up being the Jedi Grandmaster. I should have been proud. But all I saw was danger. I knew that our paths were drifting. I knew that deep down, our very ideals, what made us who we were, differed so much. Darex was always the twins hero, they couldn't wait for the times when he would visit. I guess I kept them away from him more than I should have. I told myself that it was keep them safe. But maybe I just being selfish.

 

"Then one day, he got himself killed and I felt like all my fears were justified. It was tough. Tough on the kids too. Even though we had drifted, I felt like a piece of me had been torn out. After grieving for him, really grieving, he came back. I don't know what felt worse. Losing him or realising how futile that grief had been. We decided to separate after that. I was mad as a crazed bantha at him. I said some things I shouldn't have. I decided to leave the kids with the Jedi and if that's what they want... I can't stop them. I feel like this is the first time in last decade that I've just been alone. I miss them, but it feels good to just be myself. Be Darla again and not the wife of the Grandmaster. Not be a mother. I opened myself back up to the Force. I've been training again. I guess I'm searching, for who I used to be, for who I'm going to become and that lead me here to you."

 

Darla smiled at Alora, it felt good to say it all out loud.

[Alora]

Alora followed Darla into her ship, patting Shadow as she went. She sat down watching while Darla got them refreshments. As her friend headed off to get changed Alora sipped at her tea. Shadow had jumped down and was curled up on the floor by her feet. When her friend came back and told her that she’d gotten married and to who, she couldn’t help but laugh. “You mean to tell me that you landed the Jedi Grandmaster? Darex Trevelian?!? I know he’s good looking but… Wow!! Ha HA HAHAHA.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!” With tears running down her face she shook her head, “Oh Darla… I’m sorry… couldn’t help it… I haven’t had a great laugh like that for ages!” She hoped that her friend wouldn’t be offended and think her insensitive but it really did amuse her so much that her friend who she trained beside with the Sith would marry the Jedi Grandmaster. Getting control of her laughter she was still shaking her head with amusement, “To answer you… no I don’t believe I met him… and you had twins? Wow, okay. I guess they’re still with the Jedi?” She looked at her friend then reassured her, “Don’t worry. While some of our brethren would, I’d never condone using your kids against the Jedi Grandmaster… especially being as they’re yours too. I knew you cut yourself off from the Force but not why.”

 

She fell thoughtful as she took another sip of tea. “Never thought about having kids… Draken and I haven’t discussed it. We are to be married soon actually. We’d been planning it before I got captured but obviously that put a halt on it.” Her violet eyes sparkled, “You picked a great time to visit! It just so happens that I’d like my best friend to be in the wedding party. What do you say?” If Darla agreed to it at least she’d have one of her best friends there… it’s just a shame that Sirvani was no longer with the living. If Emily could stand in Sirvani’s place though she’d be happy. “I’ll have to show you around. Draken’s just gotten a new apprentice… none other than Raynuk’s adopted daughter.” Alora winked at her friend.

[SithAcolyte]

Darla had expected Alora to laugh. At first, the sound stung her. She had spoken of her grief and her dear friend was laughing. Darla couldn’t help tensing up.

 

The as Alora apologised and explained herself, Darla began to realise that she wasn’t amused at her grief, it was the absurdity of her marrying a Jedi. Not just a Jedi, the Jedi Grandmaster. Darla laughed at little herself. It was what it was and she knew that she needed to stop being so serious all the time. She was in a safe place with her long lost friend. It was time to relax.

“I know, it’s crazy really.” She shook her head. “You have to remember, after I left the Sith I became a Jedi for a while. He wasn’t the Grandmaster when I met him. Just a Jedi and a dear friend. We grew closer over time. We went through a lot together. When it came down it, I guess I felt torn between the darkness and light. I felt that I needed to make a choice. I had a final showdown with Kakuto. I was ready to kill him or die trying. The truth is, I never could have killed him. Darex came to me, saved me from myself. I thought that it was the right choice.”

Darla took a deep sigh. “Yeah, I left the kids with my good friend Skye. I trust her and I know that they’re safe with her. It means they get to see their father, I know that they miss him. I’m not ready to see him myself. I haven’t figured out if this break is... a break... or a break-up.”

What seemed like many years ago, Darla remembered being invited to Alora’s wedding. She had figured that she had missed it. Not knowing that it would postponed for so long, not knowing that her friend had been held in stasis for so long.

“I guess the Force brought me here for a reason.” Darla smiled at Alora. “I’d love to stay for the wedding. I’d love to explore Serenno. From the flight down it looks like such a beautiful place Also, I still haven’t met your husband to be!”

A little pang of guilt arose in her as she wondered how long she would staying, how long she wold be away from the kids. Darla reminded herself that she’d spent most of their lives right by their sides. Which she knew hadn’t been good for any of them. The twins had any freedom. She had lost herself in trying to protect them. She would stay on Serenno. They were safe and they didn’t need her constantly breathing down their necks.

 

For a moment she remembered her original motive for visiting. Darla didn’t want Alora to think that she had only come to see her to get information to aid the Jedi. As much as she wanted to see Faust defeated, the truth was that right now he wasn’t her problem.

“So tell me about this cult of Mortis, was it?” Darla had never heard anything about them. “Why did they capture you, why did they put you in stasis?”

[Alora]

Alora smirked at Darla, giving her a mischievous grin, “I wouldn’t mind meeting your Jedi Grandmaster… I wonder if he’d be as… entertaining as a certain Jedi Andon Colos was…” Her encounter with Andon had been an interesting duel, one which had been memorable for a number of reasons. She nodded her head in agreement when her friend said she couldn’t of killed Kakuto, “He did have a way with him. You know it was Kakuto that had the pheromones implanted in my body don’t you? They’re in my DNA now.” Alora laughed, “I never could use them against him though…”

 

Hearing Darla talk of the friend she’d left her kids with caused Alora to shake her head, amusement obvious on her features. “You’re the only person I know that has friends that are both Sith and Jedi… I’d like to meet your kids one day too. Do they look like you or Darex?” She could see that Darla was torn in her loyalties and also regarding what kind of relationship she wanted with the twins father. “Well… whatever you decide I’ll support you. That’s what friends are for after all.”

 

As her friend told her she’d love to be at their wedding Alora’s smile widened, violet eyes sparkling, “I’m so glad. We’ll have to have a dress made for you. I’m hoping that Emily will stand in Sirvani’s place as a bridesmaid since she is no longer with us. I’ll have to send her a comm and see if she’ll be able to make it.” Her hand automatically dropped down to pat Shadow as the panther rubbed against her leg. “As for meeting Draken, I can’t wait to introduce you. He’s so suave and handsome.”

 

When the conversation turned to her ‘visit’ with the Cult of Morthos Alora’s smile faltered. Anger sparked in her eyes as she spoke, “I don’t know why they wanted me, apart from my connection as one of Raynuk’s former apprentices. All the time I was held in stasis I didn’t learn anything from them. They kept me totally isolated, blocked off from the Force and my comm. implant signal jammed. I was mostly spoken to over their intercom system and very rarely saw any of them. I had no concept of time either, only that it had passed me by. They’d taken me to Korriban when they brought him back from the dead with a ritual although it didn’t go as they planned. They wanted him to be their puppet while they pulled his strings from the shadows. Lucky for us Raynuk came back as himself. The Cult has stolen information from Draken’s personal library here on Serreno, from Emily’s library on Raxus Prime, from Coruscant, Dathomir, along with other sites. It was while we were on Dathomir that I came across Shadow.” She smiled fondly at the black feline, her hand stroking her soft fur, “They’d done some kind of ritual on Dathomir which had Raynuk, Draken and I fighting some zombie-like beings. They are dangerous and I hate to think what might happen if they get their ritual’s right.”

 

Giving a shake of her head she stood up, “Enough about them. Let’s head back to the Palace. I can show you around and introduce you to Draken and to Raia Montar.”

[SithAcolyte]

Darla wasn't really sure what Alora meant when she said that she wouldn't mind meeting Darex... She was smiling, strangely. Darex was a handsome man, was it something to do with that? Darla blushed a little. As much as she was mad at her husband, she couldn't forget how hard she had fallen for him and why. It wasn't just that he was tall, handsome and strong, there was a light within him. Too much light maybe... But she had really believed that that light would banish all of her darkness. For a while, it had. Darla shook the thoughts away.

 

Then there was Kakuto... Where would she be now if she had joined him? Would she be a mother to his children, Sith children... Or would she have just wound up dead? It didn't bear thinking about. The past was the past and it was so many years ago that it seemed like another lifetime entirely. Even Alora still seemed to have soft spot for Kakuto. Darla had the feeling that the two of them may have been closer than she thought as she heard Alora's words. There was a small spark of jealousy. Being a Sith, Alora had been much more free than Darla to pursue her passions. But that spark quickly diminished. Darla had made her choice, for better or worse. It was impossible to turn back time and even if she had the chance, she wouldn't change anything. She couldn't imagine not having the twins and they were as much a part of Darex as they were of her. There was one thing that she would have changed if she could though; she wouldn't have spent so many years in hiding.

 

I'm here now, that's the important thing. There's no point dwelling on the past. With a steadying breath, she drew the Force to herself and a feeling of serenity washed over her, with that she smiled at Alora.

 

"I.. Didn't know that Kakuto had pheromones implanted into your body." Darla raised an eyebrow at that. She could imagine what they were used for. It was strange, Alora was one of her closest friends, yet Darla was realising after so many years away, just how little she knew about Alora's life,

 

Come to think of it, Skye and Alora were pretty much her only real friends in the galaxy. The two were like night and day. The only two people who actually seemed to give damn about her. Was she really that difficult? Or was it just because she distanced herself from everyone else so much that no one else, except for her husband really knew her at all. There had been friends amongst the Jedi, Padawan's of Skye and Darex, but that had all gone their own ways.

 

"I'd like you to meet the kids too. I don't know why I didn't bring them..." As she spoke she realised that she did know why. "Well, no offence... But I wasn't if Serenno was a safe place for them and if I'm really honest I just needed some time away. They've been glued to my side for the last 8 years. I spent so much time just being 'Mom' that I forgot who 'Darla' was. Besides, they're getting to that age where I just feel like I'm cramping their style. Paranoid, overprotective mom with a blaster pistol isn't a good look for anyone. They look a lot like Darex, it's the fair hair I guess. But I was blonde as a kid too. My hair got darker as I got older, so who knows. Looks aside... They are like him a lot... He's their hero, they look up to him and I'm pretty sure that they're both ready to start training as Jedi. I wanted to stop them, but I know it's not right. They have to make their own choices. I guess me leaving them behind is really letting them go. They won't be mine anymore when they're Jedi. I mean, they'll always be my babies, no matter how old they are, but they'll be out there on their own, choosing their own paths. Iknow that's the right thing to do. I can't keep them hidden forever and it would be wrong of me to try to influence their choices."

 

As she spoke the words aloud, it dawned on Darla that this may be it. When she saw them again, they may be Padawans. Training, exploring... It would never be the three of them hiding out in their space yacht on the fringes of the galaxy again. That was alright. It felt right. It was almost as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders. It would mean that they could spend more time with their father, she knew now that it had been wrong to keep them so far away from him. Darex would make sure that no harm came to them, she was sure of that and Skye, the would both protect them for as long as they could. That was all Darla could really hope for.

 

"Thank you..." Darla replied when Alora offered her support, knowing what her words meant. "I don't know if me and Darex can ever really fix what's been broken... I don't know if I really want to. I haven't seen him yet... since he came back that is. It just seemed too hard after all that grief. I guess I'll have to see him at some point and when I do, I'll know. But for now, I'm happy..." Yes, that was the right word, there was some truth to it. "Happy to just be by myself."

 

Darla got quite excited by the idea of having a dress made for the wedding. It had been so long since she had worn a dress, she couldn't even remember. It would be nice to dress up, feel beautiful. She'd gotten so used to wearing flight suits and jackets, practical boots, tying her hair back for practically rather than fashion. She smiled at Alora. "Well, it is your wedding after all. I give you permission to dress me up however you like."

 

It was quite chilling when Darla heard about the cult of Morthos. She gave her friend a squeeze on the shoulder. "I'm glad that's all over and I'm so glad that you're back. Then Alora mentioned meeting Draken and Darla became a little nervous. "Is it going to be a problem for him that I have such strong ties to the Jedi?" She had to ask, after all, he was a Sith Lord.

[Raia Montar]

((Co-written))

 

Raia obediently nodded her understanding to Draken and, as she was introduced to Draken’s Chamberlin, she gave another small nod to acknowledge the man before following him out of the hangar with Vex alongside her.

 

As she was led through the palace to her rooms, she pretended to take in her surroundings, but her mind still reeled from what had happened on Kashyyyk. Draken had warned her to be subtle, so as much as she wanted to reach out through the Force for the familiar presence of her father, she chose to settle for merely missing him instead. She couldn’t betray anything if she were silent.

 

For his part, Malachdor pointed out some of the art pieces that adorned the corridors, offering up their histories that Raia only halfway paid attention to as they slowly made their way to her rooms.

 

Finally, he stopped before a set of double doors. “Ah here we are, these are your quarters. They overlook the palace gardens and the mountains beyond. There is a bell cord that will summon a servant in each of your rooms should you require anything.”

 

“Thank you,” Raia managed as she made her way with Vex past him and entered the main room before he closed the door behind her and left to see to his other duties.

 

Once more, she found herself alone in a strange environment. Finally finding a relative quiet that seemed content to carry with it the ghost sounds of screams, roars, and cracking wood.

 

Despite her legs and hips hurting from all the walking she’d been doing, she forced herself to stay upright long enough to explore what would be hers during the duration of her apprenticeship with Draken.

 

The double doors had opened on to a reasonable-sized sitting room that also included a small desk at one of the windows overlooking the snow-capped mountains.

 

Toward the center of the room, Raia saw a table and some chairs. It was here that the promised meal had been set out for both her and Vex’aedr.

 

The other door led to a bedchamber that was about four times the size of her room on the Ravenhammer and contained a richly decorated four-post bed. Across from that door were two others, one that led to a refresher (complete with a full soaking tub) and the other that was a room that held nothing but clothes.

 

Her stomach was quick to remind her how hungry she was, so she quickly ate the presented meal and decided to change out of the surgical garments she still wore. Finding something relatively warm since she found Serenno to be much colder than the desert and jungle planets that she’d experienced up until this point in her life.

 

She found an ankle-length, dark grey dress with a straight neckline and long sleeves. Though the cut of the garment was simple and fit her well, the fabric was a mid-weight high-quality wool, and she found a crimson sleeveless coat of the same length to wear as an extra layer.

 

The pain had proved too much when she tried to fit into some boots, so she looked until she found some flatter shoes that also had a soft lining.

 

“Are you ready to go find Master Draken?” she asked Vex, who was licking the last remnants of his meal from the bowl. At his whuff, she ran the bell as she’d been instructed and waited for someone to escort her to her teacher and current guardian.

 

---

 

“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting,” she offered as best a bow as she could manage as her escort disappeared, leaving her alone with Draken. “It’s still hard for me to get around and your home is so big.”

 

She made her way over to the bench nearest him and sat down. From outside the glass windows, she could see the shape of Vex’aedr following her movement. He settled down when she sat, and she reached out to him through the Force to reassure him she was fine, just a bit sore and tired from all of the walking.

 

“It is alright Raia,” he smiled and took a seat on the bench beside her. “The palace does take a bit of getting used to, and you have only seen a small portion of it. Now, I believe I promised to answer some of your questions.”

 

Raia nodded, finally seeming to relax a bit. “What is a Chamberlin? Does he know about us?”

 

“The position of Chamberlain is one of great trust. His task is to oversee the day to day affairs of the Palace. His word is final on all affairs barring my own with the exception of security matters. He knows that I am a Sith as is the Lady Alora. He also knows that you are my apprentice as well as my ward. There are a few people on the planet outside of my Black Guard that are aware of my loyalties, and he is one of them. His family has served the royal family of Serenno for several hundred years. You needn’t worry about him.”

 

Raia nodded and grew silent for a few moments as flashes of some of the fighting on Kashyyyk washed over her. Imagined events based on Draken’s childhood account of children being selected by the Jedi on Vjun mixed and swirled in, adding to her confusion. “Do the Jedi not give parents a choice? They just take the children because they can use the Force? What if the children don’t want to go?”

[darth shadowlord]

-- Co-written--

 

“There were worlds where the Jedi seek permission before transporting the child to the Temple. Other worlds had arrangements between their leaders and the Jedi for testing and the choosing of children whether it involved money or the Jedi pledging to aid the planet in its time of need. Still others due to their actions in previous wars were forced to relinquish those children that were force users as a punishment, Vjun was one such world. When I reached the rank of Master, I sought out the Jedi Master who was in charge of gathering children and saw to it that he was thoroughly punished for his part in the deaths in the square.”

 

He thought about the days of torture that the jedi had endured before he had saw fit to end his life and the sending of the body back to the temple with a written confession from the jedi attached to the body. He smiled remembering the fact that he still had the lightsabre in his collection.

 

“Explain why you begged not to kill anymore on Kashyyyk?”

 

 

“I...don't like killing,” she answered, drawing away from him slightly. “It's against nearly everything I've ever known. I could already feel so much pain and death. I couldn't bring myself to add to it.” Her grey eyes fell to the dappled marble floor of the greenhouse.

 

She didn't want to remember the hairy bodies of the Wookies floating in space or the one she'd had to impale before the brutish beast had crushed the life from her, but she did. Every vivid detail seemed to wash over her and for a brief moment her breath caught.

 

Her clan’s destruction at Qaela’s hands, helped in part by her own raw power, anger, and fear followed. Mitral’s death felt justified, but those Wookiees had never done her any harm before.

 

“Were you once a healer, too, Master Draken?” The question came quiet and she soon remembered how to breathe again.

 

 

“Not as such, my path started as briefly as Sith Warrior then to the Path of the Assassin. It suited me for a while but I sought power more than the shadow. So I was introduced to Krath by one of the few that I trusted within the Order although he has since passed.”

 

He nodded as he took in what she had said regarding killing. “There is times when killing is unavoidable. This includes when the Dark Lord calls, his word is law within the Order although among the paths there are those that he places in leadership who give orders in his absence. Although I am a Master of the Krath, I fall on the outskirts of the Krath vice he that is appointed to lead….. Such as he is, is capable albeit in a blundering overt manner much like a rancor in the jungle. We are at opposite ends of the spectrum. He creates abominations while I create works of power.

 

You will learn that even among the path of power that there are many paths to follow. Some are those of flesh, others like the path I tread is one of subtle and on occasion overt power such as the force storms and the mind warfare.

 

Your tattoos are gone.” His last words were a statement rather then a question though there was a question within his tone of voice.

[Raia Montar]

The girl nodded and subconsciously ran her left hand down her right arm, not responding further as she shut her eyes against the memory of that horrible night.

 

The insidious voice echoed once more in her mind, a mere phantom tied to the memory that persisted right up until she opened her eyes as her father had snapped her neck…

 

“Before Kashyyyk. Tētis...removed them.” She took a deep breath and began to speak much faster, as though she were trying to put as much distance between her and whatever had happened as possible.

 

“Though, I think I will have to learn something different to call him, since speaking the Sith language isn't very subtle and explaining it could be tricky...would ‘Papa’ work? Has there been any word from him. He promised to meet us here. I heard him. Papa doesn't break his promises,” she finally took a breath after trying out what she thought to be a Basic equivalent to ’Tētis and looked up at her Master with her storm-grey eyes, hoping her answer was enough.

[Alora]

"Is it going to be a problem for him that I have such strong ties to the Jedi?" Darla asked her.

 

Alora shook her head, laughing as she did so, “That shouldn’t be a problem. He knows you’re my best friend and some of your background - anyhow, let’s get going. I can’t wait to show you around.” Giving her friend a cheeky grin and a wink she added, “At one point in time he was also the Dark Lord.” It didn’t take long to leave the ship and for Alora to hail a taxi. As the two women slipped into the open taxi, the Sith Mistress told the driver to take the scenic route to the Palace. Shadow settled on her mistresses lap, giving a rumbling purr as Alora patted the soft fur. The driver answered affirmatively and took them via various sites on the way. Alora pointed out her favourite places as they went along, including one of the Markets. “I’ll request the seamstress some and measure you up for a dress. Wait until you see my wedding dress. I got it on Coruscant.”

 

It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the Palace, Alora opening the bond she shared with Draken to let him know she’d returned and that she would take Darla to one of the guest suites. When he had time she would introduce both Draken and Raia to Darla. The two women made their way through the Palace, the Sith Mistress smiling and acknowledging the staff as they passed them. Shadow padded along behind them, content with following them for the time being. The room they entered was spacious and decorated with a “Spring” colour scheme. The scent of freshly picked flowers reached them as they walked through the living area.

 

“You can stay here in this suite instead of your ship if you like. The bedroom is through that door there,” she pointed to an open door on the other side of the room. Alora led her friend to the balcony where there was comfortable seating, requesting one of the attendants to arrange for afternoon tea to be served there. Once he’d left them, Alora settled in one of the chairs, Shadow curling up at her feet. The black feline knew that the attendant would bring a treat for her too. Where they sat there was a view of the mountains in the distance. Turning to her friend Alora asked, “What do you think of Serreno so far?”

[Raynuk Montar]

After what must have felt like an eternity for those who were personally closest to him, two messages from Raynuk arrived at the Palace on Serenno; one for Draken and Alora, and one specifically for Raia.

 

For Draken and Alora:

 

"My friends... Since that foul cult returned me to the living, you two have been my closest confidants and allies from one day to the next as we tracked down leads and served the SIth together. But after Kashyyyk, something within me shifted, as has happened several times before. Draken, you especially know of the malaise that I speak of; it was the same sapping existence that fell upon me following my ascension to Dark Lord that ended with your blade. It gripped me again following Kashyyyk, and it took a minor miracle to pull me back; one that now requires me attention. Regretfully, I will not be arriving on Serenno as you both, and Raia, were expecting and planning for. Not yet at least. Since Raia came to me -- no, to us really -- you both have taken a shine to her and done what you could to help set her on her destined path. Draken, it was easy for me to see that you were the perfect teacher for Raia, and I know she will only excel under your watchful and calculating gaze. And Alora, you have always been a point of pride in my life as a Sith, a former apprentice who only continued to grow in strength after I taught you what you needed. You have become a woman who is strong both of mind and spirit, and I know Raia looks up to you for it. I can only hope she grows up to be equally strong, and I know with you around she very likely will. So in light of all of it, I ask that you continue your guardianship of Raia, and Vex'aedr as well, which I expect I need not even mention, yet feel compelled to anyway. I will return for them both when the time is right. But until then... May the Force serve you both well. "

 

 

For Raia:

 

"I regret that we have not seen or spoken to each other since the battle of Kashyyyk, and I know you were looking forward to and expecting me to come to Serenno to properly see you off on your apprenticeship to Master Shadowlord. But as has too often become the case, I found my attention and efforts pulled elsewhere. I wish I could say it was for a righteous cause, but that would be a lie little one. And though I am reaching out to you now, I do so only in the brief repreive that traveling through hyperspace has allotted me, as I rush headlong into another matter of duty. I go to face it knowing I may not return to see you and the progress you have made under Draken's wise teachings until far too long. You are as strong of spirit as Vex'aedr is of body. Never forget it, especially when the path before you grows hardened and you find yourself surrounded by doubts. I will see you again, but until then, take good care of Vex for me."

[SithAcolyte]

The view from the hover-cab was breathtaking. Alora had asked for the scenic route and that was surely what they had gotten. Darla couldn't remember the last time she had been on such a beautiful planet, she'd gotten so used to living on a ship, the constellations of stars seen from her viewport had become her landscape. This place felt so alive. Wity her Force senses properly open for the first time in years, she could feel everything around her. The planet seemed to sing to her. Tiny vibrations of energy that followed through everything, connecting all like webs of silvery notes played by some master musician.

No, there is no musician. Only the Force.

It was hard to think that all that beauty had formed by itself, without direction. Yet at the same time, it was hard to fathom what kind of entity could create such beauty. Darla listened to the song of the Force, closing her eyes and seeing beyond what her eyes could show her. Leaves beginning to fall, turning red, then yellow, the brown. Crumbling away into the ground. Death, decay. No, reabsorption. Everything returned to the Force and everything was reborn. There was a slight chill in the air. Even though the hover-cab kept the cold at bay, Darla could feel it through the Force. Birds beginning to fly away to warmer climates.

Winter was upon them.

Darla suddenly imagined just how beautiful the place would look covered by a veil of snow. Was Alora going to have a winter wedding? An image of a dazzling white gown, more splendid than the snow came to her mind.

All of this happened in an instant, then Darla came back to herself. Smiling at Alora.

"I can't wait to see your dress either," Darla responded to her friend.

Alora showed Darla around the guest suite that she would be staying in. Darla thought that she was dreaming, the whole place was so splendid. She did feel a little out of place in her flight suit, hastily tied back hair and bare face. Darla got the feeling that the people of Serenno would dress just as beautifully as the surroundings that they lived in.

Before their afternoon tea could arrive, Alora's comm chimed.

"It's Draken." Alora smiled and asked Darla if she would like to meet him as well as their ward Raia.

It seemed as good a time as any to. Alora led them into a beautiful rose garden and Darla really wished that she had dressed a little smarter. he took a deep calming breath and let the Force flow through her, drawing on the beauty of the of the trees and flowers.