Chapter 4

Dathomir/ 16 BBY/ 3 years after Contingency Order: 66

The Heavy cloud cover and mist blanketing the atmosphere of the hostile world broke to allow the freighter entry. The sublight engines glowed in the darkened sky as the ship flew to its desired location and began its descent. Below a vast green wooded land surrounded and crept up the foothills of the numerous formations of stone. The Cuy'val Dar approached the grand, single mountain, massively erect over the smaller formations and foothills. The Singing Mountain. Largely hollowed, the wondrous landmark claimed its name by the running rush of the majestic waters which flowed both inside and outside of the mountain. The ship circled the massive mountain before finally settling on a large flat outcropping of rock and stone set outside the mouth of a cavern hollowed from the mountain. The day was waning as the sun rested low and hid behind the distant mountains. As he stepped down the ramp, clad in his black and red armor, Sev breathed in the crisp, fresh mountain air. Looking over forests below, he admired the land around him. Keilbourn stepped down from the ramp, his hand laid steadily on his hip holster holding his CR-2 blaster pistol. Strapped to his back was his vibroblade.

"Still don't like it here?" Sev mused as he observed Keilbourn's caution.

"Aint got a reason to," Keilbourn replied. "This is a nice place though," he admired. From their perch, far below they could spot the very valley where just three years ago, the Cuy'val Dar had crash landed. Still looking over the memorable spot, Keilbourn turned to find someone standing gracefully behind them. She was considerably older than she had appeared three years ago, her appearance well over her actual age. Atop her silver hair sat a tall golden wood crown. From behind her aged wrinkled face, her pale eyes seemed to glow. Keilbourn hardly recognized Augwynne Djo, Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan.

"Sev," she greeted with a forced smile. As she observed Keilbourn, surprise stole away on her aged face. "And Keilbourn, it's been quite a time." Keilbourn grinned back at her from behind his helmet.

"Yes Ma'am."

"Mother Djo, just who we were looking for," Sev exclaimed. Another look of bewilderment fell upon her face as she folded her hands in the sleeves of her oversized robes which draped over the lizard hide torso and dark green skirt.

"Oh, really?" she sighed, a sense of relief flooded over her. It was strange for Keilbourn to see her in such a manner, a woman of such dignity and stature, seemed to be haunted with such a concealed distress. "What can I do for you?" she asked.

"You think we could talk for a while?" Sev asked her. She nodded briskly with another forced smile, opening her arm to indicate them inside the cave. With the retiring sun, the warm luminescent glow of the bonfire greeted them warmly. The inside of the cavern was covered by colorful symbols and signs painted on the rock walls. Three other witches loitered about their own business.

"Leave us," Augwynne said with a wave of her hand. The three bowed to their Clan Mother then left the high ceilinged cavern. She sat on a bench adjacent to another which she offered to the Mandalorians. "You have something to discuss?" she inquired.

"Yes Ma'am," Sev replied as he removed his helmet and placed it on his knee. "What can you tell us about the Nightsisters?" All attempts of keeping appearances melted away.

"Just as I thought," she sighed. "You're going after her," she said. Both Sev and Keilbourn frowned.

"No it's a He," Sev corrected her.

"We're here on a job, Ma'am," Keilbourn explained in a cautious manner, easily picking up on Augwynne's grief. Augwynne Djo's expression sunk even further in despair. She knew this moment would come, just not how to handle it. Sev stared at her for a full minute.

"Mother Djo, where's Barukka?" The former Commando's voice shook slightly as he stared her down. Her hesitation was her reply. Sev drew in a rasping breath. He was shaking, Keilbourn eyed him carefully, watching his shoulders shake. He felt the shock and pain his brother was experiencing, having been through it before himself.

"I'm sorry, Sev. She was taken by the Nightsisters," she said in a steady yet pained voice. Sev struggled to draw steady breathes, looking about in a panic of anguish.

"Sev," Keilbourn said as he placed his hand on his armored shoulder. He squeezed hard and shook him in place, reminding his brother he was there for him. "Sev go walk it off," he suggested calmly, his brown eyes bearing on him from behind. Sev's clenched jaw made his nostrils flare. He slammed his knee with a tightly clenched fist before standing up straight fuming as he clomped out of the cave back onto the landing; his helmet held at his side by the rim. Keilbourn looked away from Sev and back to Augwynne, a look of sorrow and grief creasing her aged face. "He forgets, Mother Djo, Barukka is your daughter. I'm sorry," the Mandalorian added. A great bellowing roar shook the mountain from the outside of the cavern. "Though he doesn't come out and say it, he loves her." Augwynne's gaze still watched where Sev had left the cavern.

"And she loves him," she said. Keilbourn grinned slightly as a thought came to mind.

"Strange to say," he pondered out loud. "They hardly know each other." Augwynne looked at Keilbourn before shaking her head slightly.

"No. She has delved into his mind, felt his pains, his joys, his betrayal." Keilbourn frowned.

Betrayal? What betrayal?

"You wanted to know about the Nightsisters," she said, shaking Keilbourn from his train of thought. He nodded as he stared and listened intently. "Since the beginning of our kind, there has always been division among the clans of Allya's descendants. We strive to follow a strict guideline in our studies of magic. There is one clan however, who does not." Augwynne stood from her stone bench before the fire. She waved her arms above her head then waved them about in a slow smooth motion. To Keilbourn's amazement, the fire cooperated with her motions, swaying with her before flaring at the base, creating a void filled by a swirl of some mystic substance. Keilbourn adjusted his seat to gain a better view into the fire. The void showed a projection of what appeared to be a reflection of the past. Witches dressed in dark and maroon clothing with hoods covering their pale faces sat in a circle around a bonfire. Something however writhed in the midst of their luminescent green flames. After looking closer, Sev realized it was a person. "The Nightsisters call upon evil, dark spirits to empower them, allowing that darkness to consume them. For generations, we of the Singing Mountain have strived to stop their perversion of our kind." Keilbourn watched as the image swirled away, warping into a new projection, depicting a skirmish of witches. Some were mounted on monstrous Rancors, which tore away at each other with long disgusting claws and bloodstained teeth. Others engaged the others in battles, wielding the long staffs and swords of the Dathomirians. Augwynne's arms swept through the air again and the flames swallowed the void, extinguishing the images. She turned away with her head bowed and eyes closed. Keilbourn was still awestruck by the performance, he nearly missed her next words. "Your war exterminated them as a people," she said. "But evil itself is never truly exterminated, it only waits to pervert good." Keilbourn listened to her intently. Though the gravity of her words were insurmountable, much of her message made sense to him. "It was my oldest, Gethzeroin. She was tainted by the darkness and inspired followers." She turned to face Keilbourn. He looked upon her with sorrow and compassion. He spotted a tear glisten down her cheek. "They are now the Nightsister clan."

"I'm so sorry, Mother Djo."

"It's not death I fear for Barukka," she continued. "I fear her own perversion. I've felt her capacity for good and evil." From behind, Sev walked back inside. His face still clenched in anger, though he kept himself in check.

"I won't let that happen," he growled.

"It may not be within your capacity," she replied, turning to face the Commando with pained eyes. Sev glared back at her.

"No you don't understand," he said stiffly. "I will bring her back."