After a few days and seeing Ethan off, Jarius opened a door to a side room he didn't go into very often. Only a lit candle in his hand gave any illumination to the room as he went around, lighting other candles as he went. He wore a traditional tunic that went down below his waist over the trousers and boots he had on with a long, sleeveless cloak over it all. With the candles along the walls lit, he set his above a special alcove that held an image of the Lady and knelt for a prayer before calling Marin in.
She'd never been in here before. She was freshly showered, and dressed in a loose tunic similar to the style Jarius wore. He hadn't said much about what was going to happen today, but she'd sensed his solemn attitude throughout the morning. Her hair was braided down her back, still damp from her shower. Taking a deep breath, she released it and pushed the door open, stepping into the candlelit dimness. It took her eyes a moment to adjust before she spotted Jarius, his dark blue tunic almost blending with the flickering shadows.
Jarius got up from his prayer and took the candle he held again, this time lighting two that were on opposite ends of the table. "There are two traditions we honor today," he said softly as he set his back above the alcove and gestured to her to go to the other side of the table as he picke d up the candle on his side. "The unlit candles on the wall behind you represent your family...they are yours to light." After saying so, he turned to light several that were behind him.
Slowly, Marin made her way to the side of the table opposite Jarius. She could feel her heart flip-flop a moment when he mentioned her family. She blinked back tears then, feeling a sadness well up in her chest. She'd never known them. It took her a few moments, but after a few slow breaths, she nodded and carefully took the other candle, turning to light the ones behind her one at time. When she'd finished, she carefully replaced her candle in ints holder and looked up at him, her eyes glistening in the candlelight.
He still held his candle and gestured her to take hers once again, this time, moving towards the only unlit candle left in the room, in the center of the table.
Marin nodded wordlessly, picking hers up again, following him as she moved her left hand towards the center candle.
Together, they moved their candles together to light the center one. Once it was lit, Jarius set his back in its holder and stood there looking at the center. Softly, slowly, he uttered a few words in the ancient Cataani.
Marin didn't understand what he'd said, but something in the words resonated within her as she set her own candle back in it's holder, and stared into the flame for a moment, feeling lost in it.
"It is an old proverb...honoring both our families," Jarius told her as he closes his eyes for a moment. "We are bonded, in the Cataani tradition...family. In the Mandalorian way, I say unto you, Ni..kyr'tyal gai sa'ad... 'I know your name as my child', Marin Durza."
Marin gasped. Her lower lip trembled as she began to realize the meaning of it. "You...you mean that...?" she whispered, reaching across the table to slip her cool fingers into his.
"To the rest of this galaxy for all time," Jarius told her as he held her hand. "You are now my daughter..." He started smiling warmly to her, finally letting the urge come over him as he knelt down to hold her.
Marin sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand before she buried her face in his shoulder. She felt... safe there in his arms. After a moment, she looked up at him, her tear-streaked cheeks glistening in the candlelight. "Does that mean I have to call you buir (father) now?" she asked, trying to smile.
He chuckled at the question. "You can or continue to call me Jarius if you prefer. I leave the choice to you."
She grinned a little. "I like Jarius... it's what I'm used to..." she wiped at her nose before burying her face in his shoulder again, taking in the scent that clung to his tunic... smoke, incense, a bit of leaf scent and the forest.
"Remember to be careful with your feelings and thoughts while we are here," Jarius told her as they started to enter Cataan's atmosphere. "The Master here is a very skilled user of the Force."
Marin frowned, glancing up from her holopad. "How do you mean?" She rubbed the back of her neck.
"Just as you have been able to feel everything around you, there is more that is possible. Including being able to tell how one's mood...even one's thoughts." He turned to smile at her. "But you needn't worry, I do believe. Master Karrde is a man of honor, he will not even think about that...nor will he tolerate any of his students doing so."
"I'll still be careful," Marin told him, looking into his eyes. She knew he trusted this Master Karrde, so she was going to do her best. She took a moment to put her holopad away. "How long will we be here...?"
"I have not decided upon that yet," he said to her. "I wanted to see if he could determine how strong your skills could possibly be. I know you do not like the idea of some training here, Marin, but he might be able to show you some things that could be of some use."
Marin frowned. He was right. She sighed. "You're right. I just... don't like being away from you much," she admitted after a moment, and she looked out the viewport.
"Who said I was going anywhere?" He settled in on the flightpath of the Karrde's landing pad. "I will be right there with you...may learn something new myself."
Marin flushed. "Ni ceta (sorry), old habits, I guess." She reached over to squeeze his hand before she rose to go grab her duffel.
Jarius settled the ship in gently on the pad and shut down all the systems before he got up. He elected to leave his armor off and suited for a tunic and trousers, his blaster on his right hip and vibroblade on his left. He got to the boarding ramp and started to lower it, already noting that their hostess was already walking towards the pad.
Marin was waiting for him, her duffel over her shoulder, dressed in a clean tunic and pants. Her knife was sheathed on her left hip. As Jarius began walking down the boarding ramp, she followed a few steps behind, scanning the area on reflex.
[My greetings to the noble lady of the house] he said in Cataani to the lady walking up. She had on a skirt that seemed to flow with every step along with her long hair and greeted them both with a smile as Jarius bowed slightly to her.
[It is good to see you well, Jarius] Jade LaCross Karrde said to him as she returned the bow and noticed the young lady behind him. [And I see the Lady has blessed you well.]
"She has," Jarius told her, switching back to basic. "Marin, this is Master Karrde's wife, the Lady Jade Karrde."
Marin flushed and bowed slightly, remembering her manners. [Greetings, Lady Karrde, I am Marin Durza..] she said slowly, and carefully, as her Cataani still needed some work.
Jade's smile turned into a grin as she bowed back to her. "Steffan had told me that you had adopted her as your daughter. I'm so glad that you were able to overcome what happened. You are too good a person to go through that."
"My thanks mi'lady," he said to her and looked at Marin with a warm smile before looking back to Jade. "Is the Master home?"
"He's at the praxeum, but it isn't far," she told them. "I had Ryneas prepare horses and he'll lead you up to the monastery."
Marin's eyes widened. 'Horses?' she thought, frowning a little.
"They're still used a lot here...especially for a trip like this one," he told her as he caught onto the look she had.
"They're very docile," Jade told her. "And Ryneas is a good horseman, he'll make sure you're alright. He should be waiting just over there." She pointed to the area at the edge of the clearing where Steffan had erected a set of stables next to an old cottage.
Marin flushed and nodded. "I see him, Lady Karrde." She followed Jarius over to the stables, looking around curiously as she did so.
"Doesn't look all that different from home, does it?" Jarius asked her as they walked.
"Nayc... it doesn't." she replied softly. "It... has a ...peaceful feel to it as well..." she allowed after a moment as she continued to scan the area as Jarius had taught her to.
"It always is peaceful here...the Karrde's have striven hard to keep it that way..and their children have taken it up as well." They got to the edge and saw Ryneas standing with the three mounts waiting, decked in the black and blue robes of a Cataani Jedi.
"You know the meaning of the colors for Mando'ade," he told her as they approached. "Master Karrde explained to me that in old time, it meant the same thing for the Jedi that came from this world."
Marin smiled and nodded. "Reliability and Justice..." she said softly as they stopped within a few paces of the young man. Marin slowly approached one of the horses, holding her hand out, palm up. The horse took a sniff of her from a distance then, with a nodding from Ryneas, walked up to her. Jarius saw it and nodded. "And a good morning, young Jedi. Thank you for the lead up the mountain."
"My pleasure," the youth said to him with a smile to Marin as she started to pet her horse.
Marin flushed again, remembering her manners. "Ni ceta..." she said softly, turning towards him. "I'm Marin Durza..." she said firmly, reaching out to clasp his elbow in the Mando fashion.
"Ryneas Karrde," he answered as he returned it in the same fashion.
Marin nodded and smiled, still feeling a bit shy, but trying to take her cues from Jarius. She knew she had nothing to worry about here, but she was still cautious.
Ryneas saw the look and understood the feeling. This was entirely new for her. "It won't take long to get to the praxeum," he told them as he started to lead them down the trail. "This way."
"There it is," Ryneas told them as he pointed to the monastery. Jarius looked at it and noted that it looked like it was built alongside and into the side of the mountain. He nodded at the sentiment...and wondered how much restoration Karrde had put into the place.
Marin looked up at Ryneas' announcement and gasped. It was... incredible. She could tell the building was old, but it looked well cared for. She shifted a bit, trying to get comfortable, as she was unused to riding in the saddle. But she didn't complain. She breathed a silent sigh of relief as they finally drew to a stop.
Jarius got down from his mount and looked up to the old wooden doors. He could hear multiple voices from inside...in unison, which told him that Master Karrde was probably running them through some kind of drill. Ryneas walked ahead of them and started to open one of the doors. When he did, Jarius started to hear multiple low hums as they entered the main hall of the monastery.
Marin slid out of her own saddle and was close on his heels. She'd never seen a lightsaber before. When she entered the courtyard, she gasped softly in surprise, seeing the group of about ten students practicing a slow kata as they chanted. For a moment, she frowned, and looked to Ryneas or Jarius for an explanation.
"They're practicing a basic pattern," Jarius started to tell her. "Master Karrde uses a unique style and that's they are beginning to learn." He pointed to where a tall Jedi with the same colors of robes that Ryneas had at the opposite end of the circle from them, yelling a command to which the students moved to the next stance.
Marin nodded, and watched with interest as the students began to move slowly to the next stance. It was a bit confusing to her as she'd not been introduced to any kind of swordwork yet, but she found that Master Karrde's voice had a soothing and flowing quality to it, even at the volume he was speaking.
"The lightsaber interesting you?" Jarius asked her as they continued to watch the movements of the students.
"Elek..." she answered softly, leaning towards him. She watched for a moment. "I'd like to learn some swordwork at some point, perhaps some lightsaber work too." She paused a moment. "Do you have a lightsaber..?"
He shook his head. "The lightsaber is a weapon that is built by the one who wields it. I haven't trained with it, so I haven't made one."
She nodded quietly. "It's not your style, then? Is that why you prefer the bladed weapons like your shoto and the beskad (mandalorian sword having a curved blade)?"
"Never said it wasn't my style," Jarius told her with a soft chuckle. "Cataani take the way of the sword to a very spiritual level. The lightsaber is the epitome of that. The reason I don't use it is because I don't feel I'm worthy of such a weapon yet."
She raised an eyebrow, keeping her voice low as she watched the drill with interest. Typical of her age, she merely asked: "Why don't you...?"
He raised a hand to forestall the question as the students stopped in unison and lowered their lightsabers. Another Jedi that had been watching them, this one in more of the traditional colored robes, moved to stand where Steffan Karrde had been as all the students except two shutdown their lightsabers and sat down. The other two moved to the center of the circle and began to take a fighting stance against the other. Steffan walked around the outside of the circle towards them, returning the bow that Jarius gave him before they walked close and greeted each other in the warrior's grip.
Marin flushed, and bowed, following his example. She had to admit, she was slightly nervous. "Su'cuy, Master Karrde." she said as she straightened again.
"And greetings to you, young Marin," Steffan said as returned her bow and smiled at her. "What do you think of the praxeum so far?"
She blinked and flushed, looking at Jarius for a moment, and realized she'd forgotten to give her name. After a moment, she answered his question. "It intrigues me..." she said after a moment's thought. "There's a history here, but I'm also interested in some sword work. I've never seen a ... jetti'kad before," she replied, using the Mando'a word for lightsaber.
"You are both welcome here for as long as you want to study," Steffan told them. In the circle, the two students started to spar. Their movements were much faster now than in the kata earlier. Marin smiled at that, and turned her attention to the sparring match, even though she was curious about this Master Karrde. She knew that he and Jarius were both Cataani, and she got the feeling that Karrde was as much the warrior as Jarius, but in a different way.
Steffan gestured for them to walk around the circle with them to see the spar from all angles. The two kept going until one was tapped several times by the other. They stepped to the outside and shut down their lightsabers before sitting down. The Jedi that had taken over for Master Karrde called two others out to begin.
Marin frowned for a moment, before she decided to ask. "Master Karrde, I noticed that during the match, the students tapped each other with their jetti'kade (lightsabers) several times... wouldn't that leave a burn? How does it not injure?"
"They are using training lightsabers," Steffan told her. "The weapons use low power so they will only sting if contact is made. This group of students are younger than they seem and have not had all of the training they need before they are put to the test of fashioning their own lightsaber. Normally, one should acquire a certain level of skill before they begin that trial."
She quirked an eyebrow. "Normally?"
The old Jedi chuckled. "Well, there are some exceptions to that rule at times. Your curiosity is good, Marin. One should always have questions."
She smiled, flushing slightly, and hoping she wasn't being impolite with all her questions. She watched the second match for a moment before turning her attention back to the two men. "Master Karrde, what kinds of things does the praxeum teach to students my age...?"
"All students have their differences," he told her. "Those differences appear in abilities that they have with the Force. Some have skill with the saber, some for healing, others for mediating and so forth. In your case, that entirely depends on you."
Marin shrugged, with a somewhat helpless look at Jarius. "All I know is that I'm good at... hiding, and I learn fast with just about anything..."
Steffan nodded at this and looked to Jarius. "And you are not sure about where her abilities lie?"
"Aye," Jarius said to him. "I would like her to learn all that she would like to learn, but she is my daughter and she has expressed the desire to stay with me and become Mando'ad."
"I understand that," Steffan said to him as the sparring continued. "Then we can try to cover as broad a field as we can."
Marin looked between them form a moment, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her trousers. "I'd like that," she said after a moment. "I like to learn." She thought a moment. "I do have some skill with the knife, and other weapons... perhaps learning some hand-to-hand to add to that...?" she shrugged.
"Jarius here could teach you that," Steffan said as he gestured to her father. "But there are some other things we can teach you to augment yourself when in a fight. In fact, Jarius might have shown you some of this already, because I've taught him the same technique."
Marin frowned in thought for a moment, looking to Jarius. "Buir (father) did mention that, I think, but we haven't really covered it yet... I would like to learn though..." she smiled, relaxing a bit.
"We can start first thing in the morning," Karrde told them. "Take the time to settle in and become familiar with the layout of the praxeum."
