Chapter Thirty-Three

Cian looked over at Qui-Gon as he gazed silently out at the sea beyond Shiro's villa. They had been on Jalat for a week now and, during that time, although they had spent nearly every waking moment together, they had maintained a cordial, yet reserved familiarity with the other. Of course, she thought ruefully, that had always been the tenor of their relationship.

She turned her head and looked out at the sea. The Jalatan moon's gold reflection shimmered on the dark waves. The smell of the sea floated over her along with the subtle hint of jasmine.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Yes, that had been their relationship over the years, friendly but formal, for it hadn't taken long for Cian to learn what kind of man the Jedi Master was.

Independent in both spirit and mind, strong, wise and kind, he was also a restless soul whom, Cian knew, had spent his entire life searching for that which he believed would finally justify his years of service to the will of the Force. She also knew he was totally committed to that path and that he would, without a moment's hesitation, follow it wherever it led.

Cian opened her eyes. She smiled slightly at him as he continued to stare out at the sea. He was also terribly, but charmingly, stubborn. Once he had made up his mind about something, he clung to that belief with an unwavering obstinacy. That tenaciousness, combined with his idealism, had also made him something of a rebel within the Order.

She sighed. And, finally, she had to admit, he was very attractive physically. Yet, like Obi-Wan and Aalea, he appeared to be totally oblivious of it.

Then, almost as if he had heard her thoughts, he turned from the sea and looked across at her, giving her a smile which sent her pulse racing. As he continued to gaze over at her, Cian felt her body growing warm. She swallowed in a throat suddenly gone dry and all she could think of was how much she wanted, right then, to feel his arms around her.

She came back to herself when Shiro returned to the veranda. A servant glided silently behind him carrying a tray upon which was a decanter and three glasses. The servant placed the tray upon a low table, quickly poured the light blue wine into the glasses, then, just as silently, departed.

Shiro leaned over the table and picked up a glass and passed it to Cian. He then gave one to Qui-Gon and took up the last for himself. He lifted his glass in a toast.

"To the future, my friends."

"To the future," replied Qui-Gon and Cian.

Cian drank her wine and was surprised at how good it was. She looked over at Shiro who was watching her closely.

"I see you like it, Mistress Nyal. You are a connoisseur, yes?"

"Not a connoisseur, Salu Shiro, but I do appreciate a fine vintage."

"It comes from Shunon province, on the eastern continent. Very good grapes they grow there."

Shiro took his seat and set his glass down on a small table to his right.

"Again, thank you my friends for coming tonight. My wife, as you have seen, is quite ill. We seldom have visitors, but when I told her about you, Mistress Nyal, and how beautiful and charming you were, and you, Master Jinn, and how noble and kind you were, she wanted so much to meet you."

"The honor was ours, Salu Shiro," Qui-Gon said. "And it was a pleasure to meet Sala Vati. She has a very strong spirit."

Shiro nodded sadly. "Yes, her spirit is strong and it is good, but the body...." He took a deep breath and gazed sadly out at the ocean.

"Is there no hope, Salu Shiro? Cian asked.

Shiro turned back to her.

"Hope, my lovely one? There must always be hope or what is the point of living. But, the prognosis is not good. She has a year, maybe two, at the most."

"I'm so sorry," Cian said softly.

Shiro reached over and patted Cian's hand.

"Do not trouble yourself, dear lady. Now, Vati ordered me to talk only of good and happy things when I returned to you or we would have been remiss in our duties as hosts to provide you with a pleasant memory of our evening together."

And with that Shiro regaled both Qui-Gon and Cian with delightful stories of his boyhood and his love of Jalatan literature.

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In his inner chamber in his citadel in Jholan Province, Rukal, Chief Priest of the religious caste of the planet Jalat, knelt before the holographic image of his master.

"Where are the Jedi and the woman now?" Lord Sidious asked.

"They are visiting First Minister Shiro at his private estate," Rukal answered.

"Are there enough votes among the Council members to ensure this initiative of his will not pass?"

"It will be very close, my lord, but I believe there are enough to ensure that Jalat will not establish relations with the Republic."

"Make certain of it, Rukal, if you someday hope to rule this world."

"Yes, my lord." Rukal cleared his throat. "What of my request regarding the Republic emissary, my lord?"

Rukal could not see Sidious' eyes beneath his black hood, but he sensed his dark master's gaze on him. For long moments, Sidious did not answer.

Rukal risked speaking. "She is very strong with the Force and---."

"Yes, I know. I am well aware of her strength, Rukal."

"Yes, my lord." Rukal was becoming nervous. He did not understand his master's apparent hesitation about Cian Nyal. When Rukal had sensed at the audience how brightly she burned with the Syad, he had immediately thought to what use he could put such potential. And, as his master had noted earlier, she had also not be tainted by any training by the cursed Jedi.

"Take her," Sidious finally said. "But make certain that her abduction is not traced to you. Our work here must not be compromised. Do nothing that will jeopardize that."

"Yes, my lord."

"Once you have her, I will send Lord Maul to retrieve her."

"My lord?" Rukal cried. "I do not understand? I thought---"

Sidious sneered. "Do you think I would leave such a prize in your feeble hands, Rukal? You will deliver her to me. I have uses for one such as she, once I have shown her the true nature of the Force."

Rukal suppressed the anger which surged within him. He had intended on keeping the woman for himself.

"Yes, my lord," he said. "What about the Jedi?"

"Leave the Jedi to me."

"Lord, please, allow me to make a gift to you of his head."

"No," Sidious snarled. "You are not to confront him. You are no match for him. He is a Master among the Jedi."

Rukal gritted his teeth. "Yes, my lord."

Sidious abruptly cut the communication.

Rukal rose to his feet. No match for him, he thought angrily. Sidious was wrong. Rukal knew he was more than a match for the Jedi. Had he not been under the tutelage of Lord Sidious for the last five turns?

Rukal walked over to his desk and sat. He laced his fingers under his chin as he recalled his first meeting with his mysterious master.

Not long after he was elected Chief Priest, Rukal had been contacted by a stranger dressed in black who had come upon him while he was meditating in his chamber. Before Rukal could summon his guards he had felt a pressure on his throat. Not enough to kill, just enough to prevent him from crying out.

His eyes bulging, his lungs struggling for breath, Rukal watched as the stranger, its face hidden in a deep hood, waited for some sign that he would not summon help. Rukal stiffly nodded and the hold on his throat ceased.

The stranger reached under his robe. In his hand was a palm sized holo-projecter. The stranger activated it and the image of a figure, also dressed in a black robe and hood, appeared.

The figure identified itself as Lord Sidious and the stranger in Rukal's chamber as Lord Maul. Rukal trembled, for he sensed the great power both beings possessed. Lord Sidious then told Rukal he had been chosen to help bring about a Great Age of Darkness and, once that Age was upon them he, Rukal, would be made ruler of Jalat. And so, in preparation for that time, over the last five turns, Lord Sidious had shared with Rukal much knowledge about the true nature of the Syad.

A knock at his door brought Rukal out of his musings.

"What is it?" he called out irritably.

The door creaked open and his aide, Tydre, peered around it.

He gestured for Tydre to enter. The young Jalatan did so. He bowed to Rukal.

"What do you want, Tydre."

Tydre handed a slip of paper to Rukal.

"A message from First Minister Shiro. He asks permission for the Jedi and the Republic Emissary to meet with you."

Rukal snatched the paper from Tydre. He read it quickly, then crushed it between his hands and dropped it on his desk.

"Denied. I will not meet with the Jedi."

Tydre's eyes widened. "You will not?"

"Have you gone deaf, Tydre? No, I will not meet with him. To what purpose? He is my enemy."

Tydre stared at Rukal, his bafflement apparent. Rukal stared back at Tydre. His aide, like Shiro and the other members of the Council, did not know why Rukal hated the Jedi so much, but that was because none of them knew about Lord Sidious. That had been part of his master's arrangement to pass on his knowledge of the dark side to Rukal. Lord Sidious and Lord Maul were to remain a secret.

"However," Rukal said to Tydre, "When the Jedi and the woman do return to the capital, I want you to contact the Republic Emissary. Make certain she is alone when you do so. Tell her I wish to meet with her. But only her. Not the Jedi. And when you go to see her, no one must know that you are connected to me. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master."

"Good. You may leave me now, Tydre."

Tydre bowed.

"Yes, Master." He turned and left.

Once Tydre was gone, Rukal returned to his ruminations. He knew it would not be in his best interest to disobey Sidious, but he was eager to test his dark skills. If Sidious would not let him confront the Jedi, then perhaps Rukal could at least turn the woman to the dark side before sending her to him. It would prove to Sidious how capable he was, perhaps even convince him to rid himself of that high and mighty Darth Maul and make Rukal his apprentice.

Rukal smiled, his dark orange eyes glittering in the shifting shadows within his chamber. He recalled how the woman had stood before him, so beautiful and proud at the audience, that arrogant Jedi next to her.

Yes, Rukal thought, before he turned her over to Sidious he would break that proud spirit of hers; he would watch her beg for mercy, and then, at the last, he would turn her to the dark side and make her an agent for the destruction of all that she cherished and loved, the Jedi included.

To be continued...