Chapter Thirty-Six
When Cian awoke she was slightly disoriented and, for a moment, didn't recognize her surroundings. Then she remembered she was in Shiro's villa and she and Qui-Gon had been invited to stay the night.
She gazed sleepily at the golden morning light which streamed through the windows of her chamber as she lifted her arms and stretched. She noted that the sun was extremely bright for early morning.
She sat up quickly, her heart thumping. It wasn't early morning; it was late morning.
She rose quickly from the bed and drew a robe over the nightdress which Shiro's servant had given her last night. She pushed her feet into a pair of slippers and ran from the bedchamber into the outer sitting room.
She stopped. One of the servants was standing quietly inside the room. The servant bowed and motioned for Cian to precede her out the door.
Once they were out of the room the servant gestured for her to go to the end of the hallway. Cian walked until she reached a set of clear double doors. The servant darted around her, opened the doors, bowed, them motioned for her to enter.
Cian walked into a brilliantly lit sunroom which faced the ocean. The blue-green water sparkled under the sun. Inside the room was a white table with two chairs. In one of the chairs sat Vati.
"Pleasant morning, Mistress Nyal," Vati said.
Cian bowed. "Pleasant morning, Sala Vati."
"Come. Sit. I have just finished my morning meal, but I will have the servants bring yours."
Cian walked over and sat at the table.
"Excuse me, Sala Vati, but what time is it?"
"The hour of the Blossoming Flower."
"The hour of the.....? But, I was supposed to leave for the inspection tour of the military base with your husband and Qui-Gon at the hour of the Gentle Dawn. That was...," Cian quickly calculated, "two hours ago."
Vati nodded, smiling. "Yes, that is correct. Shiro and Master Jinn have already gone."
"But, why didn't they wake me?"
"I asked them to let you sleep, Mistress Nyal. Do not be angry with them. I am afraid it was all my doing. I wanted you to spend the day with me. And honestly, did you really want to listen to General Neeshin talk about his horrible weapons?" Vati shuddered. "I hate even thinking about the need for such things."
Cian sighed. She was a bit annoyed at having been left behind. It was, after all, her first diplomatic mission, but Sala Vati was right. Touring military installations was not high on her list of favorite things to do and Qui-Gon could report back to her what he had seen.
She looked over at Vati and smiled.
"I would love to spend the day with you, Sala Vati."
Cian looked around her. And it was quite lovely with the warm sunshine, the beautiful sea, and the lilting songs of the brightly-colored birds which perched in the tall willows near the villa.
"I am so happy you are not angry with me, Mistress Nyal. I do not let on to Shiro, but I get terribly lonely out here."
Cian reached over and took the older woman's hand in hers.
"Please, call me Cian, Sala Vati."
Vati smiled. "Only if you will call me Vati."
The two women smiled at each other.
----------------
As Qui-Gon and Shiro stepped out of the shuttle which had brought them to Tuhar province, Qui-Gon saw before him an entire battalion of Jalatan soldiers lined up in precise military formation. General Neeshin, resplendent in a dark blue and gold uniform, saluted smartly as Qui-Gon and Shiro walked towards him. Then Qui-Gon saw a look of disappointment spread across the young general's handsome face. He stepped forward and peered anxiously around Qui-Gon and Shiro at the now departing shuttle.
"Where is she?" he asked.
"Where is who, General Neeshin?" Shiro asked.
"Mistress Nyal. Wasn't she supposed to come with you?"
"Yes, she was," Shiro said, "but she is spending the day with my wife. Is there some problem, General Neeshin?"
Neeshin glanced irritably over at Shiro.
"No, of course not, First Minister. I was just looking forward to seeing her again. No offense, but she is much more pleasant to look upon than you two."
Shiro chuckled. He took Neeshin by the arm and gestured for Qui-Gon to accompany him as they inspected the troops.
-----------------
Later that afternoon after the tour, Qui-Gon, Shiro and Neeshin sat in Neeshin's office.
"So, Master Jinn, what did you think?" Neeshin asked from behind his desk.
"Very impressive, General Neeshin. I don't think I've ever seen a more disciplined military operation."
Neeshin bowed his head in acknowledgement of Qui-Gon's praise.
"So," he said, "where are and you Mistress Nyal headed next?"
Shiro coughed and glanced worriedly over at Qui-Gon.
"I tried to make arrangements for them to visit Rukal at his cathedral in the capital, but he would have none of it."
"What?" roared Neeshin. He stared crossly at Qui-Gon. "Why, by the tooth of the Penitent, would you want to go see that son of a malik?"
"General Neeshin," Shiro chided him. "Show some respect."
Neeshin merely shrugged.
Qui-Gon gazed calmly back at him.
"It appears Salu Rukal possesses some erroneous beliefs regarding the Jedi which must be addressed if Cian and I are to be successful with our mission here."
"Erroneous beliefs? Is that what you call it? I call it fanaticism."
"I take it you are at issue with Salu Rukal's religious beliefs?"
Neeshin leaned forward and stared hard at Qui-Gon.
"I have no issues with the religious caste. The military caste shares many of their beliefs, but Rukal..," Neeshin gestured angrily, "if my mother were alive she'd say Rukal stinks like a farquog."
Qui-Gon lifted his brow and glanced over at Shiro.
"It's an old saying, Master Jinn. It means Rukal may look safe on the outside, but the meat inside is rotten."
Qui-Gon nodded and turned back to Neeshin.
"I see. That remains to be seen, General."
Neeshin glared at Qui-Gon for a moment. Then he reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out a piece of paper. He waved it at Qui-Gon.
"Listen to this and you will see what kind of man you're so desperate to meet."
In a harsh, guttural voice Neeshin read.
"Sanctified are the strong; damned are the weak. Sanctified are the powerful; damned are the feeble. Sanctified are the bold; damned are the humble. Sanctified are the iron-handed; damned are the forgivers."
Neeshin laid the paper down. "There's more, but I don't think I need to read it. I found leaflets like these being distributed to my soldiers by acolytes of Rukal's. I have since forbade them from visiting my military bases."
"Yes, General Neeshin, an action which I warned you not to do," Shiro said.
Neeshin shrugged. "I shall do what I must, First Minister. I will not have that poison being spread to my troops." He looked heatedly at Shiro. "I respect you very much, Salu Shiro, but heed my warning. Rukal is a dangerous man. A very dangerous man."
Neeshin balled up the paper and threw it across the room.
"But enough talk about that walking corpse."
He reached down and pulled open another drawer in his desk. He took out a decanter and three glasses.
"Jalatan rum, Master Jinn. The soldier's drink."
He quickly poured the dark blue liquid into the glasses, stood, walked around his desk and gave Shiro and Qui-Gon a glass each.
Neeshin then sat on the corner of his desk. He lifted his glass in a toast.
"To Mistress Nyal and Sala Vati."
Neeshin quickly knocked back his rum, wiped his mouth and set the glass down on his desk with a satisfied grunt.
Qui-Gon and Shiro repeated the toast, then sipped gingerly at their drinks.
Neeshin grinned. "It's not going to bite, gentlemen."
Qui-Gon smiled slightly. The rum tasted horrible and, as he glanced over at Shiro, he could see the First Minister agreed.
"All right," Neeshin growled. "Don't kill yourselves."
He snatched the glasses from them and put them on his desk. He then poured himself another glass, drank it quickly, set it down, then eyed Qui-Gon.
"So tell me, Master Jinn," he asked grinning. "What is she like?"
"Who?"
"Mistress Nyal. What is she like?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand the question, General Neeshin."
Neeshin hunkered down, leaning close to Qui-Gon.
"Come, Master Jinn. It's just us men here. I mean, what is she like? You know?" And Neeshin quickly raised and lowered his brows.
"General Neeshin, I don't think it's proper for you to be---" Shiro said.
Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes at Neeshin. He liked the young Jalatan, but such questions about Cian made him uncomfortable.
"If you're asking me, General Neeshin," Qui-Gon said evenly, "what Cian is like as a lover, I'm afraid I can't answer that. She and I are friends only. However, if you are asking what kind of person she is, I can say I know of no finer woman and I would be most appreciative if you would show her the respect she deserves and refrain from inquiring about her in this manner."
Neeshin's eyes widened and he drew back from Qui-Gon. For a moment, Qui-Gon wondered if he had made the general angry. Then Neeshin burst out in a loud laugh, reached over and slapped Qui-Gon on the arm.
"Forgive, Master Jinn. I meant no disrespect. You are right, Mistress Nyal is a very fine woman. I apologize for my bad manners." He bowed his head. He then looked up, his eyes dancing. "But, I can't believe you would let a woman like that slip through---"
Shiro stood quickly.
"All right, General Neeshin," he said. "That is quite enough. Master Jinn and I are ready to return to my villa."
Neeshin laughed. "Fine, fine, First Minister. Forgive me for only being a man."
Neeshin walked around his desk, activated the comlink and ordered a shuttle to stand waiting to take Shiro and Qui-Gon back to the villa.
As Qui-Gon and Shiro turned to leave, Neeshin walked over and took Qui-Gon by the arm.
"Master Jinn, I am sorry. I meant no disrespect. But," and Neeshin shook his head regretfully and drew air quickly through his teeth, "with a woman like that at his side, what couldn't a man accomplish. Don't you agree?"
Qui-Gon looked down at Neeshin silently for a moment. He thought about Cian; her beauty, her compassion and her kindness.
"Yes," he agreed softly. "What couldn't a man accomplish."
Neeshin squeezed Qui-Gon's arm, then motioned for him to precede him out of the office.
---------
As the shuttle carrying Qui-Gon and Shiro back to the villa flew over the Jalatan landscape, Qui-Gon started thoughtfully out at it. He was still thinking about General Neeshin's comments regarding Cian.
He turned towards Shiro.
"Excuse me, First Minister. May I ask you a personal question?"
Shiro turned towards him smiling.
"Of course, Master Jinn."
"How long have you and Sala Vati been married?
"A year." At the look on Qui-Gon's face, Shiro laughed. "I see you are surprised, Master Jinn. We are very old, Vati and I, to be newlyweds, yes? But it is true. We married just last year."
"Did you know of her illness when you married?"
"Oh, yes. For that reason Vati initially turned down my offer of marriage. She knew she did not have long to live, but I did not care."
"Had you been married before," Qui-Gon asked.
Shiro shook his head. "I have been a public servant all my life, Master Jinn. Devoting myself to the Administrate caste, the cause of the Commoner caste, and the Jalatan people. But one day I was walking in the market and I saw this woman. Not young, or even what one would call pretty. But when I saw her, I knew. She was the one."
Qui-Gon nodded. Shiro peered up at him.
"Have you ever been married, Master Jinn?"
"No, never."
"Is it forbidden for the Jedi to do so?"
"No, but it is a hard life. Most of us choose not to burden another with the demands and sacrifices it requires."
"I do not know much about the Jedi, Master Jinn," Shiro said, "but, as far as I can see life, no matter who or what you are, is always hard; difficult, painful, unfair. It wasn't until I met Vati, however, that I also discovered life can be joyous, beautiful and fulfilling. Especially when you have someone to share it with"
Qui-Gon smiled. "You love her very much."
"Yes," Shiro said, his voice thick with passion. "More than anything. I will miss her very much when the time comes for her to pass away into the Celestial Paradise, but I will not regret the time we have had together. As short as it may prove to be."
Qui-Gon reached over and squeezed Shiro's hand. The First Minister looked back at him, his dark orange eyes misty. Then he smiled.
"I hope, Master Jinn, that someday you will find what I have found. And when you do, I hope your time with her will be as sweet as mine has been with Vati."
"I do not think that is destined for me, First Minister," Qui-Gon said quietly, "but I thank you for your kind thoughts."
Qui-Gon removed his hand from Shiro's. He turned and gazed out at the passing landscape.
To be continued....