Chapter Twenty-four
Kahl'aan stared downward at the long silver blade of the dagger that was threatening to rip his throat out. Behind it were the enraged dark eyes of Graa'nak T'naa'lichi, one of the most feared and respected bounty hunters in the galaxy. Kahl'aan knew that Graa'nak didn't take kindly to anyone who was unlucky enough to get in his way, especially when he was drinking, and especially those with the last name of Narundi.
"Think you're pretty smart, tripping me like that? Well allow me to return the favor!" Graa'nak snarled, delivering a powerful punch to Kahl'aan's stomach and following it right away with a roundhouse punch to the eye. Kahl'aan saw stars as his entire body tingled from the pain. He felt the warm wetness of blood pour down his face from a wound next to his eye. From out of his other non-bloody eye he could see Graa'nak pulling back his fist for another attack. He cringed, waiting for more pain in addition to the agony he was currently experiencing. He was surprised when he saw another hand reach out and hold back Graa'nak's arm.
"Get your hands off my brother, or you're going to wish you were never born!" Noaa'lan growled as he pinned the still surprised Graa'nak against the wall.
"You have no idea what you're messing with, boy!" Graa'nak bellowed as he broke free from Noaa'lan's restraint. Noaa'lan could smell the alcohol that was thick on his breath. "I'll beat you down just like your foolish brother!"
"It was an accident, he didn't mean to trip you!" Noaa'lan said, his voice calmer. "Now, just leave him alone!"
Graa'nak drew his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. Its blade cast a warm orange glow over the crowd of stunned onlookers. Noaa'lan knew he had no choice but to defend himself with his own blade. Graa'nak surely wouldn't show him any mercy. The room stood still as death as the hum of Noaa'lan's blue blade echoed through the chamber and then clashed loudly with Graa'nak's orange blade in a blinding array of sparks. Noaa'lan parried Graa'nak's attack and then drove him backward with an attack of his own.
'I have to be totally nuts!' Thought Noaa'lan as he continued to battle with the older bounty hunter. Graa'nak had the same T'naa'lichi fighting style as he had seen J'aa'nalia battle K'aashi with. He moved with remarkable grace, never wasting motion or energy. His fluid movements were those of a jedi master, something that Noaa'lan knew he was not.
"Enough of these games," Graa'nak said with a sneer. "It's time I teach you a lesson!"
He thrust out his blade and stabbed Noaa'lan in the side. Noaa'lan crumpled from the pain and found himself sprawled out on the floor. He brought his blade up in defense, praying that Graa'nak would lose interest and let him live. Noaa'lan's eyes widened as Graa'nak drew up his blade for the killing blow.
Noaa'lan heard a loud clash as Graa'nak's blade was stopped in mid-air by another lightsaber. He looked up, stunned to find out that it wasn't his father but R'aa'nlan T'naa'lichi who had come to his rescue.
"What in El'aanus' name do you think you're doing, Graa'nak?" R'aa'nlan cried in outrage. "I thought you had better judgment than to assault the crown prince at a Narundi diplomatic ball! All this just because his brother tripped you by accident?"
"But, but Uncle R'aa'nlan. . ." Stammered Graa'nak.
"No buts. He did the honorable thing by coming to his brother's defense. What you did was less than honorable!" R'aa'nlan said sternly. "That's it, we're leaving!"
"Noaa'lan, what happened?" Cried J'aa'nalia as she suddenly burst from the crowd.
"You're telling me you witnessed none of your cousin's lovely scene?" Noaa'lan asked, clutching his wounded side.
"No, I was outside in the foyer and I came in when I heard lightsabers clashing!" J'aa'nalia cried in panic. "Did he attack you? You're bleeding!"
"Lets just say it was lucky your father interfered, or else I wouldn't be here anymore," Noaa'lan said softly, bending over in pain from his wound. "Tell him that I'm grateful for what he did for me."
"Noaa'lan, we need to get you some medical attention!" J'aa'nalia insisted, still alarmed.
"J'aa'nie! We've out-stayed our welcome," R'aa'nlan called to his daughter. "Come on, we're going now."
J'aa'nalia reluctantly obeyed her father's orders, following her father and cousin to the exit of the hall. On the way they ran into the king, who wore an angry scowl on his face.
"R'aa'nlan!" Cel'aanaeus barked. "You tell the rest of your family that whatever problems that exist between our families should be between you and me! Leave my sons out of this!"
"Narundi, as much as I don't like you, I'm terribly sorry about what happened here tonight. Tell your boys I'm sorry that someone couldn't keep his temper in check for just one night," R'aa'nlan said, elbowing Graa'nak harshly in the ribs. "Now, I think it's best that we leave this celebration. I can assure you this will never happen again."
Cel'aanaeus' expression softened, and he gave R'aa'nlan a nod of agreement. He ran off for a second to get their cloaks and then courteously escorted them out the door. Cel'aanaeus turned around to face his guests. He wanted nothing more than for this party to be over, so he could tend to his sons. However, his duty was that of a gracious host, and the party was far from over. He forced a smile to reassure the crowd that all was well once again.
"What are you all waiting for? This party is just getting started!" Cel'aanaeus said in a cheerful tone. The crowd seemed to listen to him, and before long things were back to the constant din of people having a good time.
"How is he?" Cel'aanaeus asked his wife who was kneeling over Noaa'lan, trying to heal the gaping wound in his side.
"His color doesn't look good," Bel'aanaea said softly. "Cel'aanaeus, I think he might be going into shock. We need to get him to the hospital."
Noaa'lan fought to stay awake through it all. His side burned with pain and he realized that the slash K'aashi had given him in practice was merely a scratch compared to the wound Graa'nak had just inflicted upon him. He tapped into the force to put himself into a healing trance, turning off almost all of his senses so he could focus his internal energies on healing his body.
"Is he okay?" Kahl'aan asked, kneeling over his brother. Blood still oozed from a compound fracture of his cheekbone. It was beginning to swell and turn purple around the cut. "Mother, Father, I'm so sorry about this! All of this is my fault! If I would have just been looking where I was going, none of this would have happened!"
"Kahl'aan, this is not your fault, Graa'nak is the one to blame for this. You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, and your brother was just doing what any older brother would do when his little brother is in danger," Bel'aanaea said softly, embracing her younger son. "Your brother is going to be just fine, he's just in a healing trance right now. We're going to take him to the hospital where jedi healers can do a better job with healing his wound."
Tears sprang from Kahl'aan's eyes as he watched his brother lying there motionless. Noaa'lan only exhibited very small signs of life, and it was like seeing him dead. His mother held him closer and stroked his hair gently.
"You look pretty banged up yourself," Cel'aanaeus said to his son, who managed a small smile in return. "Lets get you down to see the medic as well."
Cel'aanaeus carefully picked Noaa'lan up and carried him out of the great hall and down the back stairs. Bel'aanaea, Kahl'aan, and K'aashi all followed behind as they made their way to the academy's health center.
"Well, this party sure went well," K'aashi muttered sarcastically.
"Ha, you said it!" Kahl'aan said, grinning.
"What I'm wondering is where all the royal security was when all this was happening!" K'aashi exclaimed.
"They were probably all drunk!" Kahl'aan laughed.
"Cut it out, you two." Cel'aanaeus said sternly, casting them a warning glance. Both boys quieted down immediately, not uttering another word until they reached the hospital.
"Honestly Graa'nak, what were you thinking out there?" R'aa'nlan yelled harshly at his nephew. "You nearly killed the crown prince, and I'm sure you know what the price is on the head of a person who does that!"
"He was drunk again," J'aa'nalia muttered dully. "You know he gets that way when he drinks."
"When did he even have time to drink? We were barely there for an hour!" R'aa'nlan exclaimed.
"Hello, stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Graa'nak growled. "They had some strong shots. I had quite a few."
"Well, I'm not taking you anywhere from now on, mister!" R'aa'nlan growled back. "You can just drink to your heart's content right at home!"
"So, father, you actually stepped in and prevented Graa'nak's blade from striking Noaa'lan?" J'aa'nalia asked hopefully.
"Of course I did! Do you think I'm going to allow my nephew to get himself into that much trouble?"
"No, of course not. I just thought. . ." She said and then trailed off.
"You thought what?" R'aa'nlan asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Never mind," J'aa'nalia said, her cheeks flushing.
The three kept on walking for a while, none of them speaking. The silence inside J'aa'nalia's head was broken by her father's voice.
II know, about the things that have been going on between you two./I
IHow?/I She answered back.
IIt wasn't difficult to figure out./I He stated coldly. II forbid you to associate with him. No daughter of mine is going to date a Narundi./I
ISo that's it, huh? Instead of being with the man I love I'm stuck marrying my alcoholic cousin?/I She asked curtly. II'm so glad you care so much about your youngest daughter and her welfare! /I
IAnyone is better than a Narundi. Maybe when you're older you'll understand why I'm saying this. It's for your own good. This discussion is over./I
J'aa'nalia felt her spirits sink as her father's mind snapped down and closed her out. She feared she could never get through to him. If in the end she couldn't, she'd be stuck marrying the abusive man who had attacked two other people in a drunken rage. Who knew how many people he'd killed during his years working as a bounty hunter. Killing people was second nature to Graa'nak, and J'aa'nalia wondered how he ever managed to stay away from the dark side of the force, given his job and his temper. J'aa'nalia shuddered as a vision of a bleak future crossed her mind, one of pain and suffering at the hands of Graa'nak. She prayed that somehow it might not come true.
Kahl'aan stared downward at the long silver blade of the dagger that was threatening to rip his throat out. Behind it were the enraged dark eyes of Graa'nak T'naa'lichi, one of the most feared and respected bounty hunters in the galaxy. Kahl'aan knew that Graa'nak didn't take kindly to anyone who was unlucky enough to get in his way, especially when he was drinking, and especially those with the last name of Narundi.
"Think you're pretty smart, tripping me like that? Well allow me to return the favor!" Graa'nak snarled, delivering a powerful punch to Kahl'aan's stomach and following it right away with a roundhouse punch to the eye. Kahl'aan saw stars as his entire body tingled from the pain. He felt the warm wetness of blood pour down his face from a wound next to his eye. From out of his other non-bloody eye he could see Graa'nak pulling back his fist for another attack. He cringed, waiting for more pain in addition to the agony he was currently experiencing. He was surprised when he saw another hand reach out and hold back Graa'nak's arm.
"Get your hands off my brother, or you're going to wish you were never born!" Noaa'lan growled as he pinned the still surprised Graa'nak against the wall.
"You have no idea what you're messing with, boy!" Graa'nak bellowed as he broke free from Noaa'lan's restraint. Noaa'lan could smell the alcohol that was thick on his breath. "I'll beat you down just like your foolish brother!"
"It was an accident, he didn't mean to trip you!" Noaa'lan said, his voice calmer. "Now, just leave him alone!"
Graa'nak drew his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it. Its blade cast a warm orange glow over the crowd of stunned onlookers. Noaa'lan knew he had no choice but to defend himself with his own blade. Graa'nak surely wouldn't show him any mercy. The room stood still as death as the hum of Noaa'lan's blue blade echoed through the chamber and then clashed loudly with Graa'nak's orange blade in a blinding array of sparks. Noaa'lan parried Graa'nak's attack and then drove him backward with an attack of his own.
'I have to be totally nuts!' Thought Noaa'lan as he continued to battle with the older bounty hunter. Graa'nak had the same T'naa'lichi fighting style as he had seen J'aa'nalia battle K'aashi with. He moved with remarkable grace, never wasting motion or energy. His fluid movements were those of a jedi master, something that Noaa'lan knew he was not.
"Enough of these games," Graa'nak said with a sneer. "It's time I teach you a lesson!"
He thrust out his blade and stabbed Noaa'lan in the side. Noaa'lan crumpled from the pain and found himself sprawled out on the floor. He brought his blade up in defense, praying that Graa'nak would lose interest and let him live. Noaa'lan's eyes widened as Graa'nak drew up his blade for the killing blow.
Noaa'lan heard a loud clash as Graa'nak's blade was stopped in mid-air by another lightsaber. He looked up, stunned to find out that it wasn't his father but R'aa'nlan T'naa'lichi who had come to his rescue.
"What in El'aanus' name do you think you're doing, Graa'nak?" R'aa'nlan cried in outrage. "I thought you had better judgment than to assault the crown prince at a Narundi diplomatic ball! All this just because his brother tripped you by accident?"
"But, but Uncle R'aa'nlan. . ." Stammered Graa'nak.
"No buts. He did the honorable thing by coming to his brother's defense. What you did was less than honorable!" R'aa'nlan said sternly. "That's it, we're leaving!"
"Noaa'lan, what happened?" Cried J'aa'nalia as she suddenly burst from the crowd.
"You're telling me you witnessed none of your cousin's lovely scene?" Noaa'lan asked, clutching his wounded side.
"No, I was outside in the foyer and I came in when I heard lightsabers clashing!" J'aa'nalia cried in panic. "Did he attack you? You're bleeding!"
"Lets just say it was lucky your father interfered, or else I wouldn't be here anymore," Noaa'lan said softly, bending over in pain from his wound. "Tell him that I'm grateful for what he did for me."
"Noaa'lan, we need to get you some medical attention!" J'aa'nalia insisted, still alarmed.
"J'aa'nie! We've out-stayed our welcome," R'aa'nlan called to his daughter. "Come on, we're going now."
J'aa'nalia reluctantly obeyed her father's orders, following her father and cousin to the exit of the hall. On the way they ran into the king, who wore an angry scowl on his face.
"R'aa'nlan!" Cel'aanaeus barked. "You tell the rest of your family that whatever problems that exist between our families should be between you and me! Leave my sons out of this!"
"Narundi, as much as I don't like you, I'm terribly sorry about what happened here tonight. Tell your boys I'm sorry that someone couldn't keep his temper in check for just one night," R'aa'nlan said, elbowing Graa'nak harshly in the ribs. "Now, I think it's best that we leave this celebration. I can assure you this will never happen again."
Cel'aanaeus' expression softened, and he gave R'aa'nlan a nod of agreement. He ran off for a second to get their cloaks and then courteously escorted them out the door. Cel'aanaeus turned around to face his guests. He wanted nothing more than for this party to be over, so he could tend to his sons. However, his duty was that of a gracious host, and the party was far from over. He forced a smile to reassure the crowd that all was well once again.
"What are you all waiting for? This party is just getting started!" Cel'aanaeus said in a cheerful tone. The crowd seemed to listen to him, and before long things were back to the constant din of people having a good time.
"How is he?" Cel'aanaeus asked his wife who was kneeling over Noaa'lan, trying to heal the gaping wound in his side.
"His color doesn't look good," Bel'aanaea said softly. "Cel'aanaeus, I think he might be going into shock. We need to get him to the hospital."
Noaa'lan fought to stay awake through it all. His side burned with pain and he realized that the slash K'aashi had given him in practice was merely a scratch compared to the wound Graa'nak had just inflicted upon him. He tapped into the force to put himself into a healing trance, turning off almost all of his senses so he could focus his internal energies on healing his body.
"Is he okay?" Kahl'aan asked, kneeling over his brother. Blood still oozed from a compound fracture of his cheekbone. It was beginning to swell and turn purple around the cut. "Mother, Father, I'm so sorry about this! All of this is my fault! If I would have just been looking where I was going, none of this would have happened!"
"Kahl'aan, this is not your fault, Graa'nak is the one to blame for this. You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, and your brother was just doing what any older brother would do when his little brother is in danger," Bel'aanaea said softly, embracing her younger son. "Your brother is going to be just fine, he's just in a healing trance right now. We're going to take him to the hospital where jedi healers can do a better job with healing his wound."
Tears sprang from Kahl'aan's eyes as he watched his brother lying there motionless. Noaa'lan only exhibited very small signs of life, and it was like seeing him dead. His mother held him closer and stroked his hair gently.
"You look pretty banged up yourself," Cel'aanaeus said to his son, who managed a small smile in return. "Lets get you down to see the medic as well."
Cel'aanaeus carefully picked Noaa'lan up and carried him out of the great hall and down the back stairs. Bel'aanaea, Kahl'aan, and K'aashi all followed behind as they made their way to the academy's health center.
"Well, this party sure went well," K'aashi muttered sarcastically.
"Ha, you said it!" Kahl'aan said, grinning.
"What I'm wondering is where all the royal security was when all this was happening!" K'aashi exclaimed.
"They were probably all drunk!" Kahl'aan laughed.
"Cut it out, you two." Cel'aanaeus said sternly, casting them a warning glance. Both boys quieted down immediately, not uttering another word until they reached the hospital.
"Honestly Graa'nak, what were you thinking out there?" R'aa'nlan yelled harshly at his nephew. "You nearly killed the crown prince, and I'm sure you know what the price is on the head of a person who does that!"
"He was drunk again," J'aa'nalia muttered dully. "You know he gets that way when he drinks."
"When did he even have time to drink? We were barely there for an hour!" R'aa'nlan exclaimed.
"Hello, stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Graa'nak growled. "They had some strong shots. I had quite a few."
"Well, I'm not taking you anywhere from now on, mister!" R'aa'nlan growled back. "You can just drink to your heart's content right at home!"
"So, father, you actually stepped in and prevented Graa'nak's blade from striking Noaa'lan?" J'aa'nalia asked hopefully.
"Of course I did! Do you think I'm going to allow my nephew to get himself into that much trouble?"
"No, of course not. I just thought. . ." She said and then trailed off.
"You thought what?" R'aa'nlan asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Never mind," J'aa'nalia said, her cheeks flushing.
The three kept on walking for a while, none of them speaking. The silence inside J'aa'nalia's head was broken by her father's voice.
II know, about the things that have been going on between you two./I
IHow?/I She answered back.
IIt wasn't difficult to figure out./I He stated coldly. II forbid you to associate with him. No daughter of mine is going to date a Narundi./I
ISo that's it, huh? Instead of being with the man I love I'm stuck marrying my alcoholic cousin?/I She asked curtly. II'm so glad you care so much about your youngest daughter and her welfare! /I
IAnyone is better than a Narundi. Maybe when you're older you'll understand why I'm saying this. It's for your own good. This discussion is over./I
J'aa'nalia felt her spirits sink as her father's mind snapped down and closed her out. She feared she could never get through to him. If in the end she couldn't, she'd be stuck marrying the abusive man who had attacked two other people in a drunken rage. Who knew how many people he'd killed during his years working as a bounty hunter. Killing people was second nature to Graa'nak, and J'aa'nalia wondered how he ever managed to stay away from the dark side of the force, given his job and his temper. J'aa'nalia shuddered as a vision of a bleak future crossed her mind, one of pain and suffering at the hands of Graa'nak. She prayed that somehow it might not come true.
