AN: Jess, you now win the award of MFR, Most Faithful Reviewer! Thanks for all the feedback my friend!

Chapter Nine: Dinner with the Devil

Tenel Ka started to get up and run towards the race track, wanting to congratulate Jacen on his win. She also wanted to see if he would continue the tradition he had of kissing her after every race, and that was the real issue, wasn't it? However, as she stood and started towards the turbolift, Kanortine's guards moved to block her way and Kanortine put his hand warningly on her shoulder. Tenel Ka whirled to face him, her muscles tense and posed threateningly towards him. If he tried anything like that again… well, Kanortine wouldn't only have Jacen to deal with.

"Relax Princess," Kanortine drawled in his silky tone, then crossed his arms over his chest in satisfaction, "Jacen will be taken to his cell now, he's a security risk. After three wins some of the other contestants are sure to be getting a bit testy. They might try to jump him and eliminate the competition."

Tenel Ka nodded stonily, refusing to speak to him, her body still poised to fight.

"You will join me for dinner now," Kanortine said in a voice that didn't invite argument or disagreement.

Tenel Ka ignored the warning.

"No," she said without expression, her mouth in a straight firm line and her chin lifted as befitted Hapan royalty.

Kanortine glanced at her and raised an eyebrow at her defiance. He turned fully to look at her this time, giving his full attention to her for a moment as if to judge the depth of the situation. He smirked, the left corner of his mouth stretching towards his ear in a coy, unimpressed manner.

"No?" he repeated slowly, drawing his words out, "What a shame. It would be so bad if Jacen Solo's next racing vehicle suddenly developed a glitch or otherwise, don't you agree?"

Tenel Ka's hackles rose, a sense of injustice stealing over her. She had to submit this time, to keep Jacen safe. She calmed herself with a Jedi exercise, and then nodded her head deliberately, "I will attend dinner with you."

"I'm so glad we understand each other Princess."

Tenel Ka was still feeling angry by the time she returned to her room in the palace. The blond-haired female assistant, Moneeq, that Kanortine had provided to ensure that Tenel Ka's hair and make-up were always immaculately done was standing by the closet, her bag over her arm and a sympathetic look on her face. Tenel Ka resisted the urge to glare at her. She was a warrior, and as tight of spot as she was in, she didn't appreciate pity. At the same time, she knew the woman was only trying to be nice.

Moneeq cleared her throat mildly and gestured with one finely manicured hand to the closet that held a variety of elegant dresses. Apparently, Tenel Ka was expected to exchange the green dress for her dinner occasion.

Tenel Ka closed her eyes and braced herself, not looking forward to the unfamiliar cloth and scratchy jewels that rubbed and irritated her skin. Her lizard hide armour, which she wore even under her black Jedi robes, would always be her preference.

"Here," said Moneeq, opening the wardrobe, "Try this one. It will look great with your hair, and bring out your eyes."

The dress she held was almost plain in comparison with the other two she'd recently worn, only a dark navy without decoration. It wasn't until Tenel Ka picked it out of Moneeq's arms and held it up that she realized the beauty of the dress was in its elegant cut and graceful lines. Tenel Ka slipped into it while Moneeq turned away, and was actually impressed by the attractiveness of the dress. The front of the dress was conservative enough, and the straps didn't attach at the back of the neck like the other two dresses she'd worn, but went straight over her shoulders. The straps were thin, about the width of a finger, and the back of the dress left only her shoulders bare. The bottom was full and long, making a graceful train at the back. The material was sleek and velvety to the touch.

"I like it," Tenel Ka admitted, fingering the smooth fabric.

Moneeq smiled and proceeded to make other changes in Tenel Ka's appearance. Her hair was curled and parts of it were held up in diamond clips, making her glitter. Tenel Ka endured the treatment with growing impatience. The exercise reminded her too much of visiting Hapes, where she was always dressed up to attend the royal court.

As Tenel Ka was swiftly walked toward Kanortine's chambers, she tried to organize her thoughts into some kind of pattern. The biggest of her worries was Jacen, but she knew he could manage on his own and she felt no pain of his through the Force. The next problem was Kanortine. Up until this point, he had been menacing, but distant. Now he requested her presence and Tenel Ka was at a loss as to what he could want with her. She wondered why Kanortine didn't just hold her and demand a ransom while Jacen risked his life. Maybe he already had and Tenel Ka didn't know about it. She kept wondering what the mysterious king was playing at. He seemed to like showing her off like a piece of jewellry, but he hadn't threatened her directly and he hadn't tried any stunts expected from male captors. The whole situation reminded her greatly of time spent on Hapes, and Kanortine shared many similarities to her grandmother. At least that would give Tenel Ka a level playing field. Just like the games that she'd played with Ta' Chume, she could dodge questions and maneuver her way out of direct confrontations with Kanortine. He might be deceitful and sly, but no one could match Ta' Chume in that game, and Tenel Ka had been holding her own for years. She walked into the extravagantly decorated dining room feeling confident in her abilities.

Kanortine stood with a bow, which Tenel Ka returned stiffly, and then sat down in the chair that Kanortine pulled out for her. He started to push it in, but Tenel Ka grabbed the edge and moved it herself. Kanortine only shrugged and seat himself across from her.

"Good afternoon Princess," he greeted suavely, "I see Moneeq fulfilled her job expertly as usual."

"She does her job optimally," Tenel Ka said in an expressionless voice, as a servant poured her wine. She ignored it and drank the glass of water.

"Yes, that dress compliments your hair and eyes wonderfully," smiled Kanortine, picking up the wine and sipping it.

Tenel Ka had expected this move and only replied indifferently, "She said it would."

They did not speak for a moment as the servants served an appetizer, a small, artistically arranged plate of vegetables. Tenel Ka ate a bit of it before Kanortine spoke again.

"Are you worried about your friend Princess? Unsure of whether he will win, or even survive the next race?"

Tenel Ka was caught slightly off guard, but she was so unaccustomed to letting expression show on her face that she doubted Kanortine realized her dilemma.

"Of course I am worried for Jacen, he is a very dear friend," Tenel Ka said, allowing an edge to creep into her voice. What was Kanortine working towards? Some kind of bargain? She waited suspiciously.

Kanortine leaned back slightly in his seat, seemingly pleased with her answer. She sensed that she'd been baited and given him the answer he was looking for.

"Only a friend Princess?" Kanortine questioned, raising a pierced eyebrow, "He appears to be more than that to you."

"He is. But he is a friend first and foremost," Tenel Ka said bluntly.

Kanortine looked even more satisfied and looked ready to go in for the kill.

"But you are lovers," Kanortine smirked.

Tenel Ka glared daggers at him.

"We have never been lovers," she scowled, glowering at him and clenching her fist.

"Really?" Kanortine seemed amused, "Yet you are in love, are you not?"

Tenel Ka was so surprised by this line of conversation that she had no reply. It was strange, she had been asking herself the same thing lately and had been perplexed at her own emotions. She'd been tried to hide it from herself, she realized. Everything about Jacen, the way he looked at her, the way he acted around her, the way he talked to her, the way he listened, the way he held her hand, especially the way he kissed her all let her know that he truly loved her. She knew she felt the same way, she was just a little hesitant to show it, to herself and to him, at the moment. But what did Kanortine care about the emotions and drama of two teenagers, unless he was counting explicitly on Jacen losing the race and keeping Tenel Ka here? She was confused, so she risked asking him about his intentions.

"Why is it your concern? Does Jacen's feelings interfere with some plan of yours?" she inquired in a demanding tone.

To her continued puzzlement, Kanortine threw back his head and laughed amusedly. Tenel Ka sat with an extremely disconcerted look on her face. This pirate was playing games with her that she no longer knew the rules too. He was treading into personal territory, not following the expected path.

"Princess, I am only wondering what your intentions for the future of your relationship are. I suspect that you do not wish to inherit the throne of Hapes, but what choice do you have and what place would Jacen Solo have in a life like that? I cannot picture one of his character being at ease in a royal court," Kanortine surmised.

"His mother is the Chief of State of the New Republic, and formerly a princess of Alderaan," Tenel Ka replied indignantly. She worked against the doubts that had been planted in her head. Kanortine had unsettled her slightly, bringing to mind questions that would eventually need answering that she didn't want to face right now, especially with him.

"Yes, but he is a Jedi, and that is a different matter entirely," Kanortine said in a confident, sly voice.

Tenel Ka's back straightened and she glared at him.

"I am also a Jedi, and I will choose the path that feels right," Tenel Ka said, repeating a promise she'd made to herself long ago, after the accident with her lightsaber.

Kanortine made a clicking sound with his tongue and shook his head dramatically.

"You are so naïve Princess," he said with scorn to her, "There is so much about the inner workings of the galaxy that you do not understand and may never understand within your royal, sheltered life."

Glaring at Kanortine with fire in her eyes, Tenel Ka bristled at his remarks.

"I have had attempts on my life from the time I was three years old. I have fought men to the death and endured torture and hardships since my Jedi training began. I am not naïve."

Kanortine narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, his voice coming softer and more venemous now.

"You have no clue what it's like to be an average person. You have no idea what it takes to start with nothing and make something out of it. You don't understand the struggle of everyday life," Kanortine said.

Tenel Ka thought that was rather rich, coming from a self-proclaimed King, but she supposed that he knew what he was talking about, that he hadn't always been rich or powerful.

"What do you want Kanortine?" Tenel Ka asked, her voice calm and unimpressed.

Kanortine's face broke into a smirk and he picked up his fork to begin the next course of the meal.

"What I want," he answered simply, with finality, "Is entertainment and amusement and beautiful things to observe for the rest of my time."

Tenel Ka tilted her head, surprised at his answer. She supposed that was his motive for keeping her here. She was some piece of exotic art that he wanted for his collection. He had no real interest in her as a person or as a pawn for money, she was merely another bauble to be admired and increase his status. There was relief for her in this realization, but also a sense of insignificance, a sense of being a very tiny speck in the fabric that was the universe.

And with that thought, dinner was continued in silence.