Rancor Slam
Part 15
"Of Course. Let's see…The Council of Masters wishes to see you, something about advances in rank."
"Hmm." Her eyes half lidded. None of her apprentices were where she wanted them before she had them advanced any further. "Schedule them at Five. And No more meetings after that, that should be your six meetings. Right, Dec?"
"Yes, Milady."
"Good. I want to go to my office by six and see what is going on. But don't tell them, or officially log it until it's over. I want to make sure their all working as they should."
"Yes, Milady." They turned long, dead-end street that ended in her home. "Master Kyl wanted to see you about taking on Lyn as another apprentice."
"I'll meet her at my office tomorrow."
"Umm…She's waiting in the Round Room, now."
"Or I'll see her now. Dec, I want to be home tomorrow at no later then Seven. Have the kitchen staff prepare the meal for tomorrow accordingly."
"Yes, Milady."
"I'll spend at least two hours after that with my Padawans, then its lights out. Dueling practice, tomorrow, at dawn. They can go back to bed afterwards."
"Yes Milady."
"Is that fine?"
"Yes, that's Dueling at Dawn. Then back to bed until eight. You're first meeting with the Council of Training at ten. The 'Social Senate' at Eleven and the Higher Council at noon. Then an hour lunch back at home, starting at one. Followed by a meeting with the Circle of Balance at two. The Council of Life will see you at three. After that a meeting with the Council of Defense at four. Your last meeting will be with the Council of Masters at five. Then to your office for a, say, thirty minute inspection. Absolutely last, home, dinner, training, and bed."
"Thank you, Dec."
They reached the Main gate to the Compound. She looked through the ornamental gate at her family home. Calling this place a house would be like calling the Jedi Library a data cache.
The place was huge. They had their own River-fed Lake, deep enough, in some places, for Rancor swimming. And was filled with its own living creatures, some big enough to feed a full-grown Rancor.
And her room was on the third floor, with a staircase going straight down to a private cove. The cove had its own pier, where Cas kept a Kayak for when she was home and wanted exercise or to go out to on of the islands where she could be alone.
"Oh," She snapped her fingers as a thought came to her. "All Padawans over the age of nine will be running no less than eight kilometers tomorrow at eight."
They knew that running from east to west in a semi-circle along the gate would provide her Padawans their 8-klik run. She also knew most of the time they went a head and went the whole way around to the lake, to cool off. "Either before or after breakfast. I don't care, let them vote amongst themselves."
"At Ten, they will then report to Small Island Military Training Base, to Drill Master Kid." She smiled this would be the first time Nii meet Master Kid. Well, the first time for Lyn too.
"They will do Physical Training until he releases them for lunch. At three, all my Padawans will report to the Main Jedi Library. There Master Nel'kri will give talk to them about some event in Jedi History."
"Dec, I want you to tell Master Kid and Master Nel'kri, that they are to prepare for my Padawans at those times. Once their schedules are confirmed and they tell you what they are planning."
"I, then, want you to print a hard copy of their schedule and give it to the Governess. She is to make sure they make follow it, even if she has to run with them."
"I will pass the message along, what about the Witches?"
"Um, If their well enough tell them about the Padawans exercising. Also tell them that if they want to join the War effort training with the Padawans would make it easier to find them Masters to learn the Force with."
"Of Course, madam. And Governess Mere'chen wants to talk to you about her eldest Son. The Training Council says he's showing enough potential and she wants to know about his training."
"Sure I'll speak with her…after dinner."
"But before dinner your getting married."
Her eyes widened. She forgot that again!
"Ah, fine, she and Jak will be helping me get ready, we'll speak then."
"Master Kyl is, still, waiting in the Round Room."
"Ah!" She took a deep, calming breath. Why were things getting so nuts? "Fine, send her to my dressing room. Masters traditionally help in their Padawans' weddings anyway. We'll all talk while I get ready."
She slid off the Rancor and started hobble-walking up the stairs, toward the door. "And have Mrs. Mere'chen send Lyn up to me in the study as soon as possible. And assign Lyn a room, I trust her to have kept the records about our open rooms."
Truth was Mrs. Mere'chan was more than a Governess. She was one of the few non-Jedi that had married a Jedi. Once a Jedi married and non-Jedi they, more often then not, were shunned. Much like Cas was.
The fact that Mrs. Mere'chen had been a slave-trading pirate before marrying Knight Rik Mere'chen, didn't help much either.
They had come to Cas because their Union had been shunned by even the most caring and open of the Houses and the shunned-one's attitude was usually 'one for all and all for one'.
They had needed work and Cas had needed a couple to run her household while she was away. Thus, Cas had taken them in and it had been one of the best decisions of her life.
She opened the front door to her home and saw all her Padawans and Guards standing there, on the entry landing. They greeted her warmly, with hugs and greetings. But it didn't last long. Ten minutes after Cas's Arrival, Governess Mere'chen showed up and sent everyone on to their respective chores, to get Cas's wedding up and ready.
"Aye, my girl," The older woman said as she began escorting Cas up the Stairs and away from Kir and the others. Lyn following silently. "You didn't give us much warning. You will be married by sun down, but new robes are sparing."
"I was thinking you might wear you Senatorial White robes." Cas nodded, that was fine. Senatorial Robes for women were more like flowing white formals anyway.
"All the Padawans, even Lyn, have rooms prepared along Padawan hall." Padawan Hall was what they called the smaller Northern Wing redesigned specially, by Cas's House Crew once she was deemed to a future Training-Master.
"All of the Eastern and half of the Western Wings have Dathomirian Witches roomed with their slaves" The older woman looked at Cas, "and belongings. We are having a large Shelter constructed near the deepest part of the Lake for the Rancors to habituate should they so choose."
"Now," They reached the Second Floor Landing on the Main Stair Well and Stopped. "I understand that you are getting Married this night. And that you are going to be talking with your old Master about your new Padawan. And that you are simultaneously training Padawans, Running the Politics' Office, and fighting a War."
The lady smiled. "But I would most appreciate it if you would consider training my sons when, in a few years, the oldest one is of age enough to leave the Youngling Barracks and gain a Master. I would love to say my Master is my sons' Master."
Cas smiled. "I would love to teach your children. And, if it can be arranged I would be proud to do so."
They continued up the stairs. "Oh," She looked at the Governess as they walked. "Dec is going to give you a schedule for my Padawans, for tomorrow. Would you tell Dec to pick up travel lessons, in all subjects, for the Padawans, at their respective levels? Say six months of lessons?"
"Also, remind him to turn in the Holochrons I have, that I use to train them and to pick up a few new ones. A few training and a few for personal review."
"My, you keep that poor droid so busy-"
She smiled. "Tell him, that if he wants, he can pick himself a counter part. Someone to do the tedious recordings and things, or run errands, or whatever. Some nice droid girl, or whatever, to help him and render aid…"
"-Yes ma'am, but you aren't going back to work tomorrow are you?"
Cas nodded, looking at the woman, wondering what she was going to say.
"But you can't, my girl! Aren't you going to get to know that amazing man, whom you are going be calling a husband soon?"
Cas looked at the woman a moment. "I need to get ready." Her tone was a little cold, but very steady. "Now."
Mere'chen looked at her a moment longer. "Aye, milady."