"Oh God" Kyia whispered. She splashed water on her face from one of the pools in garden and wiped it off on her sleeve. She knew that if Anice saw her before she had recovered her poise that she would see right through her the instant she stepped back into the room." Okay" Kyia took a deep breath and went back to her room.
Anice was already there cleaning up.
"You don't have to do that" She started to help her.
"You escaped early"
Kyia nodded and sat down on the bed. "Remember the Corellian we bumped into on Alderaan?"
"The trader who thinks he's royalty?"
"You mean smuggler. It seems someone lost a sabacc game and never guess what the prize was."
Anice opened the wardrobe and began putting clothes away. "Oh, no"
"Anyway he got rolling drunk on the berry wine so I retreated hastily." The Quelena shrugged and stood, taking the clothes from Anice and putting them in the wardrobe herself.
"And…" Anice prompted
"And what?" Kyia looked at her feigning puzzlement. "That's it. I came here."
The older Elphoran put the last dress in its place and put her hands on her hips. "I know that look Kyia"
Kyia turned away and went back to the bed wondering how she was going to bluff her way out of this one. Sometimes it was a pain belonging to race of psychics. "It's my 'I'm tired and I want to sleep off a dull night look'".
"What happened?" Anice crossed her arms, and then as if something dawned on her she glanced at the Quelena suspiciously. "Did you see Obi Wan Kenobi?"
At that point Kyia knew she'd been caught. She looked down at her lap, knowing now her face was burning. She felt like she'd had her hand caught in the sweetener receptacle. "Yes."
Anice placed her hands on her face. "Kyia"
"How the Sith did you know!" She exclaimed suddenly
Anice shrugged nonchalantly. "It was written all over your face when you walked in. Soon as you stood next to me I could tell. Besides you never could lie to me."
Kyia straightened herself up on the bed "I'd love to see your midichlorian count one of these days."
"You're avoiding the issue." She corrected harshly.
Kyia crossed her arms, "There is no issue. Besides it was you who was encouraging me"
"I thought it was just a hormonal crush. I didn't think you'd do anything."
"I didn't, we didn't" She sprung up, slightly annoyed. "It was just a moment, that's all. I know, I have duties, loyalties etcetera; you don't have to lecture me. Now I'm tired, I'd like to sleep, thank you."
Anice realised she touched a nerve; slowly she exited the room. Kyia put her head in her hands trying to stay angry but she found a smile reaching her lips, she tried to erase it as she was trying to erase the kiss from her memory, but stubbornly they both stayed where they were.
Obi Wan paced intensely up and down while Anakin slept soundly in the next room.
"What in Corellia's moons had possessed me?" He uttered in a hushed curse. The Jedi took a deep breath to regain his focus but only succeeded in spreading a boyish grin across his face. Obi Wan scalded himself and removed it quickly. He was a grown man and a Jedi; he would not be a victim to his hormones, because undoubtedly that was all it had to be. He had devoted his life to the order. Kyia was lively, intelligent and beautiful; it was not hard to be attracted to her, which was all it had to be. He wiped the sweat off his forehead wanting the Force to open up and swallow him.
There was a knock at the door. Kyia put away the datacard she was reading to lull her to sleep. She ran her fingers through her hair knowing full well who was at the door. "Come in" It opened. "Hi" She said shyly, her eyes lowered.
"It won't take long." Obi Wan said mechanically. "I just came to apologise for earlier."
Kyia felt slightly confused by his manner, he was acting as if he was apologising for a broken vase. "You don't have to, it was me too"
"But it still shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry. I think Kal Solo wasn't the only one who had a little too much berry wine." His face was still deadpan. "I do not want this to alter our friendship or the conditions of this mission."
She raged inwardly, suddenly feeling the urge to hit him. Instead she smiled sweetly and said "Well no harm done. It's not as if it really meant anything."
Obi Wan felt that hit him squarely through the wall he had put around himself. "I'm glad its been cleared up. It's late, so I won't keep you any longer."
"Goodnight." She replied firmly.
The door closed behind him.
She picked up a pillow and through it across the room. "Nerf herder! What's that name of that wasting disease that nearly wiped out an entire system?" She stood up and started pacing the room. "I'll give him too much berry wine. Why are all men so annoying" Kyia sank back on the bed suddenly exhausted, she undressed and nettled under the covers.
Obi Wan was also lying back on his bed, he stared at the ceiling wondering why her words had stung. She was right. It should not have meant anything, but then why was he having this conversation with himself? He had lied through his teeth back in Kyia's room; he had known that as soon as the words had escaped his lips, now he just felt rotten. He liked Kyia certainly, he found her presence refreshing but what if it was more than like, what if that kiss had meant something to him? Obi Wan closed his eyes vowing to sleep on it. It was irrational anyway because he was a Jedi.
Morning seemed to come all too quickly; he had barely risen and dressed when there was a light knock at the door. He reached out anxiously, it was not Kyia. "Come in"
Anice entered. "There is an inspection of the Quelena's Guard being held today. You and your apprentice are not required to attend but Kyia will not be in residence today."
He stood up. "Its in my mandate to guard her wherever she goes"
"It takes place at Xrai, the base of the Quelena's Guard. I assure you she'll be well protected." Anice insisted.
He bowed politely. "My padawan and I would like to accompany her anyway, for safety's sake."
Anice nodded. "Very well." She turned to go.
"Anice" Obi Wan added quickly. "Is Kyia angry with me?" He was not really sure why he was asking but if anyone knew she would.
The old woman eyed him suspiciously. "I have only spoken to her briefly this morning. Why? Is there a reason she should be?" She lied
"No" He shook his head. The Elphoran was slippery. Like Kyia, she obviously had a strong psychic ability to hide her emotions and she was not giving anything else away. "I will wake my padawan"
She nodded again and exited the room.
"Are you going to tell me what is going on now?" Anice said finishing helping Kyia into her traditional battle dress uniform. The main body of it was deep purple cut with a low v at the back that almost reached her waist and thick straps at the front. It clung to her figure like a cat suit down to her ankles. At the waist was attached a black hip cloak that finished at her knee and was fastened with a traditional knot. Transparent lilac material was wrapped around her arms where sleeved would normally be, finishing at the wrists and shoulders but leaving a length of material hanging down at each end. Her mother had owned one in green as all the rulers of Elphora had had one in varying colours, but all had one thing in common, the Elphoran crest etched in silver on the abdomen.
"There's nothing to more to tell"
"So on impulse you just decide to inspect the Guard?" Anice paused briefly He asked if you were angry with him"
Kyia looked up, suddenly interested "Did he now?"
"Are you?"
"No"
"Good"
"I just…" She looked at herself in the mirror. "I don't have a growth or a stench that I'm not aware of do I?"
"No" Anice replied puzzled
"Then why would a certain someone say that he only found me attractive because like Kal Solo he'd had too much berry wine"
The old woman's eyes widened. "He said that? I'd have hit him."
"Trust me" The Quelena growled, "I almost did".
"Well" Anice sighed "He's incurring your wrath by insisting on coming to Xrai. He's either braver or stupider than I thought he was" She smiled at Kyia who glared back.
"He's sticking to his mandate, no more"
The old woman glanced knowingly at her Quelena. "Let's get you to that speeder."
Kyia put out her hand and an escort took it gently to help her out of the speeder. "Thank you" She replied. The journey had been swift and silent. She stood on the ground and looked up at the tall tower amidst the trees and smiled at the memories of the time she had spent here. Around it was various training apparatus set up to teach the recruits everything from stealth to strength. Again Kyia smiled at the memories.
Fash came out to meet her. "It is good to see you again, your Royalness. You've grown much since I saw you last".
The Quelena nodded lightly. "It's been a few years"
"That it has. I've been posted in the Western Sector" She replied
"This is Obi Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker" Kyia added quickly. "The rest you know already. Fash was one of my teachers "
The Jedi bowed slightly.
Fash looked her over concerned. "Jedi? Are you in danger your Royalness?"
"I am considering increasing the guard around the Palace, yes" She said keeping her answer evasive.
The warrior nodded seeing through the charade but keeping silent. The gym is ready for you. Kyia followed Fash into the building.
Obi Wan went to take a step forward but Anice put her hand out. "We must wait here while she is tested"
"Tested?" Anakin looked up inquisitively
"Just to check that she hasn't forgotten what she was taught here. Because she is a member of the Quelena's Guard she must be inspected herself. To test her worthiness." The old woman replied.
Obi Wan remembered how she dealt with the Sith's retinue in hand-to-hand combat. "Don't worry, Kyia will pass, she's more than capable. And she's a Jedi"
"She must do it without using the Force" Anice countered.
"But why?" Anakin asked confused at the notion "If she has the Force she might as well use it to help".
"It is our way. The family does not rule us because of an ancient law, but because they are the right people to do it." Anice said with absolute loyalty.
"It also makes sure the Quelena can protect herself if she is attacked. Whether she is a Jedi or not" Obi Wan interjected. It perhaps was a better way to justify it to a child.
"Oh" Anakin replied
"If Kyia fails she'll have to stay to boost up her training. " Anice added. "Although now wouldn't be the best time for this I'll give her that."
Inside Fash shut the doors. The Quelena's guard uniform was a simplified version of Kyia's, it was dark blue and was fashioned as with normal sleeves and came up to the throat. They walked to the main practice room, which was fashioned as the forest floor was. Kyia had loved this room as a youth. Its roof was open letting in light and natural wild life and the trees towered through it.
"Are you ready?" Asked Fash
Kyia took up a fighting stance "Always".
Anice was already there cleaning up.
"You don't have to do that" She started to help her.
"You escaped early"
Kyia nodded and sat down on the bed. "Remember the Corellian we bumped into on Alderaan?"
"The trader who thinks he's royalty?"
"You mean smuggler. It seems someone lost a sabacc game and never guess what the prize was."
Anice opened the wardrobe and began putting clothes away. "Oh, no"
"Anyway he got rolling drunk on the berry wine so I retreated hastily." The Quelena shrugged and stood, taking the clothes from Anice and putting them in the wardrobe herself.
"And…" Anice prompted
"And what?" Kyia looked at her feigning puzzlement. "That's it. I came here."
The older Elphoran put the last dress in its place and put her hands on her hips. "I know that look Kyia"
Kyia turned away and went back to the bed wondering how she was going to bluff her way out of this one. Sometimes it was a pain belonging to race of psychics. "It's my 'I'm tired and I want to sleep off a dull night look'".
"What happened?" Anice crossed her arms, and then as if something dawned on her she glanced at the Quelena suspiciously. "Did you see Obi Wan Kenobi?"
At that point Kyia knew she'd been caught. She looked down at her lap, knowing now her face was burning. She felt like she'd had her hand caught in the sweetener receptacle. "Yes."
Anice placed her hands on her face. "Kyia"
"How the Sith did you know!" She exclaimed suddenly
Anice shrugged nonchalantly. "It was written all over your face when you walked in. Soon as you stood next to me I could tell. Besides you never could lie to me."
Kyia straightened herself up on the bed "I'd love to see your midichlorian count one of these days."
"You're avoiding the issue." She corrected harshly.
Kyia crossed her arms, "There is no issue. Besides it was you who was encouraging me"
"I thought it was just a hormonal crush. I didn't think you'd do anything."
"I didn't, we didn't" She sprung up, slightly annoyed. "It was just a moment, that's all. I know, I have duties, loyalties etcetera; you don't have to lecture me. Now I'm tired, I'd like to sleep, thank you."
Anice realised she touched a nerve; slowly she exited the room. Kyia put her head in her hands trying to stay angry but she found a smile reaching her lips, she tried to erase it as she was trying to erase the kiss from her memory, but stubbornly they both stayed where they were.
Obi Wan paced intensely up and down while Anakin slept soundly in the next room.
"What in Corellia's moons had possessed me?" He uttered in a hushed curse. The Jedi took a deep breath to regain his focus but only succeeded in spreading a boyish grin across his face. Obi Wan scalded himself and removed it quickly. He was a grown man and a Jedi; he would not be a victim to his hormones, because undoubtedly that was all it had to be. He had devoted his life to the order. Kyia was lively, intelligent and beautiful; it was not hard to be attracted to her, which was all it had to be. He wiped the sweat off his forehead wanting the Force to open up and swallow him.
There was a knock at the door. Kyia put away the datacard she was reading to lull her to sleep. She ran her fingers through her hair knowing full well who was at the door. "Come in" It opened. "Hi" She said shyly, her eyes lowered.
"It won't take long." Obi Wan said mechanically. "I just came to apologise for earlier."
Kyia felt slightly confused by his manner, he was acting as if he was apologising for a broken vase. "You don't have to, it was me too"
"But it still shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry. I think Kal Solo wasn't the only one who had a little too much berry wine." His face was still deadpan. "I do not want this to alter our friendship or the conditions of this mission."
She raged inwardly, suddenly feeling the urge to hit him. Instead she smiled sweetly and said "Well no harm done. It's not as if it really meant anything."
Obi Wan felt that hit him squarely through the wall he had put around himself. "I'm glad its been cleared up. It's late, so I won't keep you any longer."
"Goodnight." She replied firmly.
The door closed behind him.
She picked up a pillow and through it across the room. "Nerf herder! What's that name of that wasting disease that nearly wiped out an entire system?" She stood up and started pacing the room. "I'll give him too much berry wine. Why are all men so annoying" Kyia sank back on the bed suddenly exhausted, she undressed and nettled under the covers.
Obi Wan was also lying back on his bed, he stared at the ceiling wondering why her words had stung. She was right. It should not have meant anything, but then why was he having this conversation with himself? He had lied through his teeth back in Kyia's room; he had known that as soon as the words had escaped his lips, now he just felt rotten. He liked Kyia certainly, he found her presence refreshing but what if it was more than like, what if that kiss had meant something to him? Obi Wan closed his eyes vowing to sleep on it. It was irrational anyway because he was a Jedi.
Morning seemed to come all too quickly; he had barely risen and dressed when there was a light knock at the door. He reached out anxiously, it was not Kyia. "Come in"
Anice entered. "There is an inspection of the Quelena's Guard being held today. You and your apprentice are not required to attend but Kyia will not be in residence today."
He stood up. "Its in my mandate to guard her wherever she goes"
"It takes place at Xrai, the base of the Quelena's Guard. I assure you she'll be well protected." Anice insisted.
He bowed politely. "My padawan and I would like to accompany her anyway, for safety's sake."
Anice nodded. "Very well." She turned to go.
"Anice" Obi Wan added quickly. "Is Kyia angry with me?" He was not really sure why he was asking but if anyone knew she would.
The old woman eyed him suspiciously. "I have only spoken to her briefly this morning. Why? Is there a reason she should be?" She lied
"No" He shook his head. The Elphoran was slippery. Like Kyia, she obviously had a strong psychic ability to hide her emotions and she was not giving anything else away. "I will wake my padawan"
She nodded again and exited the room.
"Are you going to tell me what is going on now?" Anice said finishing helping Kyia into her traditional battle dress uniform. The main body of it was deep purple cut with a low v at the back that almost reached her waist and thick straps at the front. It clung to her figure like a cat suit down to her ankles. At the waist was attached a black hip cloak that finished at her knee and was fastened with a traditional knot. Transparent lilac material was wrapped around her arms where sleeved would normally be, finishing at the wrists and shoulders but leaving a length of material hanging down at each end. Her mother had owned one in green as all the rulers of Elphora had had one in varying colours, but all had one thing in common, the Elphoran crest etched in silver on the abdomen.
"There's nothing to more to tell"
"So on impulse you just decide to inspect the Guard?" Anice paused briefly He asked if you were angry with him"
Kyia looked up, suddenly interested "Did he now?"
"Are you?"
"No"
"Good"
"I just…" She looked at herself in the mirror. "I don't have a growth or a stench that I'm not aware of do I?"
"No" Anice replied puzzled
"Then why would a certain someone say that he only found me attractive because like Kal Solo he'd had too much berry wine"
The old woman's eyes widened. "He said that? I'd have hit him."
"Trust me" The Quelena growled, "I almost did".
"Well" Anice sighed "He's incurring your wrath by insisting on coming to Xrai. He's either braver or stupider than I thought he was" She smiled at Kyia who glared back.
"He's sticking to his mandate, no more"
The old woman glanced knowingly at her Quelena. "Let's get you to that speeder."
Kyia put out her hand and an escort took it gently to help her out of the speeder. "Thank you" She replied. The journey had been swift and silent. She stood on the ground and looked up at the tall tower amidst the trees and smiled at the memories of the time she had spent here. Around it was various training apparatus set up to teach the recruits everything from stealth to strength. Again Kyia smiled at the memories.
Fash came out to meet her. "It is good to see you again, your Royalness. You've grown much since I saw you last".
The Quelena nodded lightly. "It's been a few years"
"That it has. I've been posted in the Western Sector" She replied
"This is Obi Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker" Kyia added quickly. "The rest you know already. Fash was one of my teachers "
The Jedi bowed slightly.
Fash looked her over concerned. "Jedi? Are you in danger your Royalness?"
"I am considering increasing the guard around the Palace, yes" She said keeping her answer evasive.
The warrior nodded seeing through the charade but keeping silent. The gym is ready for you. Kyia followed Fash into the building.
Obi Wan went to take a step forward but Anice put her hand out. "We must wait here while she is tested"
"Tested?" Anakin looked up inquisitively
"Just to check that she hasn't forgotten what she was taught here. Because she is a member of the Quelena's Guard she must be inspected herself. To test her worthiness." The old woman replied.
Obi Wan remembered how she dealt with the Sith's retinue in hand-to-hand combat. "Don't worry, Kyia will pass, she's more than capable. And she's a Jedi"
"She must do it without using the Force" Anice countered.
"But why?" Anakin asked confused at the notion "If she has the Force she might as well use it to help".
"It is our way. The family does not rule us because of an ancient law, but because they are the right people to do it." Anice said with absolute loyalty.
"It also makes sure the Quelena can protect herself if she is attacked. Whether she is a Jedi or not" Obi Wan interjected. It perhaps was a better way to justify it to a child.
"Oh" Anakin replied
"If Kyia fails she'll have to stay to boost up her training. " Anice added. "Although now wouldn't be the best time for this I'll give her that."
Inside Fash shut the doors. The Quelena's guard uniform was a simplified version of Kyia's, it was dark blue and was fashioned as with normal sleeves and came up to the throat. They walked to the main practice room, which was fashioned as the forest floor was. Kyia had loved this room as a youth. Its roof was open letting in light and natural wild life and the trees towered through it.
"Are you ready?" Asked Fash
Kyia took up a fighting stance "Always".
