Updated this from an internet cafe in greece as thought it was a bit cruel to leave it so close to the end of the first book (I reckon I've only got about three more left to type up). You kinda had to guess who was the major character introduced in the last chapt soz, not telling whether it's Felle or not (evil laugh). Anyway enjoy all, keep up the reviews I do appreciate it (hints to everyone who isn't strider's girl, as she already R'n Rs)
Kyia quickly grabbed Obi Wan by the arm and pulled him into a side room.
"Sorry" She said immediately.
Obi Wan winced "What have you done?"
"You remember Felle?"
"She didn't seem that bad"
Kyia grimaced "She was on good behaviour, it seems a certain Jedi Knight has caught her eye"
"Oh no" The male Jedi edged his feet around nervously
"She asked if you were single" Kyia smiled "I didn't exactly lie, I said you were married to the Jedi. Unfortunately for you she took that as a challenge".
His head snapped up "Tell me you are joking"
She shook her head "'Fraid not"
The realisation hit him full force "Why didn't I sense it?"
"She's Elphoran, remember?" Kyia laughed finding the situation amusing "Psychic, and an ability to block thoughts. Anyway you can be naïve about people's intentions at times"
"Thanks" He replied dryly
"Its part of your charm" Kyia teased.
Obi Wan moved closer to her, putting an arm around her waist "You're not feeling threatened then?"
"My ego's not that fragile" She tilted her head up looking him in the eye.
A knock at the door made them caused them to spring apart.
Anice's head peered around the door "I thought I had better find you before one of the Governors did".
Kyia smiled at the Administrator's choice of words "Okay." She held the door open for Obi Wan mockingly "Our public awaits".
"Joy" He muttered as they walked into the Great Hall where the ministers were dotted around the huge room.
Felle stood talking to Vagel Yyll, she turned her head, still in conversation while she observed the three entering the hall. "Yes I know" She turned attention back to the speaker but her eyes remained on the Jedi "Things are changing".
Kyia saw the Southern Sector's Elected Governor and much to Obi Wan's dismay left him standing next to Anakin in Felle's eye line "Hey Laina"
Laina grabbed her Quelena, linking arms with her as she walked "I did not know they made them that good looking at the Temple Kyia, you've been holding out on me!"
"You have a husband already Laina"
The Governor rolled her eyes "I'm joking Kyia, seriously though, that man better run now and get a head start, she's going after him like a Wookiee after red meat"
Felle watched Kyia move over towards the other side of the hall and smiled predatorily "Excuse me Vagel" She smoothed down her dark curls in their loose knot. As always she was glad that she had worn red for these occasions, it was not the preferred colour on Elphora but it made her feel empowered.
Obi Wan looked up from his crouching position next to Anakin, who promptly looked at the floor with a repress grin. Even the boy knew what it meant when a woman strutted across a room like that.
"I think I'm going to find Anice and tell her, errrr that thing" He said to his Master.
/Anakin, I'm going to kill you/ He sent the message down their training bond as his padawan deserted him.
"That was a very evasive answer you gave back there" Felle uttered sweetly through a coy smile.
Obi Wan coughed, clearing his throat "It was the truth" I'm sorry he faltered falsely "I think I missed your name".
She did not take the hint and outstretched her hand flat "Mri, Felle Mri"
He took it in an Elphoran gesture he suddenly wished he did not know "Well Councillor Mri…"
"Just Felle" She cut in as he let go of her hand "Like our Quelena I like to let the formalities slide between friends, even prospective ones".
Obi Wan swallowed hard "It's the same amongst the Jedi"
"I know, we have them in abundance here" She put a hand to her chest "I'm not blessed with the ability myself, but my other Elphoran talents more than make up for it. So what do you think of our planet".
He thought quickly about how he should answer, wishing Kyia would come and save him and at the same time checking his mental barriers, the woman had just admitted she was mentally adept "I'm afraid I've only been as far as the Royal Palace".
Her eyes widened in mock surprise, Obi Wan immediately wished he had lied "Why, that's hardly anything at all! The Eastern Sector is very beautiful, I know some great places only a land speeder ride away".
"I'm afraid I can't" He stuttered "I have my mandate and the Quelena might think it rude".
"Oh nonsense, she won't mind".
The Jedi pointed a panicked finger in Kyia's direction "I had better ask her".
"Fine" Felle said through a false smile and gritted teeth.
He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing Kyia would allow him an escape.
"No, I don't mind"
"What?" He glared at her "Are you sure you don't need me?"
She laughed with Laina "Obi Wan I'm sure the Sith is not going to come after me right this minute. You could use a break. Go have fun"
Laina grinned at Obi Wan's departing back "That was cruel".
Felle took him to her personal speeder and soon they were zooming through the Elphoran landscape.
"No far" She said, her hands on the controls, every bit the relaxed confident pilot "I promise".
He gave her a watery smile that she seemed to take comfort in "Where are we going?"
"The Capital, where else?" She grinned, "Zen, it means water, you'll see why when we get there".
The city rose seemed to rise up from the ground as they approached it at speed, as towering as Coruscant and built on a giant lake. The windows of the buildings looked as if they were geometrically imbedded in giant trees, bigger than any he had seen on Kashyyyk, thick branches that sprouted from the side were walkways and some were so wide that they contained markets and housing. Round the base everything from mobile restaurants to a playgrounds floated on the surface of the lake, touring the city at regular intervals as well as a scattering of small simple boats. Written on a sign near the entrance were the words Corea Melis Elphora.
"Our greatest architectural achievement" Felle interrupted before he could ask what the words meant "It's living, grown so that as a an old plant dies, new plants weave themselves in to replace them. That's why it's the capital. Elphora itself means life. There are four things that the old Elphoran culture praised above all, water, light, the night sky and life. You can tell how important something is if it is named after one of them".
For the first time since he had met her Obi Wan developed a certain measure of respect for Felle, underneath her brazen exterior was a passion for in-depth knowledge. And he could not deny the woman had determination in vast amounts "What about Felle?"
" Felle is shooting star that visits every ten rotations. It's supposed to be lucky if you are born on the night that it passes by" She smiled at him "And I was".
He looked the city up and down "How do you get to the top?" noticing that there were no repulsors attached to the turbolifts on buildings, instead a network of cables and wheels.
"Oh it's simple, theirs a counterweight on each side of the hydrolift, they add water to go up and take it away to go down. Old fashioned I know, but there's a certain eloquence to it" She flashed her eyelashes at him "Come on, the view from the top is magnificent".
From the bank a boat took them across to the city and Felle ushered him to one of the buildings. Making sure Obi Wan's attention was directed else where she slipped a hydrolift worker, a personal friend of hers, an envelope. Felle was good and the Jedi did not notice.
"It's slower than a turbolift" Obi Wan commented once they were in.
There was a jolt and the hydrolift came to a stop, the doors did not open. "And prone to break down" She added tiredly "This is so embarrassing".
There was another jolt, this time harder and Felle tumbled into his arms "Oops".
She moved in closer, but Obi Wan saw it coming "No" He said firmly, guessing she would not take anything else but a blunt refusal "I'm sorry, I'm a Jedi".
The Governor stood up and brushed herself off "Don't give me that. I know what the problem really is".
He looked back at her, confused "You do?"
"Bout so high" She measured it out with her hand "Blonde, pretty, comes with her own planet?" Obi Wan opened his mouth to protest but she was continuing, "Give me some credit, please. Your mental barriers are good but they're not that good. Not if you know what you are looking for" The Jedi swallowed but Felle did not ease up "She does not feel the same you know, otherwise she would have stuck to you like flies on a Dewback instead of letting you come with me."
"Do you think Kyia knows?" He played along with her expectations, it was not hard to put out panicked vibrations through the Force despite the slight relief that she did not know the full story.
She put her hands on her hips "Probably, she's not stupid, but she's chosen to ignore it. She thinks she's out of your league Obi Wan, not to mention set in her ways, unfeeling, and quite frankly dull. If I were you I would do a bit of re-evaluation".
He shook his head "I'm not supposed to be having these feelings at all, let alone consider anyone else. I think we are too different anyway".
She shrugged nonchalantly "You're probably right" There was slight tremor and the lift started again. "Let's go see the view".
He got to the top and realised he had been set up, he just was not sure whether it was by Felle or Kyia.
Kyia quickly grabbed Obi Wan by the arm and pulled him into a side room.
"Sorry" She said immediately.
Obi Wan winced "What have you done?"
"You remember Felle?"
"She didn't seem that bad"
Kyia grimaced "She was on good behaviour, it seems a certain Jedi Knight has caught her eye"
"Oh no" The male Jedi edged his feet around nervously
"She asked if you were single" Kyia smiled "I didn't exactly lie, I said you were married to the Jedi. Unfortunately for you she took that as a challenge".
His head snapped up "Tell me you are joking"
She shook her head "'Fraid not"
The realisation hit him full force "Why didn't I sense it?"
"She's Elphoran, remember?" Kyia laughed finding the situation amusing "Psychic, and an ability to block thoughts. Anyway you can be naïve about people's intentions at times"
"Thanks" He replied dryly
"Its part of your charm" Kyia teased.
Obi Wan moved closer to her, putting an arm around her waist "You're not feeling threatened then?"
"My ego's not that fragile" She tilted her head up looking him in the eye.
A knock at the door made them caused them to spring apart.
Anice's head peered around the door "I thought I had better find you before one of the Governors did".
Kyia smiled at the Administrator's choice of words "Okay." She held the door open for Obi Wan mockingly "Our public awaits".
"Joy" He muttered as they walked into the Great Hall where the ministers were dotted around the huge room.
Felle stood talking to Vagel Yyll, she turned her head, still in conversation while she observed the three entering the hall. "Yes I know" She turned attention back to the speaker but her eyes remained on the Jedi "Things are changing".
Kyia saw the Southern Sector's Elected Governor and much to Obi Wan's dismay left him standing next to Anakin in Felle's eye line "Hey Laina"
Laina grabbed her Quelena, linking arms with her as she walked "I did not know they made them that good looking at the Temple Kyia, you've been holding out on me!"
"You have a husband already Laina"
The Governor rolled her eyes "I'm joking Kyia, seriously though, that man better run now and get a head start, she's going after him like a Wookiee after red meat"
Felle watched Kyia move over towards the other side of the hall and smiled predatorily "Excuse me Vagel" She smoothed down her dark curls in their loose knot. As always she was glad that she had worn red for these occasions, it was not the preferred colour on Elphora but it made her feel empowered.
Obi Wan looked up from his crouching position next to Anakin, who promptly looked at the floor with a repress grin. Even the boy knew what it meant when a woman strutted across a room like that.
"I think I'm going to find Anice and tell her, errrr that thing" He said to his Master.
/Anakin, I'm going to kill you/ He sent the message down their training bond as his padawan deserted him.
"That was a very evasive answer you gave back there" Felle uttered sweetly through a coy smile.
Obi Wan coughed, clearing his throat "It was the truth" I'm sorry he faltered falsely "I think I missed your name".
She did not take the hint and outstretched her hand flat "Mri, Felle Mri"
He took it in an Elphoran gesture he suddenly wished he did not know "Well Councillor Mri…"
"Just Felle" She cut in as he let go of her hand "Like our Quelena I like to let the formalities slide between friends, even prospective ones".
Obi Wan swallowed hard "It's the same amongst the Jedi"
"I know, we have them in abundance here" She put a hand to her chest "I'm not blessed with the ability myself, but my other Elphoran talents more than make up for it. So what do you think of our planet".
He thought quickly about how he should answer, wishing Kyia would come and save him and at the same time checking his mental barriers, the woman had just admitted she was mentally adept "I'm afraid I've only been as far as the Royal Palace".
Her eyes widened in mock surprise, Obi Wan immediately wished he had lied "Why, that's hardly anything at all! The Eastern Sector is very beautiful, I know some great places only a land speeder ride away".
"I'm afraid I can't" He stuttered "I have my mandate and the Quelena might think it rude".
"Oh nonsense, she won't mind".
The Jedi pointed a panicked finger in Kyia's direction "I had better ask her".
"Fine" Felle said through a false smile and gritted teeth.
He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing Kyia would allow him an escape.
"No, I don't mind"
"What?" He glared at her "Are you sure you don't need me?"
She laughed with Laina "Obi Wan I'm sure the Sith is not going to come after me right this minute. You could use a break. Go have fun"
Laina grinned at Obi Wan's departing back "That was cruel".
Felle took him to her personal speeder and soon they were zooming through the Elphoran landscape.
"No far" She said, her hands on the controls, every bit the relaxed confident pilot "I promise".
He gave her a watery smile that she seemed to take comfort in "Where are we going?"
"The Capital, where else?" She grinned, "Zen, it means water, you'll see why when we get there".
The city rose seemed to rise up from the ground as they approached it at speed, as towering as Coruscant and built on a giant lake. The windows of the buildings looked as if they were geometrically imbedded in giant trees, bigger than any he had seen on Kashyyyk, thick branches that sprouted from the side were walkways and some were so wide that they contained markets and housing. Round the base everything from mobile restaurants to a playgrounds floated on the surface of the lake, touring the city at regular intervals as well as a scattering of small simple boats. Written on a sign near the entrance were the words Corea Melis Elphora.
"Our greatest architectural achievement" Felle interrupted before he could ask what the words meant "It's living, grown so that as a an old plant dies, new plants weave themselves in to replace them. That's why it's the capital. Elphora itself means life. There are four things that the old Elphoran culture praised above all, water, light, the night sky and life. You can tell how important something is if it is named after one of them".
For the first time since he had met her Obi Wan developed a certain measure of respect for Felle, underneath her brazen exterior was a passion for in-depth knowledge. And he could not deny the woman had determination in vast amounts "What about Felle?"
" Felle is shooting star that visits every ten rotations. It's supposed to be lucky if you are born on the night that it passes by" She smiled at him "And I was".
He looked the city up and down "How do you get to the top?" noticing that there were no repulsors attached to the turbolifts on buildings, instead a network of cables and wheels.
"Oh it's simple, theirs a counterweight on each side of the hydrolift, they add water to go up and take it away to go down. Old fashioned I know, but there's a certain eloquence to it" She flashed her eyelashes at him "Come on, the view from the top is magnificent".
From the bank a boat took them across to the city and Felle ushered him to one of the buildings. Making sure Obi Wan's attention was directed else where she slipped a hydrolift worker, a personal friend of hers, an envelope. Felle was good and the Jedi did not notice.
"It's slower than a turbolift" Obi Wan commented once they were in.
There was a jolt and the hydrolift came to a stop, the doors did not open. "And prone to break down" She added tiredly "This is so embarrassing".
There was another jolt, this time harder and Felle tumbled into his arms "Oops".
She moved in closer, but Obi Wan saw it coming "No" He said firmly, guessing she would not take anything else but a blunt refusal "I'm sorry, I'm a Jedi".
The Governor stood up and brushed herself off "Don't give me that. I know what the problem really is".
He looked back at her, confused "You do?"
"Bout so high" She measured it out with her hand "Blonde, pretty, comes with her own planet?" Obi Wan opened his mouth to protest but she was continuing, "Give me some credit, please. Your mental barriers are good but they're not that good. Not if you know what you are looking for" The Jedi swallowed but Felle did not ease up "She does not feel the same you know, otherwise she would have stuck to you like flies on a Dewback instead of letting you come with me."
"Do you think Kyia knows?" He played along with her expectations, it was not hard to put out panicked vibrations through the Force despite the slight relief that she did not know the full story.
She put her hands on her hips "Probably, she's not stupid, but she's chosen to ignore it. She thinks she's out of your league Obi Wan, not to mention set in her ways, unfeeling, and quite frankly dull. If I were you I would do a bit of re-evaluation".
He shook his head "I'm not supposed to be having these feelings at all, let alone consider anyone else. I think we are too different anyway".
She shrugged nonchalantly "You're probably right" There was slight tremor and the lift started again. "Let's go see the view".
He got to the top and realised he had been set up, he just was not sure whether it was by Felle or Kyia.
