Anice glanced at her chrono and headed out to the gardens. Lightly she hummed as she went in search of her mistress, even thought there were multiple paths she knew instinctively which one she was on. Suddenly something startled her. From a distance she could see the pair talking quietly on the grass. Kyia seemed relaxed and laughed gently. Garyde was sitting surprisingly close to her considering how long they had known each other. Anice wished that she could give them a few minutes more, glad that they were getting on. She had a feeling about this one.

"Well well, it looks like you were telling the truth, you really are finished with that piece of decaying mynock" She whispered to herself. She began to approach them. "Playtime's over I'm afraid. Valorum's on the com"

Kyia sighed. "Sorry Garyde, duty calls".

"I understand" he replied.

Kyia stood and left swiftly.

"May I accompany you back to your quarters?" Anice said formally. Garyde nodded politely and they started to walk slowly. "What are your intentions concerning Kyia?"

Her directness caught Garyde off guard. "I'm not sure I know what you mean"

"Is Kyia to be merely a business arrangement, a way for Clydarf to extend its enterprises?"

Again he was shocked by her bluntness. He took a breath to compose himself, unused to that tone being taken with him by anyone else other than his own parents. "No" He said calmly. "That maybe what my parents wish from any match, but I assure you they would be happier me courting a daughter of one of the High Families of my planet. I am here because that is not what I wanted for the rest of my life. And I think Kyia would have seen straight through me if my intentions were anything else"

"Perhaps" Anice thought otherwise. In her opinion the Quelena's union automatically clouded Kyia's thinking processes. Take Kenobi for example. "But I had to ask the question all the same"

"It is pleasing to know that she has such considerate friends" He replied. "And that Kyia thinks enough of me for you to have reason to ask the question" He tried to use the line to obtain information from Anice but she clearly wasn't biting

"She is well loved among everybody" Anice replied. "And if you are what she is looking for the she will love well in return"

They had reached the side entrance to the Palace. "I hope that I am" He replied. Anice smiled then entered ahead of him. A second later and she was gone. Garyde looked after her in puzzlement. Clearly Anice was employed in a semi-servant capacity and yet Kyia treated her as a friend and confidant. Not only was this unheard of on his planet it was sternly looked down upon. Yet Kyia held herself with the grace and dignity of any of his ruling family. He liked that, a lot.

Valorum's image appeared in the centre of the room. "Your Royalness"

"Hello Finis" Kyia sighed at the formal use of her name, but that was typical of him; he adhered strictly to tradition. Ambassador Valorum's silver hair hid a shrewd intellect that had not been dulled by age, and his half breeding meant that signs of old age, blue tendrils down the right side of the face, had not appeared. Kyia had remarked to him on his change previously. The spark that had put him into office as Supreme Chancellor of the Republic had returned after Palpatine's malevolence and Coruscant's dreariness had almost destroyed it. He had replied by saying how he loved a challenge especially when endless restrictions and committees did not bind him. Elphora it seemed was also awaking after leaving the Republic. Thanks mainly to Valorum, trade with Hapes was going well, and the population was pulling together for the unseen force that Kyia knew would soon envelope them. It seemed her gamble was paying off.

She smiled sardonically "What's the problem?" She knew that there had to be one. Hyperspace calls over this distance were expensive.

Valorum's expression became pensive. "It seems we've had someone take an interest in our little operation. My office was broken into." He saw the blow hit Kyia and rushed his speech as if trying to get out the words before she was caused any further distress. "It's not as bad as it sounds. Nothing was taken and anything of value is kept else where" He knew Kyia would know what he meant by that, anything incriminating, such as documents that would prove how much was being stockpiled. However Hyperspace transmissions were notoriously easy to tap into so he kept his words suggestive. "But I thought you should know".

Kyia only had to say one word. "Sith"

"We shouldn't jump to conclusions…."

"No" She cut him off, "It was them I can feel it. You shouldn't have anymore trouble but stay alert".

He bowed slightly. "Your Royalness"

The hologram flashed off. At least the Sith did not find anything damaging. The Quelena sat for a long time in mediating trying to rid herself of the worry of how long it would take the Sith to bring it's plague to Elphora to find its answers. A scar on her shoulder brought back memories of the his last visit to her planet, and the long lightsabre burn on her back of the time he had almost killed her. She pushed the thought away, she was a Jedi now and it was not right to linger.

She did not know how much time had passed when a light knock at the door brought her out of her trance.

"A ship has requested permission to land. Its registration is from the Jedi Council."

"Oh" said Kyia more than slightly surprised. The Council had said that it couldn't help her after she had left the Republic. A hunch caused Kyia to reach out through the Force. It wasn't who she thought it was. It was worse.

The Elphoran who had brought the message saw the Kyia's expression become stony.

"Let them land"

The Quelena watched the ship engage the fiery reverse thrusters and bring down its insectoid legs to support the ship on the ground. Height and transparasteel separated her from the Guiding Light as she looked from a viewing station above the landing bay. The landing platform came down, the clanging of durasteel on durasteel not reaching Kyia's ears. A figure in brown descended the ramp. Obi Wan pulled back his hood and looked around at his level.

"Don't look up" Kyia whispered repeatedly. However she could not use the Force and luck would not let her trick work a second time. Feeling her presence he looked directly up at her. Kyia looked back for a brief second then turned on her heel, her Jedi robes billowing behind her.

Below Obi Wan could hear Anakin's words echoing in his head.

Kyia sat in a chair on the small patio at the rear of the palace. She took a deep breath, running through a Jedi relaxation cycle.

"For a Jedi there is only peace," She repeated slowly. Gradually a calm descended on her, calm and objectivity. That was what she needed.

Obi Wan was led through to Kyia's location, it had not escaped his notice that it was not Anice who had been sent. When it was clear where they were going he said. "It's alright, I know my way from here" Distantly he could sense Kyia in the gardens.

His guide eyed him worriedly. "I'm not sure…."

"I'll be fine, The Quelena is expecting me" Obi Wan replied.

The guide sighed resignedly. He had a feeling Anice would probably kill him for this later. "Very well"

Obi Wan swallowed and took a few steps out into the sunlight. A few meters away sat Quelena Kyia Levelle sat with her back to him. She rose when he approached

"Obi Wan" she stated neutrally.

"Hello Kyia" He replied. The Jedi tried to keep any warmth from his voice but it came out anyway.

Apparently she did not notice. "It's been a long time" The comment wasn't to provoke or chastise him, it was a simple statement.

Obi Wan started to think that maybe she was just ignoring it rather than not noticing. "Too long"

Again she ignored it. "Why are you here. I take it from the ship you arrived in Master Yoda sent you. How is he?"

"Fine" He replied slightly annoyed.

"And Anakin? Is he here?"

"He's doing well in his training. Master Yoda did not think it would be appropriate to come into contact with the Sith at this stage." He did not pause for a question about him. He already knew from her tone that it wouldn't come. The brick wall around her was impenetrable, both from the Force and anything else directed from him. But then again she had always been good at that. "That's why I'm here. Master Yoda believes you are in danger again".

"I know" Kyia said simply. "An office in Hapes was raided yesterday. A little down market for the Sith, but it was them. I feel it."

"Any reason why?" The tension had diminished now the topic was professional.

"I can think of a few" She replied. "He probably just wants to know what we're up to. His grip isn't so tight now we've left the Republic."

"At least he's kept his distance since I was last here" He said ignoring the link she kept making between Palpatine and the Sith. It wasn't a logic that he could follow, but he did not want to provoke her.

Kyia however was provoked. Her calm was shattered for a brief second and she felt the need to scream. She did not; instead she let the icy resolve creep back in. Kyia slipped off her long heavy cloak to reveal her low backed dress. She turned around and pushed her wheat coloured hair out of the way of the scar that snaked down her back.

"By The Force!" Obi wan gasped. "I didn't know".

Kyia let her hair fall and replaced her dark blue cloak. "I don't think he actually meant to kill me. He just got a little" she paused slightly to consider the right words, "over zealous. Luckily I'd already called Master Yoda before he left. He go to me just before I bled to death."

"When?" The question was barely audible; all of a sudden the Jedi's throat had closed.

"Just after you left actually. I visited the Temple to complete my training." She laughed, "Funny, isn't it? I'd spent all that time thinking I was a Jedi, and it turns out Master Yoda just didn't have time to complete my training before my parents died. I faced the trials after a few months, having every treatment from bacta to a healing trance, but even that couldn't take away the scar." Kyia noticed Obi Wan's silence. She had not meant to be this descriptive but she felt she was on a roll now. "He wanted me to be scared of my own shadow, to feel that I wasn't safe anywhere. That's why he attacked me in the Temple. But he misjudged me because now I know it is him who is afraid, otherwise he wouldn't have taken such a risk."

"I'm sorry," he stuttered, finally finding his voice. "If I'd have known…"

"You'd have done what?" The Quelena cut him off. "I don't want your pity Obi Wan."

He was about to open his mouth to ask what she did want but another voice cut in.

"Kyia is that you?"

Then she smiled. A real smile and it hit Obi Wan how much he'd missed it.

"Yes Garyde?"

Garyde strode across the grass to the pair.

"Garyde this is Obi Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight" She said introducing them formally. "Obi Wan, meet the Clydarian Prince Garyde á Lithé"

"Oh" Understanding of Garyde's intentions came with a single look. "I'm pleased to meet you"

Garyde smiled. "Another Jedi? Kyia, do you grow them here too?"

She laughed, "No, Obi Wan Kenobi is on business from Coruscant."

The male Jedi shifted uneasily. He did not like Garyde's comment; in fact he did not like much about the man. "Clydarf, that's near Almania isn't it?"

The Prince widened his eyes. "Why yes. It's amazing how few people know our small planet. Have you been?"

"Once, very briefly. My late Master came to mediate a dispute in one of the High Families, but we returned early".

"Why was that?" Asked Garyde. "Settled quickly?"

Kyia felt the answer that was coming and looked round at Obi Wan urging him to shut up. Apparently he did not take the hint and smiled with a trace of subtext. "Yes, by a viroblade to the chest of one of the parties."

Garyde shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes my step cousins. It happens occasionally."

Kyia laughed nervously. "Sounds like my family".

The Prince glanced at his chrono casually. "Sadly I have to be going. One of your ministers is teaching me how to play sabacc in a few diacts.

Obi Wan turned to Kyia. "Bis Xandel?"

Kyia pulled a face then nodded. "Okay." She said to Garyde. "I'll see you later".

"I hope so" he bowed low and began to stride up towards the Palace.

As soon as he was out of earshot she glared punishingly at Obi Wan. "That was rude".

"I have no idea what you mean." He replied.

"Yes you do" her voice retained its new harshness. "You don't like him."

He opened his mouth to protest then changed his mind. "No".

"Well if it's only consolation he probably doesn't like you either" Kyia started to walk away "I have work to do."

"See you later" he muttered. She did not reply.