"Well then! I must say you look ravishing in that dress, Deltina!" Kahama sat on the edge of his bed as some of his maids were hemming and sewing up her new dress for the ball. "The gold adds such a color to your eyes and makes you even more beautiful than I thought any woman could equal, much less surpass." His unctuous smile for her was tainted by a slight gleam of lust in his eyes that Deltina missed.
"Why thank you dear!" She added a small hand flip to emphasize her joking. "I am quite inclined to agree. No man will be able to find me resistible in this." The prince stood up and made a formal bow in front of her.
"If I may so bold as to ask, my Lady Deltina, but would you be so kind as to grace a lowly man such as myself with but a simple dance." He reached for her hand and gave it a light kiss just as Arbinger glided in the room. Kahama looked up quickly and stood straight just as fast. "Master Arbinger! What a pleasant surprise! I hope you haven't gone and purchased anything to wear for this evening. No? Grand! I had a few of my best tailors fit you a tuxedo. I found black to be you color, as the gracious Lady Deltina agreed. Made of the finest silk available, garments equal to my own. Please, if you would be so kind as to step into the other room and try what's on the hanger, I'm sure you'll be most impressed." Arbinger grunted and turned aside to the room the prince had pointed out. Inside laid the tux just as Kahama had said. There were three hangers, one holding a pair of black silk pants that fit Arbinger's thin form perfectly. The second held a white undershirt, white dress shirt, and a black tux coat, all which fit snugly except for the coat, which left some room in the shoulders and elbows for movement. And upon the third lay a black cloak and top hat. Arbinger looked at himself in the mirror after he had donned all of the garments, then scoffed at himself and changed back into his original clothes and reached for the doorknob. But then he stopped, and then reached for the cloak and threw it over himself. He looked at himself in the mirror again, and smiled slightly, and walked out into the other room. Deltina turned around and looked him up and down thoughtfully, but Rocknai was not as approving.
"I slave over those clothes for you, and you refuse to wear anything but the cloak!"
"Actually, I believe it was your servants who slaved, not you. I'll have to reward them handsomely for this wonderful cloak. I couldn't have chosen better myself. Now, if you'll all excuse me," he made his best leg for his partner, his host, and all of the maids, "I'm going to grab a bite to eat and relax until the ball. Enjoy." And with that he waltzed right out of the room, wrapping dignity around himself like a king, outdoing any gesture the prince had made.
"He always surprises me," Deltina muttered with a smile. She turned from the door and looked at the prince. "My Lord, if you would be so kind as to excuse me, I think I'll be joining young Arbinger for a bite," she smiled. "See-ya later!" And with that she lifted her dress and bolted after Arbinger, who stood just outside the door waiting for her.
"Nice timing. Almost better than that dress."
"Thanks. I thought it was quite beautiful," she said as she gazed adoringly down at her dress. "But anyway, what are the plans for tonight? Pull some crazy stunt to grab everything and go? We almost didn't make it out last time."
"Yes, I remember that," he muttered as he fingered an old scar on his right palm. "But no. Nothing grand tonight. You're to just enjoy the dance and not get into any trouble. And be wary of that prince."
"Ok ok. I won't get into any trouble and I'll watch my own ass tonight. But what about you? You look like you got somethin' goin' down tonight! Maybe a lady friend?" She nudged her friend in the gut with her elbow, a sly grin on her face. Arbinger chuckled at her ignorant truth.
"Yes, in fact, I do have a lady to meet. But you're not to tell anyone. I'll see you upon the morrow, fair Lady." Again, he made a bow and slipped into the kitchens, asking after pie as Deltina left to go do her hair.
"And so it is with my greatest pleasure that I am able to welcome our two guests into our hearts and home on this grand feast day of our founding!" Applause answered Kahama du Rocknai's opening speech and greeting for the ball. "Please, dance and drink to your hearts' content!" With that he stood down and swaggered towards two noblewomen of young age.
"Quite a speaker, that one," Arbinger grumbled into his drink. He had taken a seat at the bar after his name had been announced and a spotlight shone on him. He disliked public appearance almost as much as the public. He sat on a golden barstool in the golden ballroom of the Soleil du Ciel with his head down in his drink, trying to avoid any prying eyes. He was wearing his normal attire of gray cargo and dark blue shirt, but also encompassing his new cloak. It had never occurred to him that Rocknai might actually announce their presence. Arbinger saw him and Deltina's being there as a blight on society, but it appeared that everybody more than welcomed and accepted their attendance and status. At every passerby who even so much as looked as if he or she would like to sit anywhere near the albino deserved a harsh glare and a low snarl. Being known had always thrown a damper on his mood, and sometimes interfered with his plans.
Deltina, on the other hand, took the whole thing in stride. She smiled at every person she saw and engaged in all manner of conversations, ranging from simple foodstuffs to the politics of Coruscant. Very few people had ever seen a Tybaltian before, and most of the men not tied down by either age or matrimony tried to win her favor by drink and ask for at least one of the many dances for the night. Wearing her new golden dress she had found the other day, she also wore some fine jewelry, handpicked by the prince himself, such as blue sapphires, red rubies, and green emeralds. She had silver ribbon tied through her short hair as well as a few more gems, and wore sparkling white gloves reaching her elbows. With little make-up on, she radiated a beautiful glow that said she knew she was beautiful and proud of it. Her high-heeled shoes added a swaying to her hips as she glided over to Arbinger's side.
"Well well well. How's the poor boy feeling? I thought you had a date tonight." She stared at him with a playful light in her eye, trying to get some sort of emotion other than sullen anger out of him.
"I wouldn't speak of that too loudly if I were you, Deltina," he stressed her name to try and show her he was in no mood for a change, "because some people might take an interest there. And besides, I thought you had better men to hang about than a poor soul such as myself." He took a quick sip of his wine before sliding a glance at her, looking up and down approvingly, if trying not to seem so. She giggled slightly, full aware of his look.
"Oh, poor baby!" she plopped down on the stool next to him. "Suck it up, kid. We each have our priorities. So go find your lady friend and I'm going to entertain myself a bit," she said, the last few words with a smile aimed at the advancing prince. Arbinger scowled heavily at the form, then drained his glass in one shot and stalked away from the pair towards the exit door. That prince was getting to be a bigger pain by the second.
Arbinger quickly regained his composure as he stood just outside the ship. Wandering around angry might get the fool killed. He could already have been marked and followed this very second. Damn the prince and his foolhardiness. Arbinger quickly flowed out the back door of the hangar out into the palace gardens and he began to wander, searching out the woman he had met previously. As he began his search, he quickly realized he was letting anger reign again, so he used a small bit of the Force, none detectable except from a very close range, and he melted into the shadows, losing all body and form. He was able to glide everywhere in the dark until he was behind the woman. Slowly, he rematerialized and slipped a hand over the woman's mouth, sshing her before he released.
"Where did you come from? There is no way here without me seeing you!" she fumbled out over her surprise.
"There are things I can do that would amaze you, and some that would haunt you until the end of your days. Do not question my presence. I am here as you asked. Now, you must answer my questions. Who are you and what do you want?" Arbinger held a tight rein on his anger, yet some of it still seeped out with the way he bit off his words.
"Well, I guess I do owe you that much." The figure removed her hood and revealed the smooth face of a young woman, not much older than Arbinger. Her blue eyes were full of dignity, wisdom and compassion, and her pretty face told of much hardship. Her raven black hair hung into her hood, probably reaching to the middle of her back if allowed to hang freely. "My name is Jeona de la Rocknai, Queen of Sigma IV and Arbwignia and rightful heir to the throne. I am here to ask your assistance in reclaiming my place and title." She stared almost defiantly into Arbinger's eyes, daring him to question her title and refuse her claim. He only chuckled softly to himself before replying.
"So, what the bartender says is true. But what does that make Kahama? Are you related? Or does he just act as a Rocknai?"
"Kahama was the advisor to the throne, and to my father, Torkana du Rocknai. He held the position for only a short while, after the death of the former advisor and close friend of my father, Kijama. Kahama did not find it fitting for him to be just a simple advisor and decided he would usurp the throne through his own influence and power. He was able to twist information before it reached my father's ears and used that to position armies to strike at friends and make treaties between hated enemies. He then murdered my father by poison and was going to kill me with a knife. Thankfully, my maid, Genegoa, was able to bundle me out of the palace before he was able to make the attempt. I haven't seen her since, and that was ten years ago. He now rules under the name of my House and aligns himself with my hated enemies. Please, I beg of your assistance." She laid a hand on his arm, a pleading and desperate look in her eyes. The Jedi stared into them with his cold, calculating stare.
"I am a man of honor, my Queen," she sighed slightly with relief and relaxed muscles she didn't realize she had tensed, "but I am also a man of money and purpose. What do you have to offer me?" Jeona sighed, this time in despair.
"I'm afraid I have no money to offer you. All the funds I receive go straight to the Resistance. All I can offer you is our undying gratitude and perhaps some money in the future. Please. I know my offer is weak and my position precarious, but you must help us. For the sake of this planet and my people. Please." She rested her other hand on his arm and put her face close to his. Arbinger remained silent for a few moments.
"…Alright." He pulled out his lightsaber and held the hilt in both of his hands, palms extended to the Queen. "By all that is right and fair, and as my word and honor as a Jedi, I pledge my loyalty and service to your Majesty, Queen Jeona de la Rocknai, until you are again seated upon the throne." He moved his right hand to his heart and gripped one edge of his lightsaber in his left. The Queen, startled by this, soon followed his example.
"By my word and honor, I, Queen Jeona de la Rocknai, do accept your pledge and hereby swear to keep you, your family, and all those you hold dear, safe until you leave my service." Arbinger quickly placed his lightsaber back in its rightful place. "I can't tell you how much this means to me. I thank you with all my heart, Arbinger of the ShadowLight Jedi." And with that she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before departing swiftly into the shadows. Arbinger stayed where he had knelt for only a few seconds before cracking a small smile and a quick chuckle, muttering something about pretty faces, before he melted again into the shadows.
The bows of the violins moved in an angry fashion, straining to follow a pumping beat set by the basses. The ladies all moved about quickly, holding their skirts with one hand and their partners' with the other. The men and women who sat on the sidelines all held their focus on one couple in particular. Kahama held the maiden's hand as Deltina swirled about vigorously, her skirts all aflutter yet her feet as light as a feather. Soon all but the musicians stopped their own activities to gaze upon the graceful duo, all on their feet, hands a blur as the applause followed the silence of the music and the floor. The patrons soon resumed their own dances as the music came to a slow waltz.
"Oh wow! That was fun!" exclaimed Deltina as she pulled her gloves back to their original place. The prince stood, panting slightly, with an ear cocked to listen to the music before he made a graceful bow.
"Would the fair Lady be so kind as to grace me with a dance?" Deltina nodded and reached for Kahama's outstretched hand.
"If you don't mind, good sir, may I cut in?" The figure had just appeared beside the prince and made a better leg than him, one more of humility than of acknowledging an equal. The man stood up and held out one hand, top hat slightly to one side.
"Arbinger!" the prince hissed with venom in his voice. "No, I'm afraid that's-"
"Yes, of course, good sir. You don't mind, do you, my Lord?" And with that Deltina slipped her hand in Arbinger's and the two glided out into the middle of the dance floor, where he held her hand and hip, she the same. The prince stared after them, nearly fuming in place.
"Done already? I thought you could keep a woman entertained for much longer…" Deltina laughed coyly at her partner, yet he only smiled slightly before replying.
"I can of course, but I'm afraid she ran off before I could properly accommodate. But I do have good news," The two danced gracefully, Arbinger relating all of the events that encompassed all the business matters in their meeting.
"Wow. So, we really are in a pickle, aren't we?" The music finished the slow waltz.
"Yes we are. But we'll manage, as always," he replied before falling silent and listening to an announcement from the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for Ladies' Choice! Each Lady please select your partner and meet out on the dance floor for one of our smoother selections of the night. Enjoy…" The announcer fell back into the crowd to be chosen by one of the many ladies around.
"I guess it's time for your dance with the prince then…" Deltina turned to see what caused Arbinger's glum stare. The prince was striding confidently forward, fending off all manner of ladies, his oily smile transfixed on Deltina. She harrumphed loudly than turned back to Arbinger.
"If my Lord would be so kind," she placed out a hand, and Arbinger took hers in his as the two resumed the dancing positions they were in before. Arbinger was able to wink at the prince in a triumphant manner before he looked down at his friend.
"Nicely done. I like your style, kid. But, about our new position. I think that we should continue with our plans as they are for the time being. It presents the best opportunity to help Jeona and finish our job here. We'll revise as we need to." Deltina only nodded in reply before smiling sarcastically exasperatedly.
"Is everything always about business with you? I swear, if I knew any better, I'd call you an ass. Can't you just once not think that maybe I didn't ask you to dance just to discuss matters, and that just perhaps I wanted to come here to pretty myself up for you? What do you think of that?" Arbinger looked at Deltina for a few moments before a confused light came to his eyes. Deltina grumbled something under her breath and shook her head before he could get in a reply.
"Well, in truth, no. I didn't think that. I'm afraid business is my motivation. Usually. I actually thought you might like the prince, and the only reason I agreed to come here was to watch you. I don't trust him, nor like him, and I would be highly displease if you were seeing him." Deltina looked up into her partner's eyes with a new light in them. She then leaned forward hesitantly before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. Arbinger looked down at her for a few moments before she shook her ahead again.
"You're such a wool-headed oaf, Arby," Arbinger looked down at the top of her head and was about to bend down until she let go of him.
"Well, thank you my Lord. I'm afraid I must now offer the prince his dance. Goodnight." And she glided off, her head held high in a dignified and hurt manner.