Author's Notes: First thing's first: I thank you all for your patience! More thanks to come later.
Standard disclaimers apply.
PATH TO TAMARAN
Chapter Eleven: Sons and Daughters of Kings
There was such a thing as beginning the day perfectly.
When Starfire roused herself from sleep, she was momentarily dismayed to find the space beside her empty. She had only just missed him. She could tell because the sheets were still warm.
Inching closer to Robin's pillow, she sought his lingering scent, closing her eyes and wishing he hadn't gotten up so early.
"Kori? You awake?"
The sound of his voice chased away the loneliness and she turned drowsily to look over her shoulder.
He was seated on the ledge of his oft-closed window, the shutters cracked open just enough for him to get a view of the bay. The light of the new sun warmed his face as he leaned against the wall, his gaze turned to the window.
Starfire blinked languorously, liking the view. He had put on a pair of red-plaid pajamas and that was all. He was bare foot and bare-chested, but she always thought he had absolutely nothing to hide. While his body shape suggested that he would always have a compact frame, there was no underestimating the strength it possessed. He would always be solid, and lined, like the acrobat he was supposed to have become. She turned over in bed lazily, enjoying the sight of him.
His eyes turned momentarily from the window to meet her gaze and he gave her a tiny smile. "You sure you want to miss the sunrise?"
She smiled back. She was still a bit sleepy, but sunrises were wonderful. She gathered the thin blanket around her and padded to the window in a swaddle of sheets.
Robin made room for her and she settled in front of him, leaning her palms and chin on his upraised knee. He pushed the shutter back even further to give her a broader view and she sighed happily at the colors of the sunrise.
She felt him ease back her hair from off her shoulder so that the wind won't catch it and tickle his face. His arms enfolded her from behind, pressing himself comfortably against her while his chin brushed lightly against her ear.
It was perfect.
She closed her eyes for a moment, letting her other senses enjoy the experience. She felt his lips press on her temple and she smiled.
"Didn't mean to wake you," he said. "But I saw you shifting; thought you might like to watch with me."
"I am glad I woke up on time." She gave a contented sigh, letting her eyes scan the horizon. The boats, varied in size, shape and color, were chugging slowly over the surface of the bay, heading off to make their deliveries. Birds flew active overhead, swooping down every once in a while on the fishing boats. The clouds above crept across the sky, throwing colors over the new day, and as the rays of the sun began to peek out of the glittering water, the city caught its light, bouncing it off glass buildings and granite walls. Across the bay lay the golden bridge; still and majestic amidst the activity above, below and around it. The few cars that raced over its pathway moved in steady traffic, tiny, colorful and dynamic.
They stayed that way for a bit, enjoying the sights and the silence.
After a while, Starfire noticed something in the room. There was stuff littering the floor. Not haphazardly. In fact, they had been set aside in an orderly fashion, but it was clear they were misplaced and she realized that they had previously occupied the very ledge she and Robin were sharing. She nudged the window shutter experimentally. It was a little tight on the hinges.
She caught Robin's look of amusement and she blushed, keeping his gaze from over her shoulder. "I was just thinking how this window is not often used."
He cocked a smile, tilting his head to look at her. "It isn't. I usually like it dark in my room."
A Wayne habit, she thought. She would never say it out loud. "What is special about this morning?"
"I don't know. I just felt like it. You love sunrises, don't you?"
She grinned. "I do."
"I guess I was thinking about you." He pulled his gaze from her, looking out to the bay again.
She smiled a bit and they settled into another comfortable silence. A few minutes later, Robin placed a parting kiss on her neck, easing himself off the window ledge to grab a shirt from his closet and pull it over himself, after which he began to gather the things he would need to start the day.
It brought her mind back to the present reality. As much as she loved Galfore and her people, the thought that she had to face them all that day was wearying, for it had to be done, sooner better than later. As princess, she may choose to confine her contact with her people to Galfore, Taryia and yes, even Karas; the rest of them would think no worse of her for it, but she did not want to pretend that the rest of the unit wasn't there. She had been introduced to the other Rulad; Luren, Jak'r and Sul-Darr. They and the rest of the unit had traveled far just to see her. The least she could do was get to know the other rulad more extensively.
"I must get ready, as well," she said, hauling herself up, blankets and all. "I must pay my respects to my people and the other rulad. And there is still much to discuss with Galfore. He and I have not even spoken about Blackfire."
Robin looked at the mask in his hand pensively and Starfire could not help but wonder at what had him thinking so deeply.
Before she could ask, he pressed his mask on and nodded. "Yeah, we have to move ahead on this Blackfire issue. We've been distracted enough as it is."
She could always depend on Robin to get down to business. Most times, she and the rest of the Titans were glad for this, but there were days she wished he wasn't so no-nonsense. She tried to imagine him saying, "Starfire, let's just stay in the entire day. It's not like we wouldn't know it if Jump City needs us. Hello! There are alarm bells all over the tower!" but the forced image was more likely to melt her brain before it ever became reality. She shook off the image and was unable to help the giggle that escaped her.
Robin arched his eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
She shook her head, grinning. She gathered all her things, wrapping the blanket more securely around her. She considered getting to her room that way. It was too early for any of the Titans to be up and seeing her half naked. At any rate, she didn't care. Showing skin did not bother her as much as the average Earthling, and while she never really walked around the tower unclothed, she realized her mild disregard for modesty bothered Robin. He didn't really say much about it, and she probably wouldn't have noticed this strange quirk of his if she hadn't asked him to go shopping with her for bathing suits. She remembered she had put on a bikini ensemble that the saleslady said left little to the imagination (accompanied by a wink) but was very flattering anyway. She had tried on the suit and had walked out of the dressing rooms just to show Robin. He didn't exactly make a scene. His eyes had simply bugged out and he somewhat hustled her back into the dressing room, saying something like, "Er—nice, but kinda shrank in the wash, don't you think? Oh, look at this one! It's red. Great color on you. Try this on." The red one, though a bikini set, covered more skin, and it wasn't exactly flattering. She supposed Robin had just grabbed the nearest suit he could get his hands on, just so he had an excuse to get her back behind the cover of dressing curtains. She had understood the signals, and while she passed on the red suit, she managed to pick a bikini to her liking that didn't cause Robin's eyebrow to twitch unnaturally.
It was so endearing, these Earthling quirks. Really, Starfire had no trouble adjusting to them if it mattered to Robin so much. She grabbed his red plaid robe, probably a match to his pajamas, and slipped it on. It was too big for her, of course, but it covered her perfectly.
Rolling her clothes under the crook of her arm, she smiled at Robin. "I will give this robe back to you later, yes?" she said, following him out the door.
He smiled back, tugging a lock of her hair affectionately as they stepped out of his room. She rolled her eyes, grinning. It was so strange, this hair tugging, but when it came to Robin, she never complained about how he wanted to show his affection outside of their most private haunts.
She turned to go to her room but was mildly astonished to see one of the guestroom doors opening. Of course, it was by law of averages that her perfect morning would be rendered imperfect by the very person who had every power to make it so.
Karras stepped out on the hallway, dressed and ready for the day. He sneered when he saw her. She frowned.
"Good morning, my precious Princess Koriand'r!"
"Good morning, Karras," she said in a less enthusiastic tone, looking discretely over her shoulder to see if Robin was there to chastise her if she said anything more unsavory.
Karras waved beyond her. "Good morning, Captain Robin!"
She stifled a sigh, looking over her shoulder to see how Robin would take it.
He simply raised an eyebrow, expelled a breath with martyr-like patience and turned to go. "Don't give her shit, prince. It's too early." And that was that. He had better things to attend to than squabbling royalty.
In a way, Starfire was glad Robin was taking it more in stride.
"Wouldn't even think it!" Karras grinned, turning his sickeningly sweet gaze on her. "You're lucky to have such a wonderful s'lor, my sweet princess."
She glared at him. "Eat ickthar, Karras."
"Every morsel of your kindness is a blessing to me, Your Highness."
A vein throbbed in her temple. Oh, X'Hal, was he going to do that all day? It was official; he had joined the mission to drive her insane. Perhaps it was his way to get her back to Tamaran: In a straight jacket.
She whipped past him, teeth grit. It was, indeed, too early for this.
Trying her best not to imagine him laughing at her while she wasn't looking, she walked to her room with as much dignity as she could muster in an ill-fitting robe and disheveled hair. Robin was right; there have been too many distractions. She would just have to focus, and hopefully, she could get through the day without killing Karras.
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"Oh, sweet princess, might you be so wonderful as to pour a cup for this unworthy rulad?"
Starfire trembled with fury, and if it wasn't such an awful thing to do, she would have flung the steaming hot coffee right in Karras' crotch. He was holding out his mug, an angelic smile on his face. Her grip on the coffeepot handle tightened and she felt heat building up at the back of her eyes.
She closed her eyes, counting to ten.
Someone giggled. It was Beast Boy. She whipped her gaze at him, eyes aglow. She might have emitted a roar.
"Eep!" Beast Boy scurried to safety behind Cyborg and Raven.
She simmered. It was not Beast Boy's fault that Karras wanted to torment her. Shaking ever so slightly, she forced a smile on her face. Perhaps if she smiled a certain way, her fangs would not show. "Cer-tain-ly," she said in careful syllables. She managed to pour Karras a cup.
"Thank you, Exalted One."
She kept the smile firmly pasted, sucking and expelling a breath through her teeth. Quickly, before he could smear on anymore of his gooey obsequiousness, she hurried to take her place on the counter between Galfore and Robin. It was a somewhat tight fit, but between the two men she trusted most in her life, she felt protected.
"X'Hal save me from his sugar-coated daggers," she muttered, shooting Karras a malignant glare as he spoke to Taryia.
Galfore chuckled. "And how long has he been doing this?"
Robin, without looking up from the daily paper, replied. "Since early this morning, before the rest of you got here."
Galfore took a dainty sip of his coffee, the mug looking miniscule in his huge hands. "Koriand'r, do you want me to order him to stop?"
Starfire scowled. "And make him think he has won? Absolutely not! Let him look the fool… calling me such ridiculous names…"
Robin shrugged. "I don't know. That Rainbow Sunshine Muffin kinda had nice ring to it."
"Robin, do not even dare. I will never speak to you again, if you do."
He chuckled. "Easy, tiger. Don't bite my head off."
She calmed herself, blushing. "I am sorry. I did not mean to snap at you."
His only reply was a soft laugh and a quick squeeze of her shoulder to say that all was forgiven.
Starfire tried to clear her mind by concentrating on her Eggo French Toaster sticks. It wasn't "Azarath, Metroin, Zinthos," but it did its job.
It was half-past eight in the morning when Robin called everyone to the Conference Room.
As they settled around the table, Robin led the discussion. "First thing's first. Galfore, what do you know about our Blackfire problems?"
Starfire noted the split-second flinch on Galfore's cheek. While he had hardly ever looked upon Blackfire with the kind of affection he had for Starfire, he had never borne contempt for the iron-willed Komand'r. He had, after all, watched her grow up as well. He had seen Blackfire and Starfire as sisters, and once upon a time, he would have given his life for either of them. Referring to Blackfire as a "problem" was somewhat jarring.
"Only what Koriand'r had told us through her messages," said Galfore. "It was difficult to bring such a message to my superiors. I have faith in Starfire. It is a virtue ingrained in me since the day Koriand'r was born, but the generals, senators and… the king…"
Starfire kept her gaze steady on him, never flinching.
"… The Core leaders of Tamaran were hard pressed to believe the information. One could hardly blame them. For any of them to act, they need proof. And while we were able to confirm Blackfire's exploits with the Centari police, that can hardly be considered proof that she means to harm an entire star system."
Starfire frowned. "What about the Wrath of Auron? Did not my father care that the project might be revived by her, whatever it was? It was certainly awful enough for a group of brilliant Earth scientists to turn down the commission. Does the mention of the project not alarm him?"
Galfore sighed. "Perhaps he considers it, but remember, princess: that project was not so widely known as to be talked about casually. The stories about the Wrath of Auron project are shrouded in lore; stuff Tamaran's conspiracy theorists thrive on. Whether there is any truth to it or not, I have no way of knowing for there are no records of it in any of the archives."
"But I heard mother and father speak of it! I saw brilliant stones being spirited into the castle by mysterious messengers! I know those gems had something to do with it!"
"You were a child then, Koriand'r. Do you think a panel of wizened, intelligent, elitist senators would give credence to your decade-old testimony? And from when you were seven, too. You know they would not."
Starfire's shoulders slumped. He was right, of course, but it did not change the fact that the disregard of the council, however founded, could be a potentially fatal mistake.
"The Legionbelieves you, Your Highness," said Taryia in her passionate tone. "Lead us, and we will not need the affirmation of generals and kings to follow your commands."
Galfore's gaze darted to her, for the first time looking terribly incensed. "Taryia, mind your tongue!"
Starfire could not help but stare at Galfore in awe. She had never seen him so blatantly displeased. There was suddenly a dead silence in the room and carefully, she watched for Taryia's reaction. Taryia's words were, for the most part, seditious. Starfire noticed that Taryia had a tendency to speak so, but she also noticed that Taryia's devotion was alarmingly steered in Starfire's direction.
The fact was unsettling. Starfire had to wonder if it was just Taryia who felt this way, or whether there were many in the army like her.
Taryia did not soften the set of her chin, but her cheeks flared red. "I apologize, Captain. I spoke out of turn."
Starfire looked at Karras, wondering where he stood in the little drama. He bore no expression and she could not tell if he agreed with Taryia or thought Taryia mad for showing such devotion to the brat princess. All he did was lean back on his seat, his gaze pensive upon his co-lieutenant.
Galfore nodded, though he continued to look stern, as if he could not really get over the fact that Taryia had spoken so. "Apology acknowledged, lieutenant."
Taryia's cheek flinched ever so slightly.
Starfire could not help but be bothered by Galfore's words. "Acknowledged," he had said. Not quite "accepted."
Raven leaned forward and Starfire felt a barely discernable breath of calm.
Around Starfire, she could see tense shoulders relaxing. It was just like Raven to do that sort of thing. Whether she did it in consideration of everyone or because the frayed nerves of others put her on edge, Starfire would never know. It hardly mattered anyway. It worked to everyone's benefit.
"Starfire, these gems you're talking about," said Raven. "Where did they come from? Who delivered them?"
Starfire shook her head. "I do not know. I mean… no one really bothered to tell me where they came from… there were messengers, I suppose…"
"Could you remember what they looked like? What they wore?"
Starfire wondered where Raven was getting at, and she could see from the faces of everyone on the table that they were wondering as well. Beast Boy was already getting fidgety. He was probably beginning to feel left out again, no doubt thinking that everyone else might have figured it out already while he was still in a state of confusion.
She hesitated, uncertain. She had been so young; practically unconcerned. She couldn't even be certain if her memory was reliable on that aspect.
Robin nodded. "Try to remember, Starfire."
She shouldn't have been surprised that Robin had caught on faster than the rest of them to whatever Raven was thinking. She concentrated on trying to recall and she did remember one incident where she had caught a glimpse of a stranger standing in the middle of the Great Hall, his skin like red leather, his straight silver hair tied back in a loose pony tail. He looked young, like one newly matured; thirteen, or maybe fourteen. He had looked weary, like he had traveled a long way, and it marred his pleasant features. He had wandered briefly to her grandfather's painting and was astonished when he actually lifted himself into the air to stare into the image's eyes. But all that aside, what caught Starfire's attention the most was his clothing; his clothes were plain; utilitarian. The colors of his dress were distinct, and the material of his top and trousers seemed to be of good quality, but there was absolutely nothing fancy about the ensemble. This was odd because none but the highest and finest of Vega were allowed to walk the Great Hall of Korithus. Who then, was the plainly dressed stranger given leave to walk the halls of great men?
"There was a boy… a young man, I suppose, in the Great Hall of Korithus, once," she said. "I remember him because—" she paused, blushing painfully at what she had to say "—because he did not look like he belonged."
The Titans looked perplexed, but Galfore, Taryia and Karras seemed to have understood perfectly.
"Lower caste," said Karras in a matter-of-fact tone.
Starfire frowned. She hadn't meant it like that, exactly. Tamaran did not have a caste system, but Kalapatt used to. It was abolished in Kalapatt more than half a century ago, but the ideology was still a long way from disappearing.
Cyborg grimaced. "You have a caste system?"
"We do not!" cried Starfire. "We never did. Kalapatt used to, but it was abolished some eighty years ago. That man I saw in the Great Hall was not lower caste. But—But…" Again, a painful blush fell upon her.
Galfore smiled sagely. "He did not seem like the kind of person who would be invited to grace the Great Hall. The Great Hall of Korithus welcomes kings and queens, their sons and daughters and only the most distinguished among Vega's nobility. I have walked in it, only because of my duties to Koriand'r, but other than that, I dared not step into it without permission."
"This stranger, then," said Raven. "Did he look like a messenger?"
Starfire shrugged. "I could not be sure, but father came to see him personally and accept a package from him. I did not see what was in the package. Father ordered that the stranger be given a place to sleep, some food and supplies for his trip back. It sounded like he was a messenger but I did not really investigate. I had other problems at the time…" She had been seven, and Blackfire had just recently failed her trials. It was her turn to take the tests, and she had been given leave to go home before her trials could be undertaken. She had been wrought with emotion; sympathy for her sister who lay battered in her room; nervousness for what she was about to face in Okaara; fear for the pain test-takers had to endure during the trial. There were other things to think about; she had not needed to add mysterious strangers to her list of anxieties.
"Was he Tamaranian?" asked Robin.
"He did not look like he was, but he spoke the language very fluently, and he could fly. Maybe he was a mix of Tamaranian and something else. I do not know. I did not ask and quite honestly, I had not really cared all that much. Why is it important?"
Robin looked to Raven.
She nodded. "It was possible that there were rulers from other planets who were involved with the project. Maybe it was just that your father headed it. I'm asking about the messengers because sometimes, messengers carry the colors of their liege. If we could identify a messenger with a foreign realm, maybe someone could investigate the project from that realm; beyond Tamaran, so to speak. The king of Tamaran may not be amenable to sharing information, but others might be more willing."
"It's a conspiracy…" said Beast Boy, wide-eyed.
Robin looked thoughtful at Beast Boy's words. "Starfire, who were usually invited to the Great Hall? Who were the rulers your father kept company with the most?"
She smiled apologetically. "The Great Hall was not often used by the time I had the sense to understand the politics that went on in it. There was an impending war. I did not see my father keeping company with the other rulers of the realm."
"I saw," said Galfore. "I could identify a few. King Tharras was among them."
Starfire looked to Karras and the rest followed suit. It was Karras' father.
Karras' reaction was restrained. "His Majesty did not speak of such a project. The princess' message to Galfore was the first time I heard of it."
His Majesty, he had called his father. Starfire knew Karras regarded his father with great formality; as if they weren't related at all. There was no hate, but affection was not apparent. They might have had a warmer relationship when no one was looking, but Starfire would not be surprised if that were not so. Royal children were rarely so affectionate with their parents.
"You could ask him about it," she said.
Karras scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back on his chair. "My dear, delightful princess, if His Majesty did not see it fit to tell me about it without prompting then he would not deem it necessary to answer such questions from the prince."
She bit back an acid retort for his stupid endearments. "You are his son."
"And you, Your beautiful Highness, are King Myand'r's daughter. What's your point?"
She shifted on her seat uncomfortably. Such a sad image of filial want the two of them made.
If I ever have children, I would love them dearly and I would show it, she thought with random conviction. It did not, however, make her feel any less embarrassed to be so obviously lacking in parental affection. She raised her chin stubbornly. "Ask him, anyway. I do not care if he sends you to your room for your insolence and for insubordination. Just ask. This is important."
"Send me to my room?" He laughed bitterly. "You think that is all he will do to me? He will not tolerate such matters of state in private conference, which means I will have to present the question in the presence of council. If he denies it in public and still I insist on the point, he will be bound by law to act on my ill behavior. He will send me to the dungeons for contempt, and it will not matter if I am prince. I get five lashes anyway! That is the punishment for incensing and insulting the king by Kalapattian law. He cannot give exception to me or he will seem weak. What did you think?"
"Dude," said Beast Boy, shocked. "Your pops would do that to you?"
"Pops?"
"Your old man,"
"Old—?"
Starfire sighed, exasperated. She cut in before Beast Boy could give Karras another answer that would confuse the prince even more. "Oh, for X'Hal's sake, your father!"
Karras' eyebrow arched, but her explanation, however impatiently put, got him back on track. "Yes, my 'pops' would do that to me. It is the way of kings. I did not make the rules. But… I will do it. I will ask. Maybe I'll get lucky and he will be in a good mood," he muttered.
Starfire swallowed the sudden surge of guilt that threatened to choke her. The last thing she wanted to feel for Karras was compassion, but it could not be helped. His words had painted an all-too dire picture of Kalapattian laws at work. King Tharras had not seemed like a cruel man when she met him. Serious, yes. Rigid, most definitely. But he had also seemed fair, if he was a bit unyielding. It was those very traits that made Karras' words all the more plausible. He would allow his son to be lashed because it was the law.
Cyborg made a face. "Harsh, man. Maybe you really don't have to."
The arrogant look on Karras' face increased, ten fold, and he cocked a smile. "No. It will be fine. It would not be the first time I incensed my king in public."
That was not hard to believe at all.
"At any rate," said Robin. "There are other options of proving that Blackfire's been busy. Cyborg, any progress on finding out Blackfire's travel path?"
Cyborg nodded. "I'm working on something, but I have a few points I have to research with BB, later. Raven and I are coordinating with Aqualad on the possibilities and hopefully, we'll have something more concrete in a day or two."
"Good. Raven? You're in constant communication with Aqualad. Has he had any significant reports?"
"He's following a lead… towards San Juan, Puerto Rico."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Puerto Rico?"
"He didn't say much. He also mentioned something about Miami, but he wasn't clear about it at all. He really seemed reluctant to talk about it, but he promised he would have a full and comprehensive report once he was certain about everything."
Robin's brows knotted. Starfire could tell that something had struck him. "Puerto Rico and Miami… intriguing. Let me know as soon as you hear from him."
Raven nodded.
Robin looked around him. "Anything else?"
Beast Boy nudged Cyborg and Cyborg made a gesture telling him to be patient.
"Galfore, we have a request," Cyborg said. "BB and I would like to study some of your ship's technology. We just have a few questions, actually, but it would really help if we could meet with your ship's engineer. We don't want to be a bother, but we'd be grateful if you could—"
"Say no more. Of course I would be happy to grant your request," said Galfore in his easy, welcoming tone. "I will bring you to the ship myself; introduce you to… let us see, ah! Wyfern would be more than willing to help you with all your questions. A bit strange, maybe, but I believe more likeable than Atol."
"Atol has a rod sticking up his—"
"Karras!" cried Taryia before he could finish.
Cyrborg smiled. "Wyfern sounds like a nice guy."
Galfore chuckled. "Wyfern is a she."
Beast Boy and Cyborg looked at each other and grinned. "Even better!" they said in unison.
Starfire rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "I will join you on this trip. I must meet with the other rulad and the rest of the unit."
Galfore beamed, approving of it. "Yes. My unit would appreciate it greatly; to see their princess up close and personal. And if Robin is not too busy, would he be so kind as to come with us as well?"
Robin and Starfire's eyebrows arched at the same time.
Starfire had a feeling Robin wasn't asked to come as her leader; he was being asked to come as her s'lor, and by the look on Robin's face, he knew it too. But that was about as much resistance on the matter Robin showed.
He accepted the invitation gladly, telling Raven that she would have to man the tower by herself in their absence. "You gonna be okay alone?"
Raven arched an eyebrow. "No. I am terrified of being alone. It is my greatest fear in life, which is why I like locking myself in my room with a 'Do not disturb' sign on my door."
"Okay, okay. Stupid question."
She cocked a barely discernible grin.
Galfore nodded. "We will take the gyrocraft then?"
Beast Boy grinned. "Gyrocraft! That's a wicked cool name for good ol' T-Chopper."
"How soon before we could take off for the landing site, Cy?" Robin asked.
"T-Chopper's always ready, champ."
"Good. Titans, let's fly."
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There were even more reporters circling the perimeter of the forest on the Tamaranians' second day, but security was effective. No one appeared to be getting through the barricades. It was not much of a problem, anyway. As of yet, there were no mobs insisting on passage. It would however be no surprise should mobs form. However common alien visits have become in the last five years, the last Thanagarian "visit" put more than a few Earthlings on edge.
The Titans arrived at the landing site without incident, and upon touchdown, they were met by Rulad Luren, Jak'r and Sul-Dharr.
The Tamaranians were quick to give formal greeting to Starfire, telling her how honored they were to be graced by her presence in their camp. They spoke in the native tongue, yet it was clear that they were offering her a great deal more respect that she felt she deserved.
Starfire stifled any show of embarrassment, graciously telling them that it was her pleasure to come visit.
Jak'r, the one who delivered the formal speech, was a pleasant-featured young man of typical Tamaranian build. His orange hair was tied back in a pristine ponytail. He had standard issue weapons strapped around his hips, but unlike his brethren, he did not seem to carry a custom sword. He did, however, wear odd looking amplifiers on his hands. He was eager and perhaps a bit naïve. There was hardly anything hardened about him. His colleagues watched him with fond amusement, and Starfire figured he must be one of the newer recruits. He was about to insist on something more, probably to tell her that the honor was all theirs, or something along those lines, when Galfore spoke in English.
"I believe my rulad have not been formally introduced to Robin and the others." Galfore reintroduced Robin, Cyborg and Beast Boy, speaking alternately between English and Tamaranian. The Titans clasped hands with the rulad and Starfire immediately saw the spark of language absorption with Luren and Jak'r. Sul-Dharr had on a translator; one similar to Karras'. After introductions were made, Galfore gestured to Jak'r. "Jak'r was in intelligence before he asked to be transferred to my unit. He is brilliant in the head, and as you could see, polite."
"Aye," said Luren with a sparkle in his eyes. "We have not quite beaten that out of him just yet."
The rest of the rulad laughed at this; even Sul-Dharr who seemed so grave and menacing at first glance.
Luren nudged Jak'r good naturedly, causing a blush to tinge Jak'r's cheeks.
Luren was tall and gangly; almost painfully thin, but his muscles looked to be rock solid. There wasn't an ounce of fat on him. He wore his auburn hair shorter than most men's, but while his hair wasn't the least bit cropped, it did not get past his shoulders, and the trailing ringlets tumbled all over his head and sharply featured face. Luren was much more laden with ammunition than the rest of them. It was likely he was not blessed with starbolts, but it did not seem to matter to him. Aside from the weapons weighing down his hips and arms, he had two short swords crossed at his back. The sinews on his ripped arms proved that he could wield them.
Starfire turned and offered Luren and Sul-Dharr a smile. Sul-Dharr stood straight back, arms crossed over his chest. While he was not as big as Galfore, he was the biggest among his rank. His biceps looked to be as thick as her thigh, probably thicker, and his breadth was broad, almost like it stretched his caramel colored skin taut. His golden eyes shone stark against his feral features, but they were beautiful in their feline quality. His fiery red hair looked like a lion's mane, and when he smiled, Starfire could make out the slight jut of K-9s. She tried not to look surprised. She hadn't realized Hnyxxens had fangs. The fact that Sul-Dharr only carried one massive sword as his weapon made Starfire wonder if he used those teeth in combat. It was not exactly a savory thought, to have one like Sul-Dharr biting down on one's spine.
"He is jesting, of course," stammered Jak'r. "They would not really—you know, beat me… Your Highness…" His gaze nervously darted to Robin. "S'lor… captain…"
Robin's cheek twitched very slightly at that.
Starfire hastily proffered him a kind smile. "I—um—know they would not, Jak'r dai Rulad."
He looked ready to explode with the brilliant flush that rose up his face.
"Luren is my one failure," said Galfore in a light, teasing tone.
"Captain!" gasped Luren, clutching at his heart. "You injure me with your words!"
He looked anything but hurt. It was clear that Luren was the liveliest one of them all, thriving on attention, but he was pleasant enough for everyone to oblige him his vice.
Beast Boy laughed, leaning towards Starfire. "He's funny."
"You'd think so," Cyborg, who heard him, said in a wry tone.
Galfore gestured to the Hnyxxen. "And here, Sul-Dharr, is perhaps the one man that could scare the living daylights out of my demons."
Sul-Dharr grinned, fangs flashing. He chuckled, and the sound was so deep it could only have come from the very dark depths of him. "You have no demons, Captain." His honeyed baritone fit the vicious beauty he possessed.
"But if I did, they would be afraid of you."
Cyborg leaned towards Starfire. "He's phat, yo."
Starfire had known Cyborg long enough to understand that "phat" did not mean overweight. She giggled. "You would think so."
"The camp is most eager to receive Her Highness and her party," said Luren with a grand flourish. "Shall we?"
Starfire looked to Robin who nodded. He let her lead.
When they arrived at camp, everyone was at attention, lined up in perfect rows and columns. Jak'r called something out in Tamaranian and the entire troupe responded in crisp unison.
Stifling a sigh, Starfire watched the display with perfect grace. Jak'r led the troupe in a formal salute and then held them at attention.
Starfire managed to respond with dignity, responding to Jak'r in traditional Tamaranian, acknowledging the honor of being served by the Imperial Legion. Jak'r looked terribly pleased and Starfire tried not to listen to the snickering she heard, not from Beast Boy or Cyborg, but from the other rulad.
"Jak'r, you may tell your men to go back to their duties," she said.
Jak'r nodded, ordering his men to disperse. They made a final show of respect before they briskly scattered back to their work.
Busy as they all were, Starfire could not help noticing how several of them kept stealing furtive glances at her. She would have to make the rounds; show interest in them and their work, and hopefully, she could be among them and not get treated too much like a princess.
Finally unable to help herself, Starfire leaned closer to Robin. "I am embarrassed by all this," she muttered, through her teeth, managing to keep her smile firmly pasted on.
He chuckled. "Just because you ran away from home, doesn't mean they forgot you were their princess."
"Well, I do not have to endure this treatment for long. Hopefully, after I interact with them, they will do away with these formalities…"
Luren chuckled. "Jak'r would have no such thing."
Starfire turned her gaze on him, eyes wide. He had heard. She stammered to explain herself. "I—I appreciate all this, of course, but—"
"I for one am glad you do not stand for ceremony," said Luren. "I tried to tell Jak'r that eight years away from court had probably ruined your taste for such ridiculous niceties, but would he listen to me? Noooo. Besides, Karras did not exactly paint a demure picture of you, at least to me. I would have bet my life you were less princess and more—ahem—warrior."
She had a feeling Karras had described her with less savory names. How mortifying. She groaned in despair. "Oh, prayer of Branx…" It was interesting how she had begun readapting the best of Tamaranian curses. "How wonderful of Karras to fill you in on the details."
"Karras had always been full of ickthar. I do not believe ninety nine percent of what he says."
"Oh please," Karras said from behind them. "If it were not for me, you would be in trouble up to your eyeballs."
"You see? He gives me no reason to believe him."
Starfire grinned. She liked Luren already. But what a flirt, he was! She wondered if Robin was taking any offense to it, but he seemed unbothered; amused even. Perhaps he knew, deep down, that Luren understood who Robin was in the Tamaranian scheme of things.
Karras scoffed, but it was obvious that he was holding back a smile. "I should have known you would be abandoning your loyalties to find favor with the princess."
"Hush, Karras. You are just some prince from some planet. I would abandon you in a heartbeat for the princess Koriand'r, who, if you have forgotten, is the princess of my planet."
"Bah! Sell out."
Luren laughed.
"Luren," barked Galfore. "Stop licking the princess' boots and get Wyfern up here!"
"Aye, sir!" Luren hurried off, giving a rushed and exaggerated bow to Starfire and Robin then exchanging friendly nudges with Karras.
Galfore ushered his lieutenants in conference with the Titans. "Sul-Dharr and Taryia, you will accompany the Titans with Wyfern, just so the men do not bully Wyfern so much. The Titans are busy; they do not have time to waste on silly banter."
Taryia and Sul-Dharr exchanged smiles.
"It will be done, captain," said Sul-Dharr. His buttery voice could lull anyone into submission.
The titans looked to Robin.
"I'm going with Cyborg and Beast Boy," he said. "Starfire? You have other matters to attend to, I think. We could handle the engineering aspect for now. You have to see to your people."
She felt her stomach churn at that. A little voice in her head was insisting that she go with the titans, yet she knew she owed the men and women in the unit her time and interest.
She nodded. "Yes. I would very much like to know them."
Galfore smiled. "Then it is set. The princess desires to make the rounds. We will be escorting her around camp; Karras, Jak'r and I. Luren, too, when he gets back. That clown is entertaining if he does not get half my men killed in battle with his crazy strategies." However deprecating his assessment of Luren was, Starfire noted the humor in Galfore's eyes. She had a feeling that crazy as Luren was, Galfore counted him among the few men he could trust with his life.
Luren soon returned, Wyfern shoving his arm from off her shoulder. She was a tiny woman, with her black hair tied in a bun with strange, unflattering wires. She had smudges on her face and hands and her clothed had seen better days. Strange goggles hung from her neck and her hips were strapped with the strangest tools Starfire had ever seen. She hurried on ahead of Luren in a flying glide, violet eyes livid with scorn, though Luren only laughed at her.
Still shooting daggers at Luren, she landed before Galfore, looking dwarfish compared to his mass.
"You called, captain?" she asked in Tamaranian, just then turning her gaze to him and the rest of the group. Her eyes widened the moment her gaze rested on Starfire, and then Robin. "Sweet X'Hal singing!" Her dirtied hands went to her hair self-consciously, but perhaps realizing her fingers were blackened from what was probably engine grease, she snatched them back down, hiding them behind her back as she took a straight backed stance, much like an awkward soldier at attention.
Starfire cocked a smile and sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Wait! I'll do it!" cried Beast Boy, pushing his way through the bulk of men and women. Wyfern looked at him, momentarily mystified. When he poked her she yelped and instantly, she was speaking in the English language.
She looked half-perplexed, half-displeased. "Goodness!" she gasped. "What—!"
Beast Boy grinned.
Galfore chuckled with the rest of his lieutenants, putting a placating hand on Wyfern's shoulder. "Wyfern, this gentleman who obliged you his language is Beast Boy. This fine young man is Cyborg. They are two of the princess' best friends."
Beast Boy and Cyborg waved. She merely stared, overwhelmed.
"And then of course… you know Princess Koriand'r and Robin."
Starfire was unable to avoid Robin's pointed gaze. Since when was Robin a known figure in this miniature, Tamaranian society? Since he was marked as s'lor, most likely.
Wyfern swallowed. "I am—that is to say—honored… if I had known I would be meeting Her Highness and His Lordship I would have endeavored to look more presentable…"
Robin blinked in shock. "L-Lord—?"
Beast Boy's eyes sparkled, and he was about to say something—no doubt in Robin's expense—when Cyborg clamped a hand on Beast Boy's mouth.
Starfire grasped Robin's arm, squeezing gently to interrupt his protest. It was a title of respect given to one in Robin's "status". She should have warned him about it, but it was an awkward enough subject between them. It was difficult to discuss such details. "We would not have preferred to meet you any other way, Wyfern. Nothing is better than seeing an engineer hard at work."
The flush that rose in Wyfern's cheeks was amazing.
"Wyfern," said Galfore. "You will escort Cyborg, Beast Boy and—ahem—their captain, Robin, around the engineering chambers of the main ship. They will have questions about the ship's functions and I trust that you are the best person to give them answers."
"Of course, captain!"
"Excellent. Start with the power core. It is quite the awesome sight, after all."
"Aye, aye, sir! Anytime they are ready, captain."
Galfore nodded, turning a questioning eye at Robin.
Robin met gazes with Cyborg and Beast Boy, tilting his head to gesture that they begin the tour. He stepped up beside Wyfern who stared up at him like he was some sort of deity she was afraid to offend.
He cocked a grin. "I'm not going to smite you, you know."
She blinked in surprise; shock, really.
Cyborg laughed. "We'll be right behind you, Lord Robin."
"Shut-up, Cy."
Beast Boy doubled over in hyena-like laughter. "Maketh us, shut-upeth, oh lordeth Robineth!"
Robin rolled his eyes and Starfire giggled. He looked at her over her shoulder. "We'll see you later, Star."
She nodded. The titans left with Wyfern, Taryia and Sul-Dharr, heading towards the clearing. She watched them get beamed up in the ship and wondered what Beast Boy would say about the experience.
Luren bounced to her side, speaking in easy, Tamaranian speech. "They are roasting a mean one-eyed yarkwort over there at the end of the clearing. It is glazed with a delicate zorkaberry base sauce. Do you wish to partake? We are still too afraid to hunt anything on Earth, lest we end up eating an intelligent life-form…"
Jak'r gasped. "L-Luren!"
"Oh, relax, Jak'r," said Karras, picking at something in his teeth. "It is just the princess. She's sweeter than candy"
Starfire hadn't missed the sarcasm in his tone.
"K-Karras!" cried Jak'r in an even more horrified tone.
Galfore clapped a hand over Jak'r's shoulder. "Come, my genteel young rulad, I will let you lead this immersion, and yes, Luren, I think that is a splendid suggestion. Koriand'r?"
"A wonderful idea! I have never—er—tasted a yarkwort. Is it a new species in Tamaran?"
"No," said Luren. "They are from Euphorix, but they are delicious."
"Then I look forward to this treat."
As a group, with Jak'r frowning at the gross informality of their treatment of the princess, they followed the sweet, roasted aroma of zorkaberries.
888888888888888888888
Starfire had lost track of the time, sitting around the campfire with the captain, his lieutenants and the rest of the unit. So quickly after she first joined the chefs at the fire, everyone else had taken their seats around her, and with Luren leading the conversation, everyone around the pit laughed and jeered like brothers and sisters in camp.
It was rather difficult at first for Starfire to catch on with the jokes. Humor was never one of her strong points, but Jak'r sat by her, frantically explaining everything lest—horror of horrors—the princess felt left out.
Everyone poked fun at him for it, but it added to the merriment, and soon, Starfire was laughing as spontaneously along with them.
Karras was strangely amicable. She and he would frown at each other when they met gazes, but they exchanged no impolite words. It was just as well for Karras. The entire camp showed her respect, and she felt they had no reason to dislike her. If Karras said anything untoward, her wrath would be the least of his worries.
She found, instead, that Karras directed his insults at Luren, who answered with the same casual disregard. Yet, it was clear to see that they were great friends. After exchanging crass words about each other's mothers, Luren would sit by Karras and hand him a canteen of sorts, out of which Karras would happily partake. Then they would exchange a one-liner joke that only the two of them could understand.
Starfire also noticed that Galfore had sat back and let his rulad take center stage. He smiled his wizened smile, as if amused by the antics of his children, and he would nod several times, approving of what was said, laughing when the words bordered on inappropriate.
When the Tamaranian wine was passed all around, Starfire took a cup willingly, but she nursed it. She did not plan to ingest more than that one fill.
Later on, the gathering became less unified and groups formed all around. Several members of the unit approached Starfire shyly, introducing themselves personally and telling her one thing or another about themselves. Starfire swore to herself that she would remember every single one who ventured to speak to her. She took a sincere interest in their role with the unit and she tried, as best she could, to be worthy of these brave men and women.
More than once, she was asked about Robin, whether he would come back with them to Tamaran, or whether he was the jealous type (a common thing to ask when talking about s'lor), or whether he was a noble in this Water Planet called Earth. She faltered in all three questions, barely surviving the inquiry. She did not know how to tell them that she would not be going back with them to Tamaran; that Robin could not yet come to grips with his Tamaranian status; that Robin's social standing on Earth was in no way a factor in her relationship with him. There was too much to explain for her to give concise, straightforward answers.
Each time she stumbled in her replies, Karras would shoot her a mocking glare. It made things worse. She was grateful for every time Galfore saved her, for even Luren, so much the model of good humor and cheer, found her evasive replies confusing.
Eventually, Luren himself did the asking. "He is your heart's consort, is he not?"
It was an informal way of putting it, "Heart's Consort." Perhaps it was more romantic than the formal term, but Starfire found she preferred it. "Yes, if you put it that way."
He did not ask about the peculiar way she had replied. "He takes good care of you, princess?"
She smiled. "Of course he does, Luren."
"He understands the importance of his status?"
It was a bit harder to answer that question, but she did. "Yes, he understands, though it is difficult for him to… adopt it. He is not Tamaranian, or even Vegan. There is a twenty-six light year distance between our customs and his."
Luren frowned, barely comprehending it. "But it is an honor, princess. If I were him, I would be lording it over all these fools." He swept his hand over the other rulad.
Jak'r grimaced. "What will he say next?"
Karras scoffed. "Like you could lord it over me, Luren."
Luren grinned. "You do not count. You are a worthless Kalapattian; inferior to us Tamaranians."
"Oh, am I?" Karras grinned.
"Absolutely!" Luren turned his attention back to Starfire, gathering her hands in his. "I would be happy to be your s'lor princess. Just say the word, and I will prostrate myself at your feet with utmost devotion. Ask anything! By the by, have I told you how beautiful I think you are—?"
"Alright lad," said Galfore, giving Luren a friendly pat on the shoulder. "You do not wish to embarrass yourself further."
Jak'r sighed, eyes rolling to the heavens. "X'Hal save you, Luren. You are a disgrace to this unit."
Luren pouted, releasing Starfire's hands to cross his arms over his chest. "What? What did I do?"
Starfire tried not to laugh, somewhat unsure of where Luren's pranks began and his earnestness ended.
It was Galfore who shook with laughter, leading Luren and Jak'r away all of a sudden. "Walk with me, lads. I have an important matter to discuss with you."
"Remember my offer, princess!" cried Luren as he let Galfore usher him away.
It was the strangest thing to suddenly find herself alone with Karras. She watched Galfore walk away, gaping. When she looked at Karras, she scowled.
He raised an eyebrow. "I have a thing or two to say to you, princess, and make no mistake about it; I will not be kissing your behind like the rest of the unit."
"You do those good men and women dishonor by judging their intentions, Karras."
There was a moment's pause, as if her words had struck him true. He expelled a soft breath. "Indeed. I take that back. I am honored to serve with every single one of them, but it does not change the fact that you will not like what I have to say to you."
"Say it."
"You do them dishonor by refusing to go back to Tamaran."
She glared at him, her temper bubbling beneath the surface. "We have discussed this before, Karras. Tamaran has no need of me."
"No urgent need, perhaps, but you know you must go back anyway." He cocked a smile, crossing his arms over his chest. "Look at yourself right now. What are you doing in this camp? Why are you here? There was no need to meet with the soldiers. There was no need to sit with them around a fire and share the mid-afternoon meal. Yet you felt you should. And dare I say you wanted to, anyway? You saw how they respected you; admired you. Every single man in this unit would die for you, Koriand'r."
She scoffed, trying to pretend she hadn't heard the rest of his words. "Not everyone, Karras. Or am I wrong?"
He let out a bitter laugh. "You think I would not take a fatal blow for you? I think you are a selfish, spoiled and unyielding brat, but I know my duties to this army. I know my duties to the people. Besides, I would shame my father if I did not get between you and harm's way… not to mention the fact that Galfore would skin me alive if I was ever so negligent."
Her fists clenched. "Why are you here, Karras? Why did you join this mission at all? You are a prince of the realm. You could have stayed in Vega; serviced the army from there. Certainly, you did not have to endure my unpleasant company!"
"I volunteered to be here, yes, for two things. First, because I belong with the rest of the rulad and I will not let a whiny little princess get in the way of the brotherhood I share with them. Second, I do love a challenge, and knowing you will be difficult, I was more than willing to come here. Depend upon it princess, I, and no one else, would be able to convince you to come back to Tamaran with us. I spoke to my captain about this last night. I asked him if I could try my hand at convincing you myself. He was skeptical, but he knows when to trust me. I will not disappoint my captain. I will do what I can, regardless of what the others do to try and convince you. They could plead and cajole and try to soften your will with their gentle persuasions, but knowing you, none of those things will work. You are bullheaded and contrary and that is what you will always be. I know this of you, so it will be I who will succeed in beating the inevitable into your stubborn head."
She growled, glaring at him. "You? Convince me? Karras, does your captain know you are here to sabotage the mission?"
He scoffed. "Say what you will, you malicious little snit."
She didn't want to listen to him anymore. "There is absolutely nothing you could say to me, Karras, that would ever make me heed you. You have been nothing but rude to me, you call me names, you think me no better than the dirt under your shoe and I despise you exceedingly! Why on Earth did you even think you could convince me to return to Tamaran?"
He cocked a grin. "Because I am a handsome demon of a prince that no woman has managed to resist, my lovely buttercup?"
Furious, she stalked past him. "Ugh! Please stay away from me, you repulsive, insufferable—argh!" She needed to find Robin and the others before she murdered Karras in cold blood.
"I will make a deal with you, Koriand'r. Do you think you are man enough to handle it?"
His words thrummed in her ears. She whirled around, her stance rigid. "I could handle anything you dish out, Karras!"
"Then we could settle this the way we usually settle our arguments." His lips stretched into an acid smile.
She scowled. "We usually do that with fighting, Karras. Armed, no less. Do not tempt me. Right now, I want nothing more than to hurt you."
He smiled. "Then this will work out splendidly, don't you think?"
She scoffed at the mere idea. Indeed, she found the prospect of beating him with a stick quite satisfying, but to settle the matter of her leaving or staying on Earth with a brawl? It was silly. "Ridiculous and childish and—"
Karras turned away from her, searching the camp for a few seconds before his eyes rested on the figure of Galfore in the distance. He began to walk briskly towards his captain.
"W-What are you doing?" said Starfire, suddenly worried about the determined look on his face.
He walked past her and she followed, rising in the air to catch up with him.
"Do not drag Galfore into this!" she hissed.
"This matter is more important to him than to any of us," he replied resolutely. "I will have him understand how best to deal with you!"
Before she could say anything more, they reached the group, and Karras was requesting private conference with the captain and the lieutenants.
With Galfore's nod, the subordinate soldiers left without a word of question.
Luren took one look at Karras and Starfire and he grinned knowingly. "Loving one another, as usual?"
Karras shot him a half-derisive, half-tolerant look. "Quiet, commoner. Let the prince speak."
"Whatever you say, butt-plug."
Galfore frowned. "What is this about, Karras?"
"I will offer a deal with the princess, in the presence of my commanding officer and my peers so that any agreement we may come to holds formal and true. She and I will battle for each other's submission right here, in the camp clearing. If she wins, she may stay here on Earth and I will endeavor to convince the Grand Ruler and his family to cross the galaxy and see her."
Starfire was not the only one in the group to gasp in astonishment.
"But if I win," continued Karras, "she must come back to Tamaran with us. Not permanently. She could even bring her friends with her. But she will come back with us on this trip."
Starfire gathered her senses. "This is utterly ridiculous! We cannot settle this on a silly little fight—"
"Oh, believe me, Koriand'r, there will be nothing silly about this."
Galfore's expression grew grim and he looked to her. "Do you accept this challenge, princess? He has presented this matter in the presence of his peers and higher officers. His challenge has become formal, and if you agree, binding."
She was shocked to hear him even consider it. "What? But this is—"
"It is a formal challenge," repeated Jak'r. He did not sound the least bit pleased, but it looked as if he had little choice but to accept the situation. "In the presence of three able witnesses, it may as well be set in stone."
Luren looked anxiously at her. "You will accept, won't you, princess?"
Karras sneered and Starfire wanted to ram her fist against his face. What a ridiculous trap Karras had set against her, but how very effective! It had claws like anything.
Teeth grit, she stepped back, brimming with fury. "Karras, 'tis an ill day for you! I accept this challenge, but I will not have you exposing our petty differences to rest of the unit. They will see their leaders dignified! How will you explain this to them without shaming us both?"
He nodded. "Indeed, they need not know the circumstances behind this battle. Luren? Tell them it is an exhibition. Have them betting, if you must. The men love a good fight, after all."
Luren sighed. "Very well."
Jak'r shot Karras a disapproving frown. "Karras, I side with the princess in this. You issue a formal challenge for a matter that shouldn't be settled with swords! Her return to Tamaran must be mete with careful consideration, but because of what you have done, what choice did she have?"
"That is the problem, Jak'r. She thinks she has a choice," said Karras in a cold tone.
Luren shook his head, clearly sharing Jak'r's sentiments, but he had other things to attend to at the moment. He turned to one of the many soldiers in the unit, speaking to him in a lowered tone.
Galfore's expression remained impassive.
There was a shimmer in the distant clearing and the touring party appeared, Robin in the lead. Wyfern and Cyborg fell to discussing at once, for whatever had transpired in the ship, they seemed kindred in their interests. Beast Boy looked absolutely animated, probably fascinated by the technology he had only seen on his sci-fi shows until then. Taryia and Sul-Dharr stood by Robin, falling back into serious conversation with him.
When Robin looked up and met eyes with Starfire, his smile was very brief, and it seemed he sensed immediately that something was amiss.
Her heart palpitated with quick beats. She could not bear to explain it to Robin. It was preposterous. Someone else would have to do the explaining for her.
She looked at Karras and she felt her temper flare instantly. She anger, compounded by the aggravation Karras had afforded her for most of the day, fueled her resolve. "How will we do this?"
"With swords."
"You know I am not at my best with a sword."
"You can shoot starbolts and you can fly. Your point?"
She shot him a glare. She wished to strangle him right there.
"You were always better with a short sword than a long one, in any case," said Karras. "Luren? Would you be so kind?"
Luren, still shaking his head, removed one of his swords from his back, sheathed and all. He gave it to Karras and Karras tossed it at Starfire.
Starfire caught the sword with a clink. "Just so you do not go around telling everyone that we were unfairly matched, I will not fly. I do not need you becoming sore and making excuses when you lose, Karras."
He chuckled derisively. "Wouldn't think about such a thing."
"What's going on here?" It was Robin, arriving at the scene.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Robin's knotted brows as his gaze shifted between her and Karras.
Still unable to look at him directly, she turned to take her place on the make-shift arena. "Galfore will explain it," she said as she walked off to the other end of the clearing.
She assumed Karras had taken the opposite direction.
All around her, soldiers were already whispering amongst themselves. All it had taken was for Luren to explain to one soldier and the news spread like brushfire.
Members of the unit scrambled back, clearing away all things that might pose as obstacles to the fighters. She could hear currency clinking in their hands and pockets and she could see someone taking bets. None of them looked worried; none were more concerned than was necessary in a wager. They thought it was just for show. They thought it was all in fun.
Robin's reaction rang clearly enough through the forest a few seconds later. "What!" And whatever he said after that had involved lowered voices, but his expression was one of great displeasure.
She could see him disagreeing with the entire thing, his expression, as he spoke to Galfore, was one of emphatic disapproval. She could almost hear him saying it was stupid; ridiculous; impulsive, yet Galfore's replies to him were calm, soothing. Beast Boy and Cyborg said nothing, but they looked worried. They did not even seem amenable to making a bet, something they often took pleasure in. Perhaps it had more to do with Robin's foul temper at the moment. He looked like he would explode if Beast Boy or Cyborg even thought the entire thing was remotely amusing.
Robin was shaking his head as he and the rest of the titans were ushered backward to make room for the fighters. He shook free of Cyborg's grip and stalked towards Starfire. No one stopped him. Whatever he had to say to her, it wasn't to dissuade her, or else Galfore would never have let him approach her, but Starfire was half-afraid she had incurred his wrath.
In the distance, Karras waited, showing no impatience.
Robin was soon standing before her. She braced herself, her grip on her sword tightening.
"You're better with a short sword than a long one," said Robin, to her utter surprise.
She was only slightly relieved. "I… yes. That is what Karras thought as well."
"You remember our drills?"
"I do."
"You remember what they taught you in Okaara?"
More surprises. She had never heard Robin acknowledge her Okaaran training, and she thought maybe he just hadn't noticed her incorporating it with what he had taught her, but she was wrong. He had noticed. His reference to it now was surreal. "I remember everything…"
"Calculate his reach from shoulder to hand; hand to tip; shoulder to tip. Use your sword to block, primarily. I know sword-handling isn't your forte, but you have starbolts at your disposal, remember that."
She nodded. "I will not lose this fight, Robin."
He paused, his face rendered impassive by the mask. Then he placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Just don't get hurt."
They stayed that way another moment before Robin turned to go to back to the spectator line. She watched him for a while before returning her focus to her opponent across the clearing.
Karras smiled, crouching into stance.
She took a deep breath and she centered herself. She played the many forms Robin had taught her in her mind, selecting one that would best fit the situation.
Karras was tall; well-built and she had seen how fast he could go. She selected a technique that might work.
Flows like water, Robin had said, describing it. Height, weight and speed succumb to sheer liquidity. Mass sinks into water and water could force speed to a stop. It's a powerful technique. Just know how to use it.
She knew what to do and she would do it well. Let Karras underestimate her; it would be her main advantage now.
Starfire went into stance, her resolve firm and all too clear. If on determination alone, the fight could be decided, she would not let Karras win.
Her gaze narrowed at the intensity of her will: Earth is where my heart lies, so I am staying right where I am.
To be continued…
Author's notes: Is this cliffie deliberate? No. My cliffies are never deliberate. In fact, I'm a little sore that the perfect ending to this chapter that I had envisioned did not come to fruition, but when a story gets away, it is rare that I could get a complete handle on it again. I was definitely planning to finish the fight within the chapter, but oh how long this chapter has become since I started it. The outcome of the fight will have to wait. Who do you think will win?
Thank you all for waiting so long! And as usual, more thanks will be forthcoming!