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Chapter Seven

The Handmaiden

Kiya stepped into the room, a load of fresh linen curtains in her arms. These chambers were by far the cleanest and most lavish in the palace. That didn't take much, however. It was as filthy here as some of the squalor Kiya had seen in the more impoverished neighborhoods of Nar Shaddaa.

Natural light shone through large window slits, streaming down onto the clean sandstone floor. Piles of colorful silk and brocade pillows were arranged around the sides of a large dais that acted as a bed as well and was the focal point of the space. Sheer silk curtains embroidered with silver thread hung around it. Intricately embroidered tapestries lined the walls, interrupted by the occasional piece of art or statuary. In a large fishbowl filled with blue brandy, paddy frogs drunkenly marinated. Ornately carved screens made of bone set off to the side. Several long chains with leather collars hung bolted to one wall, Kiya skirted away from them as she walked. The sight of them made her flesh crawl. It seemed Jabba's predilection for chaining sentients weaker than him wasn't confined to the dungeons and his throne.

A large round marble table without any chairs sat to the left of the door; they told Kiya to leave the linens there. A long sideboard nearby was already covered in decanters full of colorful intoxicants. These were Jabba's personal quarters that only rarely saw use unless there was a gathering. Someone was arriving today. Someone unexpected. Kiya believed they'd said Jabba's aunt. For some reason, the idea that the giant sentient air-breathing gastropod had an aunt seemed ludicrous to her, despite knowing there were both male and female Hutts. It was easier to see them hatching, unaware of parentage under a slimy rock on Nal Hutta rather than coming for a familial lineage.

Kiya laid the linens on the table and headed back to the kitchen. She hugged the outer edge of the curved stairs as she went to keep out the way of those rushing up and down. Max Rebo's band already played loudly in the throne room two levels below. Porcellus was near panic since Fortuna announced the imminent arrival. As soon as the Twi left the kitchen, the chef had thrown out a litany of curses damning the entire palace and Hutt species for their expectations.

He looked like he might explode when Fortuna returned a moment later and said he would need at least two of Porcellus' staff to help prepare Jabba's quarters.

Kiya had run up the stairs seven times already, including when she'd helped Toroga, and one of the near-human guards carry the paddy frogs up. Bib Fortuna told her she could return to the kitchen for now.

Kiya felt like she'd barely been asleep after waking up. Usually, she'd be sure she would fall into a dead sleep at the day's end after so little sleep.

She was lucky she had slept at all last night after her encounter in the throne room. An uneasy feeling slid across her skin. She had no idea what to make of him approaching her. She had been just as shocked when he answered her initial inquiry and in ways even more so when he replied to the second. He certainly didn't seem like the conversation type. She couldn't possibly be the only servant he'd ever observed in the halls after the guests were asleep.

There was a warning wrapped up in his words also. Kiya couldn't shake the feeling he really thought she was planning to thaw the Corellian. If that was what he thought, he hadn't been far off the mark. She wasn't planning on it, but the idea had crossed her mind, though she saw the futility in such a move. She hadn't stayed alive as long as she had by being foolish. Kiya looked into the throne room on her way by. Her eyes immediately caught on that green armor; he was there standing silent sentry as usual.

Kiya kept heading down the main stairway. She could just cut across the throne room, it would save her time, but with Boba Fett there, she couldn't bring herself to do so.

"Ah, Kiya," Porcellus said as she entered the kitchen. "Are you back to help?"

"Yes," she said with a nod. "Fortuna told me to come and help you."

A look of relief flashed through his eyes. "Phelgmin is bringing stuff from the pantry. He has a list of what I need. It's all there, but will go make sure he's doing as asked?" They both knew Phelgmin had a habit of not doing as asked.

Kiya left the kitchen, making her way down the corridor. The boys leaned against the wall, on foot on the small repulsor sled they used to move food. He comped away on a pilfered treat, the datapad containing the list hanging limply from his fingers.

"Here, give me that," Kiya said, snatching the datapad from his hand. "Get to work," she ordered, holding his blue gaze with her own.

"You ain't my boss," he said.

Kiya nodded and shrugged. "Yes, but you'll still do as I say."

"Why?"

Kiya shrugged again. "I could tell Melina Carniss about the hole in the wall you use to spy on her bathing dancers." Kiya lifted her eyebrow.

The color drained from Phelgmin's dirty face; he straightened up and hurried into the pantry.

XxX

Jiliac Desilijic Tiron viewed the dancers with disdain, a visible shiver of disgust running through her gluttonous form at the mere sight of them.

"No," she said in huttese, turning her repulsor chair away, her feminine features marked with disgust.

She faced her nephew. The ancient leader of Desilijic Kajidic might love her great-nephew and in her male form had as much of a taste for hedonistic indulgences as her nephew, but that was no longer so. Now she could found the dancers distasteful as Mama Hutt did. Bib waved the row of dancers quickly away.

"You will find someone more suitable, nephew."

Usually, she would travel with a handmaiden of her own. Jabba would also usually go to the Nal Hutta in these instances. Bib had anticipated the problem with the Handmaiden the moment Jiliac arrived without one. Apparently, the creature had met with an accident en route. Jiliac Desilijic Tiron had thrown the entire palace into chaos this morning with the message that she would be arriving today. As the Hutt Clan matriarch or a Hutt in general, she just did as she pleased.

Bib had thought Jiliac might like the Askijian if none of the others; she wasn't a painted bird. Well, she was but not quite like the others, but she wouldn't do either. There was one other option.

"You will find my aunt someone more appropriate," Jabba said to Bib.

"Of course, Your Excellency." Bib bowed his head humbly. A movement in the doorway caught his attention. "One moment, " he said, lifting one finger. He kept his head bowed, backing away several steps before he turned.

Bib hurried toward Porcellus' new kitchen girl. He had sent one of the guards for her in case the others weren't to Jiliacs liking.

"What is your name?" He asked when he reached her, his small red eyes on her.

"Kiya," she said. "Can you understand any Huttesse?"

"Some."

"Come with me," he said. He motioned for her to wait just on the edge of the floor grate.

"If I may, Your Excellencies, I think I have someone better suited to Lady Jiliacs taste," Fortuna said as he reached the dais. He motioned the girl closer.

Kiya stepped forward as bid, no less confused by Bib Fortuna's statement. Her attention shifted to Boba Fett for just a moment. The guard had given her no reason when he came with Fortuna's summons; she'd wondered if this was because of last night.

"May I present Kiya," Fortuna said, stepping to the side. Kiya bowed her head deeply like she was expected to do.

The female Hutt's eyes narrowed, and she scrutinized the girl closely.

"Turn around so her Ladyship can see you," Bib Fortuna instructed.

Kiya turned slowly, feeling shocked and simultaneously sick that they wanted to inspect her like a piece of cattle. Why she had that reaction, she was uncertain; they were, after all, Hutts.

"She can understand some Huttese." Bib Fortuna said.

Kiya cast an uncertain look in Fortuna's direction.

"Da chuda uba bal mah suu-nephews household?"

Kiya was certain the question was voiced to judge how much she did understand. "Kitchenmaid."

The female Hutt's still narrowed eyes drifted over Kiya.

"Bu best uba doo offah scudderee maid?" Jiliac said, turning her attention to her nephew for a moment. "Stidd, 'z nar superior bu others. Widd bal. "

Kiya watched the female Hutt as she spoke. Kiya was sure she had just been disparaged for being a scullery maid then declared good enough. Was she going to serve the female bloated one?

"Jee widd stang shash bata hu-sentlee," Bib Fortuna said. He bowed deeply.

He stepped closer to Kiya, head still bowed. "Come."

Kiya took two steps back as Fortuna did before she turned. Still uncertain of precisely what was going on.

"You've been bestowed with the great honor of attending Lady Jiliac for her stay with us," he said as Kiya followed him from the throne room, answering her question. "Melina Carniss will help you ready."

Kiya had no idea how to be a ladies maid, let alone attend a Hutt.

"You will attend to Lady Jiliac's every need," he said before Kiya could ask a question. "You and only you will serve her meals and wine." He continued without even looking to see if she was following or had heard him. "Always serve her from the left when serving food. All Hutt's ablutions are different. Her Ladyship has been given personal quarters and will sleep there. You will stay with her," he continued as Kiya followed him through the maze of tunnels leading to the dancers' pit. "Always remember she precedes you always unless indicated otherwise."

XxX

Kiya bit her cheek, staring at her reflection in the mirror as she slid the black linen tunic on over the blue silk bandeau. The long sleeveless tunic was made to overlap over the chest. Kiya fastened the series of small hooks that ran down the left side to her waist. It had a broad band of linen that wrapped her ribs just below the breast and was fastened at the side also. The finely woven material fit her narrow chest snuggly.

There was a long low whistle behind her. "You clean up well," Yarna d'al' Gargan said, momentarily bringing Kiya's gaze to meet hers in the mirror. "That's not a good thing around here."

Kiya's attention returned to her reflection. She didn't need to be reminded how bad being noticed could turn out. The blue silk pants with the cuffed legs were visible through the slits at the tunic's sides. Kiya took another moment to study her reflection.

Melina Carniss basically shoved Kiya into the room with the showers. It was apparent the choreographer was impatient and irritated with the situation. When Kiya left the shower, there was a stack of clothing lying on one of the benches. Melina Carniss was nowhere in sight when Kiya made her way out of the shower room. She was with her dancers preparing them for tonight; she'd left Yarna to help Kiya dress and fix her hair.

"Are you sure about this?" The Askijian asked.

Kiya shook her head. "What choice do I have."

She sat down so Yarna could fix her hair. Kiya had argued she could do it herself. Yarna had ignored her. The young Nautolan girl who attended the dancers appeared at Kiya's left side. She took Kiya's hand and began filing her nails. Kiya was quite sure she never had this much fuss made out of her in her life.

"My nails are fine."

The girl looked up at her; her dark eyes were luminous in her green face. "Madam Carniss said I was to do so," she said before going back to her task.

Kiya reached up, adjusting the neck of her tunic. The top flap was cut to come down at a forty-five-degree angle, to where it met the inner flap just by her armpit and fastened with a series of small hooks. She had doubts when she first saw the flimsy sapphire silk bandeau and pants. She had no desire to run about dressed like one of Jabba's dancers. Truthfully she had no desire to play maid to Jabba's the Hutt's great aunt, either. If she had to do so, the black tunic she had put on over the rest of the ensemble made her feel covered, at least.

"If she's like Jabba, flattery will work wonders," Yarna said, running a brush through Kiya's damp hair. "I should know. Jabba let me see my pups, and all it took was a little boot licking or, in case, tail licking."

"Eww," Kiya said, disturbed by the image forming in her head. "I'm glad you got to see them." Kiya met Yarna's dark eyes in the mirror.

A sad light filled the other female's eyes. "They've grown so much."

Yarna began pulling sections of Kiya's hair back. "They were just sucklings when we came here. They don't understand."

"Soon," Kiya heard herself say. She almost grabbed the other female's hand. As much as Kiya tried not to form personal attachments, she had found herself breaking her own rule since she came here. Yarna d'al' Gargan was different from the other dancers.

Bib Fortuna stepped into the room, halting whatever would have been said next. "Good, you're nearly finished, " he said, all his attention directed on Kiya. "When you are done, go to the kitchen and ask for the Korriban Wine," he said, holding her gaze. "Put it on the counter behind the dais. I will meet with you later to discuss more of your duties."

Kiya nodded, unable to bring herself to use his self-appointed title. Apparently, he didn't notice or didn't have time because he exited the room a moment later.

Yarna quickly finished her hair, and the girl finished buffing and filing Kiya's nails. Kiya stood up, checking her reflection in the mirror. Yarna had braided her hair, diagonally across the back of her head, leaving its loose tail hanging over Kiya's left shoulder.

Kiya turned from the mirror to find Rystáll Sant standing in the doorway. One of her pale shoulders, resting against its frame. The Theelins brown eyes drifted down Kiya then back up. Kiya refused to look away or be intimidated. This wasn't the first the backup singer had shown her opinion. Kiya headed for the door. Rystáll pushed away from the doorframe, she met Kiya a few steps from the door. She drove her shoulder into Kiya's as she passed.

"Watch where you are going, slave." the words dripped with contempt.

XxX

He stood to the left, in his usual place on the platform at Jabba's side. Kiya flushed. Despite her false bravado of last night, she had in no way expected to be stuck in this close proximity to him today. She let out a steadying breath, looking away from him as she crossed the room with the tray Fortuna had sent her for. He had told her to take it to the kitchen area behind the dais and set it on the counter. Kiya moved along the wall behind lady Jiliacs chair; she kept her attention averted as she passed Boba Fett.

She did the same when she moved past him again a moment later. Kiya quietly took a discreet position at the left of the Hutt. One of Jabba's Jawa's fanned his aunt as they did him. Kiya took another fortifying breath and gave Boba Fett a sidelong glance. His head wasn't turned in her direction, but Kiya couldn't shake the feeling he watched her.

XxX

Thanks for reading!

Another note: the next chapter picks up where this one ends.