"Ursulina?"
The little girl looked up from her dollhouse. "Yes, mummy?"
"It's time for a nap, sweetheart." Brontes picked her daughter and began walking to her bedroom. The child was very intelligent for her age of 5 years, and already very strong in the Force. She would be extremely gifted when she came of age.
"Mummy, where are we going?"
"Well, the other Masters and I have to have a meeting, then we'll go from there. Just get some sleep, love."
In a Republic ship, not far away from the Dread Masters' dreadnaught, Jaric Kaedan paced the floor. He was ready for this; the Force was with him. But even Jedi got nervous.
Brontes would not see her daughter for almost 30 years.
–
Ursulina hadn't gotten a good night's sleep for over a year. Now, it was getting worse; her mother wanted to talk.
You let that insufferable war dog kill your father!
He brought it on himself when he tried attacking the Republic and the Empire.
Now they will both burn.
Not if I have anything to say about it.
You disrespect your mother?
You gave birth to me, but you are not my mother.
"Are you okay?"
Ursulina hadn't realized that she had started crying. She looked up and saw Felix standing in the doorway to their bedroom. She also realized she was cradling herself. "No, I'm not."
"She's bothering you again?" He sat down and gently embraced her, his dark brown eyes warm and welcoming.
"She's insane. She doesn't know what else to do, besides going forward with the plan the Masters have."
"Are you sure you can do this?"
"Because D'leah is in so much better mental shape?" Her adoptive daughter had fallen prey to the Emperor himself a few years back. D'leah still bore the scars from his control.
"I don't want to lose you, Ursulina."
"I know, Felix. I'll be fine." They kissed. "Everything will be fine. The Force is with us."