Only a short update I'm afraid -writing time has been limited this week. Longer update to come though. And all feedback is appreciated!

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They had reached the river Midaln, after which the town had been named, after only a few short minutes. There was little cover, so they had covered the frozen ground as quickly as possible, eager to get back into the shadows of the trees that ran down to the river. The brooding sense of threat had faded, for the time being. There they had paused. The river meandered its way on a direction slightly south of east, down to the coast. Crossing it would be straightforward –there were several bridges. And the terrain to the south would be easier. The choice was obvious and her decision more-or-less automatic. Turning right, away from the bridges and the paths to the south, Cara headed north-west, toward the moorland. There would be shelter enough, amongst the tall gorse and bracken, while the land was undulating; broken. It was a far harder path than the alternative, but it would serve.

Neither girl spoke, though Cara was glad of Brigid's company, just as the girl seemed content with hers. A good companion. By the time the sun was properly up they had covered some six miles and were well out of sight of Midalnburh, beyond the hills that sheltered it, and climbing up the larger range, into the moors. Her dress wasn't ideal, nor was her footwear, but she quite liked both anyway –although lacking sturdiness, they didn't restrict her freedom of movement, and had been a positive asset when they had walked through the shallows of the Midaln for a few hundred yards. An old ruse to throw off the scent trail, and not ideal, but it would slow any further pursuit a little. They had been careful not to leave any marks when climbing out, selecting a stony bank for the purpose, then picked up another of the sunken pathways that seemed a feature of the region. The frost had remained, and the temperature had climbed only slightly since she had woken. She was cold, but otherwise back on balance.

After another mile, over the crest of the first hill, they dropped down a little way, before reaching a flat half-mile. It was greener –evidently used for grazing flocks of the inoffensive woolly animals she had seen the day before. They covered the ground quickly, looped around a low rise, and finally stopped. It was a good spot; the gorse grew thick and there was a gash in the side of the hillock that could provide some extra shelter. Cara glanced at the sun –almost noon. Their route had been indirect, and the direction they had headed in was not the obvious one either. She had neither seen nor felt any hint of danger since leaving Midalnburh. She had an idea that any pursuit of the kind they had experienced in the castle would only come at night. Until then, all that remained was to signal for evacuation, and put as much distance as possible between them and the unknown menace that had risen during the small-hours.

Sixty minutes before she could attempt any satellite contact. They could continue, or rest. On the whole they weren't guaranteed to find a better spot, so rest it had to be. Touching Brigid's arm, she forced her way between and under the gorse, finally dropping to the dry, powdery ground below the overhanging rock and peat. Once Brigid had squeezed into the narrow space beside her, she reached out and managed to pull several branches of the gorse toward them, blocking them from any sight. A person could be within ten feet and not know they were there. She sighed, twisted her spine a little to avoid a protruding rock and lay down beside her friend, trying to conserve as much warmth as possible.

'My lady?' It had been perhaps forty minutes before either spoke. There was nothing except a handful of the woolly animals in the area, but still Brigid kept her voice low. A little sensible precaution was no bad thing.

'I'm just Cara, Brigid.'

'What do you think it was?'

'I don't know. Were you frightened?'

'Yes.'

'You'd be a fool if you weren't.' Cara indicated the bag that Brigid had been carrying. 'You brought the things from my robes?'

'And some water. I thought we might need some. What are you planning my lady?'

'I need to contact my people. They'll make a decision when I report to them –I need to do that in a few minutes. Afterward, we'll keep going a few more miles. Is there any shelter further on?'

Brigid thought for a few moments. 'Not directly ahead. Although this pass is probably the best way to cover the moor. We should get to the other side and head down into the vale in about three miles. We could branch to the right when we get to the floor. Another two miles would take us to Jarl Salkeld's estate –the one the queen granted him.'

'You're sure he can be trusted?'

'Are you, Cara?'

She smiled, lightly touched Brigid's arm in acknowledgement, and closed her eyes. This land breathed. And it was old. She shivered. Ten minutes. Just ten. She murmured a lullaby to herself, as she sometimes did to relax, thinking about the unchanging seconds that ticked by. Five minutes. Six. Finally she stirred, sat up and carefully moved one of the gorse branches an inch to look out. There was nothing, other than the frozen moor. Ice-fog was forming in the lower-lying land a few miles ahead, and the clouds above were rolling in from the north –leaden and full of snow. Far in the distance, beyond the fog and ascending into the clouds stretched a long range of hills; near-mountains really, dark green, with hints of purple. For a moment she could see them –the ghosts of the ages. Grim men in iron mail hammering through this border land to plunder, steal, ravage and kill. The tower houses, castles and fortified towns that had grown in response; the sunken lanes and dry stone walls. The enormous skies, the moorlands, hills, and frigid sea. The sparse, though hardy gorse and heathers, ferns and bracken, firs and older groves of oaks, ash and yew. Then she blinked, and the images were gone; all but the view.

Glancing back to Brigid, she decided to answer her question. 'Yes.' It was enough for now. Moving the branch back into place, she sat once again and checked the time. Close enough. Extracting the com-link from the bag, she quickly tapped in the twelve-digit code and placed the warm metal on the ground in front of her. Almost immediately a green light flashed, indicating a lock on the satellite orbiting several hundred miles above. Pressing the contact button, an automated query was relayed through the satellite back to the Temple on Coruscant. Long-distance communications, especially real-time, were always hit-and-miss through the hyperspace networks, but some care had been put into ensuring decent relay strength. An orange light flickered several times, then glowed on. A small, dark blue hologram floated above the projector. The High Council Chamber. It was largely empty, except for the three figures she had most hoped to see.

'Cara.' Mace Windu's impassive face was always a comfort to her. He intimidated many, but she had always got on reasonably well with him. She wasn't afraid to stand up for herself, and he respected that. Impassive though? Usually. And the hologram was blurred. But there was –something.

'Where is your master?' Shaak Ti's soft tone severed her second of speculation, bringing her back to the present with a jolt.

'She's gone.' Avoiding further ruminations, she outlined the events of the last twenty four hours, keeping her statement short and as to the point as she could make it. The three projections listened in silence. Watched her carefully.

'You are heading to this Jarl's estate now?' The tiny hologramatic pinpricks that were Shaak Ti's eyes had never left hers during the few minutes she had spoken.

'Yes Master. I believe he's a friend. He had left the capital –Midalnburh– last night. I think it was to collect my master's body. He didn't return, as far as I know. He won't have gone to his other estate –there's unrest in the coastal forts between Midalnburh and his island.'

'I see. You would trust him then, this Jarl. Since he intervened yesterday that would seem a sensible conclusion. He would hardly have done so were other purposes in mind.'

'That was my thought Master.'

'Very well.' The miniature projection of Master Windu leaned forward in his chair, his fingers steepled. 'We will dispatch a transport for your immediate evacuation. Any further decisions can be deferred until you return to Coruscant.'

'Master –there is something going on here. I don't know if it's a coup d'état or something else, but it's not right. That raider yesterday –and whatever it was this morning. I don't think they can be indigenous.'

'So sure are you?' Master Yoda had listened in silence since the hologram first appeared, his eyes closed. Now the dragon look, so rarely seen, had come upon him, the ears flattening slightly, the eyes glowing orbs.

She looked carefully at the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. She loved Yoda. All did. And respected him. Feared also, in a way. As she had said, Jedi were not immune from feelings –recognizing them and not allowing them to govern decisions: that was the discipline. A chill finger caressed her spine. 'Jarl Salkeld said he didn't recognize it, whatever it was.'

'And he probably spoke the truth. But there is more to that planet than you are aware of, Cara.' Mace Windu had leaned forward in his padded chair, fixing her gaze. 'It has been twenty years since anyone from the Order visited. She vanished. And those who went before did not return.'

Again, that icy finger. 'Master?'

'It was a mistake to send you both Cara. Part of the file was sealed, and when the systems were updated some years ago, that part of the archive was overlooked.' Shaak Ti looked at a small reader, scanning the page for –something. 'That planet is old Cara. Older than you know. It's a wanderer. I had some of its movements traced back, once the information was recompiled. Sometimes with a star, sometimes without. It has been in the Galaxy for a long time. From the beginning. From before time. From before the galaxy was born. Mostly in the deep core, where it is not easily accessible. And that is for the best. It is not advisable to leave you on there any longer than is necessary, and when you leave, it will be the last time the Jedi have any dealings with it. The file will be sealed again, and the planet left to its devices.'

Now they were frozen claws, slowly running down the skin of her back. She had known in some way. To hear it confirmed opened the veil on the appalling age, the long, low pulse and respiration of the bleak land under its enormous, forbidding skies.

'Master –I don't believe all here can be evil.'

'An option in this matter you do not have, young one.'

'Jarl Salkeld –you said you think he is a friend. And the old woman we stayed with. Brigid of course.'

'I've no doubt the Jarl is your friend. And the old lady you lodged with.' Windu had never taken his eyes off hers, weighing, judging.

'Brigid too.'

Shaak Ti carefully laid the reader down on the arm of her chair. 'Cara –I would be rather wary.'

'Master, she's done nothing but help me since I met her.'

'Then where is she now?'