The next morning – after having an adequate breakfast, and being checked up on by Lourdes – Luke was introduced to his escort to the palace: Sergeant Justiss Xavier. The red-headed, twenty-something year old smiled, and told him he was glad to see Luke recovered.
"Me and my companion, Major Zarah, were the ones that found you. You were in a terrible condition, and I'm happy to say you have improved exponentially." he said.
"So I heard. My nurses were sure to tell me just how bad I was, yesterday." Luke replied.
"Yes, Kar – Healer Varens was most anxious to tell how bad you were. She said that your right arm would have been broken, except that its a prosthetic." Justiss said, climbing into his transport. It looked like a 22-B Nightfalcon, except it had a passenger seat. It was clear that he was to sit in this seat, and he did so.
"How far is it to the palace?" Luke inquired.
"Not very, maybe five kilometers." Justiss replied, "But, we're in a city. That be accounted for, we'll be there in approximately fifteen minutes – depending on how many people are on the roads" he started the speeder, and set off.
True to his word, Justiss and Luke were soon walking up the steps of the palace. It was an awe inspiring place, and was much like the ward-room he had woken in. Its elegance was beautiful, for the woodwork was made by masters. Yet, he noticed, it wasn't carved as he supposed, but rather molded. As if the trees had chosen to take that shape. And maybe they had, for his experience had already informed him that the trees were alive in this place.
The atmosphere was peaceful, and Luke did not doubt Nordin's words at this moment. It was a safe haven, that he was sure of. The question was, was it a safe haven for him? Justiss had been calling him 'Lars' the entire time, and he wondered if they found out that he was really Luke Skywalker, and not Lars Starkiller – what they would do?
The large wood doors opened in front of them, leading to a great hall filled with people. The hum of voices could be heard throughout the entire room, echoing off the walls. Its pillars were grand, with swirling patterns, and figures carved into them. Each one seemed to be telling a story of a different kind, for beneath each picture had the runes of the language carved beneath. Justiss led him on, into another chamber, this one smaller, but filled with many women – as Luke observed.
"Justiss?" he said, the young man turn his way. "Why are there so many more women than men here?"
The young man just chuckled humorlessly, "Most of our young men left a few years ago. They either joined the Alliance or the Empire. There are few of us left, I'm ashamed to admit. Everything is run by the women now, well that is most of everything. The military is full of them, that is why our Captain is a woman. Our healers are women. The few men that there are, are in politics. Or, like myself or Lieutenant Llewellyn, who is the Captain's brother, have joined the ranks of men under women's supervision. They are not very good leaders, they don't think like men. It is a shame" he explained.
"But you have a queen, so that would stand to reason-" Luke said.
"No, it has nothing to do with the queen. We are simply too few. The older men are too old to serve in the military, and the younger men are too young to lead. We are stuck with the middle aged women, and in some cases younger women, leading until we are old enough to lead ourselves. We were not always this way, when our Prince – who was the original captain – was in charge, there were more men. But he left, and the others followed." Justiss frowned, "Lieutenant Llewellyn - we call him Lieutenant Corliss - will take his sister's place when he reaches a certain age. For now, he is under her leadership" Luke nodded, and dropped the topic.
Among these many which have been spoke of, Luke spotted Therizo and Damanius, each glowering in his direction. Their looks as sharp as daggers, for it seemed that if they could kill him with their eyes they would. Off to the side, he saw Douleia, sitting on the bench that was provided for those who waited to be seen in court. For Justiss had informed him that that was what it was called behind those doors.
"Mind you" Justiss had said, "We have two courts. There is the court behind these doors, which is were the monarchs deal with each of the various diplomatic portions of politics. The senators, and members of parliament which are on the far reaches of Tyrn. They come here, and discuss various policies, and argue and debate until they come to a conclusion. But that is this court. The other is called the Palace of Justice, that is where they try the criminals, etc. This lot –" he said, pointing to the group of Vogelfrei, "Will probably go there after this. That is, if the Queen isn't lenient."
"I thought that Captain Llewellyn required an audience with them?" Luke said.
"Ah, yes, she did. And most likely, when the politicians are gone, she will drag these outlaws there. Then she will deal with them, for politics have no place in the military. At least, we wish that was so. If the politicians don't know about it, we can work freely. Its when diplomats get involved that the Captain begins to be agitated" Justiss replied, just as a group of well-dressed men walked out of the doors. Justiss began to point each one out, name them, and comment on their appearance of agitation.
"Ha! That one there is ol' Dreadnaught, who looks as if he's been thoroughly put down by the Captain and her band of lieutenants. They don't like each other, never have. Has to do with her father I suppose. Dreadnaught is convinced that Tyrn's protective force-shield should be brought down. The Captain disagrees, and will not stop at her disagreement to bring back his weak points of diplomacy"
Another walked by, this man older, with a pleased look on his face. "That's Windress, he's the advisor to the Queen and her Captain. He doesn't like Dreadnaught or any of the others, he was a member of the senate to Coruscant, until the fall of the Republic. He's like a father to the Captain and her siblings."
Luke remembered these names, for depending on how long he was here, he would need to know them. "That one is Regis Organa, he's from the late Alderaan. Which, no doubt you know about that planets fate. He's Bail Organa's younger brother's son. The brother came here at the fall of the Republic, reasons unknown. But he is quite close to the royal family." Justiss said, pointing to a younger looking man, probably Luke's age. Which, would make sense, seeing as Bail Organa had raised Leia. She never mentioned a brother, perhaps she didn't know about him?
"The Queen will now see you" A young female messenger announced to Justiss and the young man who was obviously in charge of the Vogelfrei group. They all stood and entered the hall.
Luke was once again enamored with the grandness of the palace, for inside the 'court' was themed in twining branches, and thinly veiled windows. On each wall there were statues, men with crowns on their heads. Obviously the kings of Tyrn's ruling past. Each had a name engraved, their countenances stern and unyielding.
The Queen was at the end of this hall, decked in red velvet. Her brown locks were long and elegant, with a silver crown of leaves upon her head. She was older, perhaps 45, but her brown eyes displayed sorrow and exhaustion. Justiss informed him of her name. Queen Mordé Llewellyn, who was rumored to be from Naboo.
"I take it that this is Therizo" she said, as the said man was brought before her. "Well, man, you have been charged with abduction, assault, and various other crimes. What have you to say for yourself?"
"I abducted no one, Milady, he landed in the forest. We took him in until he was well" Therizo said.
"Lieutenant Llewellyn, here, said otherwise, for his men were the ones that found this-" she leaned to her assistant for help, they whispered "-Lars Starkiller. But we shall listen to the expert on such a matter. Healer Adriané, what was his condition?" the Queen asked the healer who stood nearby. It seemed that the Llewellyns were everywhere, but seeing as they were the royals it would tend to make sense.
"Very bad, Your Majesty, two of the patients ribs were fractured. He suffered a concussion, which caused for him to be in and out of consciousness for five days. Most of the time, unconscious. His right arm would have been broken, except that it was a prosthetic. But the lacerations to the flesh-like substance on his arm was lacerated in such a way that it was obvious that he would have suffered major injuries. As it was, his head was in a bad state." Adriané explained.
Luke was nauseas, he must have been in a very bad state. As it was, he was still healing. Were it not for his mechanical arm, he wouldn't have been able to eat this morning.
The Queen clicked her tongue in discontent, "That is very bad," she said, "And though I would immediately send you to the Palace of Justice for proper judgment, I have been asked a favor." she stood, "The Captain will deal with you now" and with a sweep of her robes, she and her attendants walked out.
"Will she indeed, and what will she do?" Therizo asked who Luke now knew was Lieutenant Llewellyn.
"What the Captain does to you will not be your decision. You are no longer in any position to bargain. You have crossed her twice already, and if she is lenient, and lets you go then no doubt the senate will have her head as well as yours. But, I have it on good authority that she won't – she doesn't trust you any more" the man replied.
Therizo snorted, and looked at Luke directly, "You're looking better, lad. No doubt it is that Healer Llewellyns doing. The Llewellyns are everywhere if you haven't noticed. Got their fingers in everything." he whispered.
"Yes, Therizo, we are everywhere" a new voice uttered, politely cold and unfeeling. A hint of anger and rage underneath that serene tone which was used to hide the truth of the emotion. Luke turned to see the newcomer.
A young woman, of twenty, perhaps twenty-one, stood in the opening of the great wood doors. She had clearly ran to the room; for her nearly-black hair, which was once coiled neatly around her head, had been windblown – and her cheeks had a tinge of red within them. Within her chocolate colored eyes he noticed a keen sense of lividness, yet her face was impassive as she continued by saying:
"But considering the situation at this particular point in time, my dear Therizo, that fact is certainly the least of your worries" she said.
"Why Captain Llewellyn, how lovely to see you again as well." the Vogelfrei said.
The Captain smiled sardonically, "We'll see how lovely it is after the conclusion of our conversation" she said. As the door shut behind her, Captain Ariadné Llewellyn fully entered the court.