"Goodnight, Kavar."
"Your majesty," he replied with a curt bow and a parting smile.
Talia glowed as she walked through the door of her room, laying her jewelry on the nearby dressing table. Even after only a week, it was beginning to feel like a habit, having Kavar accompany her to her room.
They had come from a late-night dinner party with the strongest Loyalists and supporters of the Republic, and Talia was rather exhausted. Slipping out of her dress, she pulled a sheer dark red sleep gown over the top of her head, busily adjusting the cascading fabric. She casually glanced at her mirror when she saw the corner of a tall black figure nearby her bed, sneaking silently to the dresser where she stood. Whipping around, she screamed instinctively as a he began to rush towards her with a red lightsaber in his hand.
Talia felt a second of swooping panic in her stomach as she realized that she was about to die. Frantically, she looked to where her favorite vibroblade hung from the wall on the far side of the room. She turned quickly, hoping against hope that she would be able to get there before the assassin. Then suddenly the door flew open, followed by the harsh buzzing sound of two crossed lightsabers. Kavar was standing inches in front of her, blocking the pathway between her and the intruder by only a foot. Pushing forward onto his lightsaber, the Jedi forced him back. The two began a dance of whirling light and impossible feints, so fast that Talia could hardly keep track, save for the contrast of blue against burning red. Her heart was racing with fear and awe as she watched the fight. Finally, in one fell swoop, Kavar leapt over the assassin, grasping his neck and stabbing him through the stomach from behind. Talia could see the glowing point of blue emerging from her assassin's torso, dark blood dripping onto the cream carpet.
Reeling a little, she tried to steady herself, holding onto the dressing table for balance. Kavar, slightly flushed from the encounter, pulled his lightsaber out from the dead intruder with disgust and holstered it back into the belt around his waist. He looked at Talia's pale face and shaking hands, and rushed to her side with a meaningful look. He held her tightly to his warm chest, and Talia was startled by the force of his pull.
"Are you alright?" he said, in a tight voice.
He smelled clean and slightly musky, and it comforted her.
"Yes, I'm… I'm fine. Thanks to you," Talia said. She looked up from his arms at his concerned blue eyes. "I owe you my life now, in addition to everything else."
"You owe me nothing, your majesty," Kavar said. She felt her heart flutter, confused by the weight of his response. As Kavar looked over Talia's head, he saw the two door guards standing awkwardly by the open portal, unsure of what to do. Clearing his voice uncomfortably, he abruptly let go of her, moving back to where the assassin lay on the floor.
"This killer…" he said with the barest hint of anger, "How could he have gotten in? Unless someone got careless in watching the door."
One of the guards pointed to the open window at the back of the room, whose gossamer curtains were fluttering in the cold breeze.
"I think that might be our problem, sir."
Kavar sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"I still don't know how he could have gotten in," Talia said in disbelief, "That window was locked with some of the strongest…"
"Locks can't stop Sith assassins," Kavar said grimly, walking to the window. He examined the lock, which had been neatly picked by a practiced hand.
"Security clearly needs to be tightened. Gentlemen, please notify your superiors. I want every guard in this palace on full alert, and guards on every wall outside the Queen's bedroom. Let it be known that there has been an attempt on the Queen's life."
The two guards paused, not knowing if they should respond to the Jedi's command. Talia sighed, turning to say,
"That's an order."
The guards scurried away, and Kavar and Talia were left alone. Kavar walked from the window back to the dead man.
"This confirms all my worst fears and suspicions: Vaklu is working with the Sith directly. You touched quite a nerve with him today in the Council." Turning over the body with his foot, he crouched down low to examine the assassin's belt.
"We should be thankful that he didn't use this stealth generator. He probably assumed you wouldn't see him. Or that if you did, you wouldn't have much protection worth bothering about. Both gross miscalculations on his part," he said darkly.
Shaking her head, Talia said,
"It's a good thing those two weren't the only ones outside my door. I never would have made it to my vibroblade in time. Why were you out there, anyway?"
He frowned.
"I'm so sorry, your majesty. I had sensed earlier that something was amiss, but I wasn't sure. These new Sith are… difficult to detect. They don't radiate the Force, and they move quietly. I didn't tell you because I didn't wish to alarm you. After you went in, I waited beside your door. A few moments before you screamed, I could finally feel his presence, and I rushed in as quickly as I could."
"I see," said Talia. "The real question is, why would Vaklu send a Sith assassin to kill me? It would seem all too obvious after today, and the lightsaber marks would make it clear."
"He must have heard rumors about me by now," Kavar said with disdain. "Vaklu undoubtedly thought that he could somehow pin this murder on me, and consequently the Republic. Two birds with one stone."
Talia shuddered with horror. Noticing her revulsion, Kavar looked at her with a softened expression.
"Again, I'm sorry, your majesty. I should have at least said something. When I think of what could have happened…" he trailed off, looking at the floor. Then, standing upright, he continued, "I think I'll stay outside your door for tonight, just in case."
Talia looked at him questioningly.
"I doubt I'll be able to sleep after tonight," she said with a feeble laugh, "And I am quite an able duelist, if I do say so myself. I'll be alright, Kavar. You need the rest."
"While I don't doubt that you can take care of yourself, these Sith are dangerous even for a Jedi," he said firmly. "I want to do this, for my own peace of mind more than anything else. We'll discuss other ways to help maximize security in the morning. Just… let me know if you need anything."
She smiled slightly as he moved to leave her chambers. He stopped as the two guards entered again, accompanied by several other officers, to move the body. They lifted the assassin and carried him out of the room. There was a pool of blood on the carpet where he had lain, and Talia looked at it thoughtfully.
"It may sound trivial, but we're getting someone to clean this tomorrow, too."
Kavar's mouth twitched, almost smiling, as he walked through the door behind them.