A week later, a messenger burst through the throne room doors as Talia was discussing animatedly with Kavar and a few nobles.
"Your majesty, General Vaklu is outside and requests to see you!"
Talia tiredly gestured to send Vaklu in.
What can he want? To gloat about the success of his propaganda, no doubt, she thought angrily to herself.
Seeing her look of anxiety, Kavar frowned.
"I'm sure that there is some reason for this untimely visit," he said grimly, moving to his place in the shadows to the side of the throne.
The great doors to the room opened as Vaklu strolled in confidently, his grey beard unable to disguise the oily smirk planted on his face. He was accompanied by several of his own guards, as well as some of Talia's councilors, who looked furious. Lord Nigel was foremost in the group, his red hair waving as he tried to argue with Vaklu from the side. Vaklu ignored him as he sauntered to the throne where Talia was standing with her arms folded. Bowing with a jerk, he said smoothly,
"Greetings, your majesty."
Talia sighed, tapping her fingers on her arms in impatience.
"Well, Vaklu? What is it that you want now? I have no time for games."
He feigned a look of innocence.
"Why, your majesty! So cold. Undoubtedly you are a still little… miffed upon finding that your precious Republic is treacherous. Not that I didn't warn you."
From within the group of nobles, it looked as though Lord Nigel and Lady Fairbanks were about to burst with indignation. Talia simply regarded Vaklu with an icy stare.
"Indeed you did. In fact, it seems unusually convenient that you were so prepared for the Republic's betrayal. The news stories were released so quickly. One might even say, preternaturallyso."
Vaklu's face abruptly dropped the look of mock naivete, replacing it with a cruel grimace.
"So you would accuse me of influencing the press? Of intentionally lying? Dearest cousin, that is a slander of the darkest hue," he said in threatening tones.
"I believe slander is the word for a mistaken accusation, Vaklu." Talia said with barely disguised fury. "And I am rarely mistaken where your intentions are concerned. It's obvious that you hunger for power."
Incensed, Vaklu made a move towards the throne, the veins in his neck bulging. All the guards around the room held up their weapons in warning.
Queen Talia's face was blank and impassive as Vaklu eyed her.
"Be careful, cousin," he spat in a terse whisper, as if the word were a curse. "You should know when the cards are up. The Republic has failed, and so will you, if you do not see the error of your allegiances soon."
He backed down, ever so slightly, as he continued.
"I came to warn you that I'm going to declare martial law in Iziz when the Council of Lords reopens in two weeks' time. The mandate for martial rule will pass it easily; I believe many of them will have seen the light in view of the Ebon Hawk's attack. I was hoping that perhaps you would open your eyes as well, your majesty. I could use your support, limited though it is at the moment. It is time to take up arms and drive the Republic out of our world! They are nothing but a blight upon our fair planet."
There was a long pause as Talia walked to where Vaklu stood, looking him straight in the eyes.
"I don't believe in your fabricated incident, nor will I ever abandon our great Republic," she said fiercely. "I would not follow you if it was the choice between life and death, traitor."
At the word "traitor" Vaklu was seized by a visible rage, and he spat into Talia's face.
A collective gasp moved throughout the room upon witnessing the insult, and Kavar lurched out of the shadows, clenching his fists tightly. But Vaklu eyed him with curious disdain and he reluctantly held himself back. Lord Nigel, on the other hand, couldn't contain himself. He brandished a previously hidden blaster, yelling,
"I've waited far too long for this. For the Queen!"
And with that, Nigel fired his gun multiple times, each shot narrowly missing Vaklu. The general turned to his personal guard, commanding,
"Seize him, you idiots!"
The guards surrounded him in a moment, pinning back his arms and confiscating the blaster. Queen Talia moved to help him, but Vaklu lifted his hand.
"You don't want to do that, your majesty," he said with suppressed glee. "He is, after all, an attempted assassin now, and must be executed. By your own ruling, if I recall."
Talia looked helplessly towards the red-headed councilor. Lord Nigel looked up defiantly, a little blood streaming from the corner of his mouth.
"Nigel, I…."
"It's alright, your majesty. I only regret I didn't actually hit the bastard."
At this, one of the guards socked him in the jaw, sending his head rocketing backwards with a snap. Talia's hand flew to her mouth in shock, and a trace of a smirk appeared on Vaklu's broad mouth again.
"Oh don't worry, we'll find more for you to regret before the week is through. Don't you have a wife and children?"
Lord Nigel's defiant anger was quickly replaced with a look of horror and fear as Vaklu's guards began to drag him away. His pleas on behalf of his family could be heard echoing through the chamber even after they left the room.
"You can't do anything to his family! The law won't allow it. The crime is his alone," said Talia authoritatively, looking down at Vaklu with unchecked disgust.
"I'm not planning on doing anything," he said indignantly. "But I can't say the same for the media… they do seem to love me, and I'm afraid I can't help it if they brand his family as traitors from the rooftops. As they should, for such a pathetic attempt to remove me."
Talia held back a retort about the Sith assassin, biting down hard on her lip as Vaklu bowed ironically.
"I take my leave, madam. It is clear from the… hospitality of your court that you will not listen to reason."
The general exited with great pomp, leaving Talia with a sick, sinking feeling. After Vaklu had gone and the doors were closed, Kavar came out from his place next to the throne.
"Your majesty…" he said softly as Talia buried her face in her hands.
"What am I supposed to do now?" she cried. "Hateful, despicable man! And poor Nigel was so foolish!"
Kavar nodded, looking somber.
"Although I agree it was foolish, I can see why he did it," he said. "I could barely hold myself back at his insult to you, and I've had years of training in such matters. I'm amazed you managed to remain so calm."
"Do you think it was easy for me?" she said with an empty laugh. "Iziz, my city, will burn in the end because of him. He would sell his soul to the Sith, all for his pathetic ambitions."
"There are no words strong enough for such a man."
The last sentence was punctuated with such emphasis that Talia at him with wide eyes, startled by the passion behind his words.
"Well, I… I thank you, then, for showing such restraint."
"No need to thank me," he said softly. "I shouldn't be saying such things, anyway. It's my responsibility to look to the future in spite of the present situation, remember?"
"I'm grateful nonetheless," Talia said, captivated by the way his full lower lip moved when he spoke.
"My pleasure."
There was an awkward pause as Kavar looked down at his hands, avoiding her face.
"Will you excuse me, your majesty? I need to go and… meditate for a while."
Talia sighed, nodding gently as he turned to leave her.