Chapter Eighteen - The Shifting Tides
Brinvilliers stood in front of of a large mirror in the former King's bedroom while adjusting his clothes. He then took a moment to consider the room which would soon be repurposed. He found it contemptible, just as he did with his own home. Though he may have once found it acceptable, the man he was today found it reprehensible. One man, King or not, does not need this much space to live. One man does not need thousands of outfits. One man does not need a bed the size of a normal person's bedroom.
"My Duke, though it is not my place to enquire, my curiosity overrides my sense of protocol. Why do you insist on dressing as a well to do commoner instead of a proud nobleman?"
"The answer is simple my friend. If I am to usher in a new era for the world, I should be the first to shed the trappings which have long represented tyranny. The last thing I want is for the people to think me a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"With respect my Duke. You are neither the sheep, nor the wolf. But the shepherd."
"I'm no shepherd old friend. That would imply the people are sheep, I don't want that for them."
"So you really have no intention of keeping power for yourself?"
"None whatsoever. The world needs to be changed. The fact that it's me doing what has to be done, in the way I've done it, only proves that I'm right."
Moissac
As Sylphid neared the main encampment outside the town of Moissac there was a moment of indecisiveness around what should be done with Tiffania. It was quickly decided that being discreet with her was the best approach since there wouldn't be time to deal with any potential threats to her from inside their own ranks. Calista was visibly irked by the explanation of how Humans and Elves have been enemies since ancient times but the Sith Lord held her tongue for now and removed her short sleeves robe and had Tiffania wear it. The hood was sufficient to cover her elongated ears for the time being until a more permanent solution could be worked out.
Though Calista was loath to admit it, she knew the top priority had to be getting the Queen to Julio in the hopes that he was a strong enough healer to save her. All other matters had to be addressed later and having a mob of soldiers potentially threatening to harm the Elf would not be conducive to that goal. Calista also restrained herself from offering her own healing services for the dying Queen, her vivid memories of how her power almost killed her own friend recently still fresh in her mind.
As the Dragon landed just beside the camp, Calista pointed out Julio to Karin. The pink haired woman then picked up her friend and made a mad dash towards him. Calista couldn't help but be impressed at how she managed to run with her friend in her arms without tripping on her own dress. She had mixed feelings about the whole situation though. On the one hand she was thankful Julio would be too distracted to be a pain in her posterior as Extwo would say, leaving her to comfortably take care of her business without unwelcome Jedi oversight. But the nature of that distraction left her feeling resentful for even having the thought. Especially when she saw the look of horror on Henrietta's face as she caught a glimpse of her mother and the blood soaked dress she was still wearing.
Once, not so long ago, the young Princess was a means to an end, but now Calista couldn't help but empathize with her. She was about to potentially lose her mother and Calista Zarkot was well acquainted with that feeling. No matter how long ago it was, or how young she was at the time, it was a loss she never stopped feeling. This all lead to the one question that kept recurring in the young Sith Lord's mind recently…
"When did that happen?"
She had no idea of the answer. When had she stopped thinking of the people around her as means to an end, when did she start to care about them?
"When did what happen?" asked Tiffania whom Calista had forgotten was clinging tightly to her with her head concealed in the hood of her Sith robe.
"Just a stupid question in my mind that keeps coming up. It's not important right now. Let's go find your sister."
"Calista, I think I'll stay with my mother. I think she needs support right now," said Louise in a quiet tone.
Calista stopped in her tracks and turned her head so Louise could only see one of her eyes, but it was enough for Louise to discern that what she had to say next was serious and so she gave the woman her undivided attention.
"I understand that you're worried about your mother. But beware of the Jedi. He has a silver tongue, but his words have enough venom to stop a dragon's heart."
"I understand. I'll be mindful. I won't let anyone manipulate me. I learned how to avoid that a long time ago."
"The stakes are quite high right now. Don't be overconfident."
"I learned a very valuable lesson on that one too. Just recently. It's very fresh in my mind. So I won't."
Calista nodded and she turned her head forward and started walking with Tiffania attached to her arm in a display Louise couldn't decide was cute, creepy, or annoyingly childish.
"Speaking of creepy…" said Louise with her eyes shut tightly hoping that feeling she had wasn't what she felt it was. She turned around and opened her eyes to see her Father and eldest sister walking towards her.
Duke Valliere inspected his youngest daughter with a critical eye, her dark attire, the large sword strapped to her back, the blood stains on her face, in her hair, and clothes. Her posture was suddenly drained of any semblance of confidence under the weight of this man's monocled gaze. Her eldest sister standing beside him with her arms folded and an equally critical bespectacled gaze wasn't helping her in the slightest.
"Louise. I understand from various sources that you've been getting yourself into some very serious trouble. Though I am pleased to see you safe, I would prefer if you remain out of further trouble. Our arrangement was quite clear, you would attend school and focus on developing your magic, and everything else would be placed on hold for you until you completed your studies. I trust you know that agreement still stands? It wouldn't do to have you harmed, or otherwise maimed. Am I clear?"
Louise was staring down to the grass at her father's feet, she didn't dare meet his eyes as she composed her meek response…
After all she'd just been through, she kicked herself. She still couldn't find it in herself to stand up to her father who seemed like a giant of a man with all the power in the world over her. If all her new found power and accomplishments couldn't give her that confidence, she didn't know what could. So she said the only two words she ever said to him when he spoke to her...
"Yes father."
"I'm glad we understand each other. Eleonore, please make arrangements for your sister while I attend to your mother and see what, if anything, she needs from me."
"Yes father," answered Eleonore with a polite bow of her head as her father walked away.
Lutece
Capital of Tristain
Brinvilliers gazed out at the gathering crowds outside the gates of the palace where a stage was prepared for him to speak from. Though he insisted on speaking more directly, his security insisted he remain behind the gates of the palace and that a wind mage be on hand to amplify his voice to the crowds. As he took the podium he looked through the iron bars of the heavy gate between him and the masses.
"Not all barriers can be taken down at once I suppose…" he said to himself before nodding to the mage before him to cast the spell.
Brinvilliers observed as the crowd quieted themselves to hear what he had to say before looking down at the speech he had written. He considered the parchment before him and then took it in his hands and crumpled it into a ball. He then discarded it behind him like useless garbage before looking to his audience directly. This speech, he'd give from his heart, not his head.
"Good people of Tristan! We have gathered here today in the service of justice! To bring down, once and for all, the oppressive regime of the tyrant king and his would be inheritors."
The silence was deafening as his paused to gauge the reactions of his audience. The only sound was the wind rustling the trees in the palace gardens behind him. He took a breath and continued speaking, growing more impassioned with each word.
"We, and by 'we' I mean all of us, Noble and Commoner, entrusted our fates to the Royal Family. We believed in them to lead us. To guide us. To care for us and our great nation. That trust was broken! Betrayed. Violated even! Last night our beloved capital city was engulfed in flames by the hand of the Queen herself! This woman whom we trusted to protect us, set our city to flame, killing hundreds of people!"
There were gasps and angry rants coming from the crowd. All eyes were upon him. He had their undivided attention. They were demanding an explanation. Brinvilliers was pleased, they were responding better than he had hoped. He would give them exactly what they wanted.
"She set the city on fire, just to avoid facing our judgement! What did she have to hide from us? Until she is recaptured and brought to justice, we may never know. But rest assured that justice will be done!"
"Burn her!"
"Execute her!"
"Liar!"
"God save the Queen!"
"Shut up! Let him speak!"
Brinvilliers smiled to himself. The people were divided on what they just heard, he needed to create unity. He needed to give them something to rally behind. He looked down at the last document left on his podium that he didn't discard. This was what would accomplish it.
"Hear me people! I say to you now. We will have an execution today! But not of a person. Today, we will execute tyranny itself! As of this moment, I, Duke Marius de Brinvilliers, do take up the crown and declare myself King of Tristan! I assume this crown to perform one action, and one action only! My first and final decree is… Is to declare that there shall never again be a monarchy in Tristain!"
The people seemed confused, the murmurs grew louder. Brinvilliers spoke up again quickly before rumors started to spread. He had to make everything clear, and very quickly.
"Never again shall there be a divide between the Nobility and Commoners! No more will a man need to fear that he will be locked in prison while his family is taken into slavery if he can not pay his taxes. No more oppression from the nobility or anybody! And to you, the former nobility, there shall be no more oppression upon you either! With this irrevocable act, We will unchain our society and allow it to prosper!"
Brinvilliers held up the document he'd slaved over for the last few years of his life, a document he'd spent every minute of every day revising to perfection.
"Our only ruler from now on will be this document! The document that states that every citizen of Tristan shall be granted a set of inalienable rights! Rights no man may take from you under any circumstances!"
The crowd was silent again, hanging on his every word. But from what he could see, there was confusion evident upon all their faces. Nobody in the crowds seemed to have any idea what he was talking about or how he would accomplish such a thing.
"My Friends… Fear not. And understand this. From this day forward... Tristan will no longer have one single ruler. It has a King in every one of you. Each citizen is now a sovereign... This document, and only this document... Which will be spread throughout the land, will have power over us! It states…"
Moissac
Calista stopped in her tracks and looked to the north; the direction of the capital city. For a long moment she was utterly silent. Staring into the distance with narrowed eyes.
"Miss Calista? What's wrong?" asked Tiffania in a hesitant voice.
"A tremor in the Force…"
"The Force?"
"Nevermind. I fear someone has done something we're going to live to regret. But it doesn't matter right now. Let's find your sister."
Duke Valliere placed a supportive hand on his wife's shoulder as she observed the man in white work the strange healing magic upon her friend. Henrietta was kneeling at her mother's bedside, holding her hand tightly and praying constantly, oblivious to the world around her. Beside her, X2-C3 kept vigil around her, only emitting a faint "Dwooo" at Henrietta's sadness.
Karin put her hand on her husband's and held it tightly. Henrietta had tried her most powerful healing spells repeatedly and failed before she finally allowed the white knight to try his power. Henrietta was one of the most powerful water mages Karin had ever seen, especially with her healing potential, she was deeply skeptical of this mysterious Romalian's power but reluctantly held her tongue for Henrietta's sake.
"How is her majesty?" asked the Duke in a low and soft voice to his wife.
"She took a wind blade to the torso. It cut her deep…"
"How's the Princess?"
"You can see for yourself..."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to patronize…"
"I know," answered Karin as she rested her head against her husband's chest while he tenderly wrapped his arm around her.
"She'll be alright Karin. You two have survived so much. She'll survive this. I know she will. She's just as strong as you are."
"Stronger even."
"If you say so, then it must be true."
"If the worst should come to pass. Remember that I'm Henrietta's godmother. I'll need your support more than ever."
"You don't even have to ask… My lady. All I have, is for you to command," answered the Duke while hugging her just a little more tightly to show his affection without being too overt and disrespectful to the situation.
After a few inquiries, Calista lead Tiffania to the rear of the military encampment where they found a pitched tent with a couple Adamantium Golems working to repair various weapons and bits of armor. Calista was curious why Matilda would have her conjured minions doing such trivial work but filed it away for later. She lead Tiffania into the tent where she found Matilda cleaning her leather armor on the floor.
"Knock knock," said Calista as she entered with the hooded Tiffania behind her.
"Welcome back Cali. I guess this means you were successful? Who's your friend?" asked Matilda without even looking up from what she was doing.
Tiffania was silent for a long moment before she pulled back the hood of the robe Calista gave her to wear and rushed to Matilda.
"Big sister!" exclaimed Tiffania as she embraced a stunned Matilda.
"T..Ti...Tiffania?!" stammered Matilda from the floor. She cupped the young girl's face in her hands and pushed her back gently to get a good look. "Tiffania! But how?!"
Tiffania didn't answer her, she just embraced her tightly once again. Matilda also hugged her back tightly. Everything, including time, seemed to stop for Matilda as she held her dear sister.
"Cali… You kept your promise…" said a now tearful Matilda. "Thank you."
"I had nothing to do with it. This was all Louise and Kirche. You have them to thank. All Tabitha and I ended up doing was giving them a ride. Along with the Queen and Louise's mother."
Feeling like she was now intruding in a special moment between the two, Calista smiled and decided it would be most appropriate to make herself scarce for now and made a discreet exit.
Meanwhile, in the private tent of Eleonore. Louise was sitting on a wooden stool with her sister hanging over her like an angry giant.
"Eleonore! I'm fine! Really! And I can clean myself up you know!"
"Obviously not Louise! You've got blood all over your damn face!" declared Eleonore as she started furiously rubbing at the blood stains with a damp cloth.
"Oww! Damn it! You're going to rub the skin off my face too!"
"If that's what it takes. I can't believe this. What in the name of Brimir did you do to yourself?!"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you…"
"If you'd said that to me three days ago, you probably would have been right. But between then and now, I've seen enough that I'd believe even you!"
"If only the reverse were true…"
Eleonore quickly smacked her little sister upside the head.
"Owww! What was that for?"
"If you have to ask, I'll give you a couple more! Now get that damn sword off your back so I can clean up your hair. You've pretty much dyed it red!"
Louise reluctantly unstrapped Derflinger and gently set him down on the floor beside her while her sister dipped the cloth in a bucket of water and wrung it out before she started cleaning the caked blood out of Louise's thick pink hair.
"Start talking Louise…"
"Fine! Fine! But you won't believe me at all."
Eleonore smacked Louise's head again.
"Owww!"
"I don't like repeating myself! Get on with it!"
"Well. It all started a few days ago. The Princess ordered me, and… My friend. To go to Lutece and deal with some corrupt Tax Collectors. Only, when we got there, Duke Brinvilliers' men had already taken the city."
"What did you do?"
"Kirche lead us into a nearby inn where we took cover after Martial Law was declared. We stayed there and explored the city when they started letting people out and about. That's when we learned that the Queen and our Mother were going to be executed. So we did what we had to do… We went and got them out."
"Wait. You mean you and your friend broke them out of the prison? Just the two of you?"
"I'm skipping a lot of little details in between. But yes. That's more or less what happened. It was just me and Kirche. And Derflinger here…" said Louise while gesturing the the sword on the ground beside her.
"Derflinger?" asked Eleonore with a raised eyebrow.
"Yo!" exclaimed Derflinger as he popped out of his scabbard giving Eleonore a fright which made Louise giggle.
"So let me get this straight. You, your friend, and this… Talking sword. Fought your way into Lutece Central Prison… Rescued our mother, and the Queen, and then got back out?"
"That's the short version. But yes."
"Louise… You can't even use Magic properly. How the hell did you manage any of this?!"
"Well… I sort of promised myself I wouldn't show off anymore… But for you I'll make an exception… Watch this." Louise closed her eyes and reached out with her hand towards her sister's open suitcase and telekinetically lifted a book out of it, she then started moving it around. "...I learned recently that magic isn't the only source power someone can have."
"You're not using a wand… How in Brimir's name… That freaky woman who said she's your familiar. So there really is something to her. Besides her smug superiority complex."
"Pot calling the kettle black?"
Eleonore smacked Louise's head yet again and the book fell to the ground.
"Owww!"
"Don't get snarky with me!"
"Sorry… Sheesh. Anyway. So you met Calista? That makes things a little easier. I don't fully understand it myself so I can't explain it very well. But she's been teaching me about this power. It's called 'The Force' and it's some sort of energy that's all around us. Some people can feel it, and use it to do things, things I don't understand yet."
"Everything comes with a price Louise. Never make a deal without knowing all the terms. Believe me, I've seen too many people lose everything because they didn't understand a simple contract."
"Yes big sister. I understand," said a nodding Louise.
"So this 'Force' basically lets you use magic without a wand?"
"Sort of… Kind of… I don't know… There's just so much more to it than that. It's not magic as we understand it. It's something else entirely. I know that much for certain."
"I guess my little inept, trouble making sister, is on the verge of making something out of herself. Just be careful Louise. Don't let this go to your head. You could have gotten yourself killed or worse. How would I have explained to Cattleya what happened to you if you didn't come back?"
Louise looked down at the floor in deep shame at the mention of her other sister.
"Listen to me Louise. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking I don't care about you. You're my sister before anything else. I get that you found something that's making a big difference in your life, that's not a bad thing. Just be cautious going forward and remember who and what you are. You're not a warrior or whatever it is you think you were trying to be. So don't get anymore crazy ideas, alright?"
"Sith…"
"What?"
"A Sith. That's what I'm trying to be. What I want to be. I want to be a Sith, like Calista. That's what I've decided, that's what I've committed to."
"What's a Sith?"
"That's a tough one to explain. A Sith is a warrior empowered by the Force. If you spend some time with Calista, and see what she's capable of, you'll understand what I've come to aspire to..."
"Don't define yourself by other people Louise. I can't always be here to smack start your head when your brain stops working. I meant it. Don't forget who and what you are and what's expected of you. Father won't be pleased at all if you starting chasing some stupid life of adventure and grandeur."
"The alternative is a life of mediocrity and doing nothing of any significance at all…"
"That depends on what you define as significant. You don't have to be a story book hero to do something meaningful with your life. I know you don't respect my work and things I do for it, but there's more to power than your skills with violence. Power, the word itself, just literally means the ability to do something. Keep that in mind as you explore your options with what you have now."
"I see your point, and I can't really argue with it. But, that alternative for me, I don't feel it. I feel something else calling to me, something I can't explain or comprehend yet. But I want to understand it."
"Then focus on that Louise. Understanding should be your first step. Before you try anything else. Alright?"
"Yes big sister."
"Good," she replied before smacking Louise in the back of her head again.
"Owww! What was that for?"
"So you don't forget it!"
Meanwhile not far from the inn being used as a medical facility for the wounded, Kirche suddenly sneezed.
"Bless you." said Tabitha while looking at the window of a nearby shop.
"Thank you. Blah… My nose is all itchy. Someone must be talking about me." said Kirche as she furiously waved her bandaged hands in an effort to shake the snot off.
"Ridiculous superstition," answered Tabitha while pulling out a handkerchief to help her friend clean up before she walked into the store.
Kirche looked up at the sign. A book store. Why she even needed to look, she didn't know. She simply shrugged as she followed her petite friend in.
"Tabitha. I know you're a bookworm and all… But seriously? Don't you think that just maybe we should be doing something better with our time?"
Tabitha nodded as she eyed the various books in the shop.
"You agree, and yet we're still here. Tabitha…"
"We can't help them now," answered a stoic Tabitha.
"I realize that! But that's not what I mean. Do I have to spell this out for you in the middle of a damned bookshop?"
Tabitha nodded as she started levitating a book down from the top shelf with a wave of her staff.
"I'm not sure if you really understand here."
"You need elixir. Go drink some, I'll wait here."
"Tabitha… My bottle broke while I was fighting in Lutece!"
"That's a problem…"
"No kidding? It's not like there having a two for three special in town right now! I need to go find Montmorency."
"She was hurt. Saving Calista."
"What? Is she alright?"
"No."
"Is she dead?!"
"No."
"Will she be alright?"
"Possibly."
"Then we should go help her! And I'll smack Calista into yet another world!"
"Not her fault."
"Grrr…. I know. You're probably right. I'm just so…"
"Breath. Not your real emotions."
"I know… I'm sorry."
"Montmorency got you more. It's with her. We'll go find her soon."
"Thank you Tabitha. Where is she? And what about our friends here?"
"She's at the Academy. They don't need us here."
"Like hell they don't! After all they've been through?"
"Not our war..."
"I know that. But I can't just abandon Louise. Or Calista… Or even that stupid little trollop Guiche."
Tabitha simply kept looking through the books but Kirche knew she was still listening.
"It's not our country. It's not our war. I get that. But damn it all if I don't feel this irresistible urge to make it my war. I can't just sit back as our friends, our school mates risk their lives. It would feel so wrong!"
Tabitha picked out other book before turning her head to Kirche. The redhead knew that when Tabitha gave her undivided attention, the next sentence had better be good…
"I'd like your help in this Tabitha. I understand if you don't want to get involved. But… I have to do this. Besides… Louise would get herself cooked without me… Then I'd look really stupid for not taking the opportunity to out do the Vallieres."
"I'm already involved."
"So you'll stay with me?" said Kirche with a hopeful eye on Tabitha.
The small girl nodded. "I'd never abandon you. You'd never abandon that girl..."
"You know me too well…" said Kirche with a shake of her head.
Tabitha then looked back to the cover the book she just picked up.
"Combative applications of water magic. By the River and Wave?" inquired Kirche as she peered down at the book.
"Know your enemy," said Tabitha as she walked towards the shop keeper who was quietly reading a book by the entrance to the store.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'll explain later."
Tabitha held the books out to the shopkeeper and waited patiently as he finished reading his paragraph before her looked up at her and gave a courteous nod.
"Nice to see you again Tabitha. Two books this time? Four silvers. And let me just say… I'm reading that other book you picked up right now, it's good. You'll enjoy it."
"What book?" asked Kirche.
"Seven Heros of Arrakis... This thing is a joy to read."
Tabitha nodded and pulled the money from her coin pouch to hand over.
"Thank you Leonas," said Tabitha as she walked out of the store.
"See you next time," answered the shopkeeper as he returned to his book with a smile.
Calista found herself wandering about the camp. Without her robe she felt self conscious of every step she took. Her thin frame and athletic figure covered only in a thin layer of black painted durasteel. She could sense Louise with her sister, and she seemed, surprisingly content with the situation she was in. So she didn't want to intrude there. Matilda and Tiffania had certainly earned their time together so keeping distance was the right thing to do. The same went for Kirche and Tabitha whom she could sense in the town. Agnes was by the Princess' side as the loyal and dutiful Musketeer she was, waiting on that Jedi to heal the Queen. She could feel Henrietta's fear all around her, she blocked out that rather potent aura as she wandered about. Even Extwo had the important duty of protecting the Princess and no matter how much she long for its… His company, she didn't want to go anywhere near that situation right now.
And so Calista found herself in a situation she'd never experienced before. Wandering around aimlessly. "How sad must it be for people who constantly live in this sorry state of existence?" she wondered to herself.
She wandered up the top of a hill that provided an overview of the entire military camp and the town beyond it. She sat herself on her knees and closed her eyes to meditate. She'd done this so many times before but this time she found it difficult. One stubbornly persistent feeling refused to be evicted from her mind. Loneliness.
She'd spent so much of her life alone that this feeling shouldn't even come up for her. But it was persisting against all her best efforts. Rather than drive it away she applied her training and education to it. She set out to understand her enemy. To find the source of its power and cut it off.
She wondered what she would do about it if she were back home…
"Home. I don't even know where that is anymore…"
Home was always such an abstract concept to her. It was always somewhere other than where she was. She had to go back to her childhood to find a time when she felt truly at home and at peace with the concept of a home. When she was on Korriban, Eshan was always home. When she finally returned, it she found herself homeless again and almost longed for the brutal simplicity of life on Korriban. It was horrible, but it was straight forward. Eshan was complicated to say the least.
When she was aboard her ship, home was always her fighter. When she was in her fighter, home was the ship. When she was brought here, home became anywhere in that other galaxy. Home was never where she was. Just always where she wished to be. When she was with her squadron mates, she just wanted to be alone. When she was alone, she just wanted to be with her squadron mates…
"I never truly appreciated the ability of the mind to run like a mobius strip," said Calista to herself.
Her mind settled on her droid. Extwo was the only constant in her life for as long as she could remember. Now even he wasn't with her. Though that was by her own design and she felt a lack of foresight was involved which lead to her current predicament. Though, she quickly reminded herself, that Extwo was serving an important function. Not only that, but it seems the young Princess has grown just as attached to her little Droid protector as Calista was. The thought of which did bring a smile to Calista's face that she couldn't understand. Why did it feel so good for a moment to endure her current misery while another benefited from what would otherwise be her own source of contentment?
Why does she care if the Princess is happy or not? Nobody ever cared about her own happiness. For that matter, why did she give a damn about anyone's emotional state? When did she stop only looking out for herself?
Her mind arrived at only one person she'd ever feel comfortable talking to about any such subject matters. But that person was far away from her now. Though, unlike others, she wasn't so far away as to be unreachable. Montmorency. No matter which way she looked at it, she was the only person other than Extwo whom she felt comfortable opening up to. At least with Monmon, she'd probably get better advice than 'seek mental health expert' as Extwo would always suggest.
For now, she should at least pretend to be busy until there was news of the Queen. She'd wait outside the inn for news, that would at least not be as much of a waste of time. Besides, now that she'd taken care of everything he didn't need to be involved in, maybe she could have a chat with the Jedi again. No matter how much he irritated her, at least she wouldn't have to spend hours putting things into context for him. The thought of that gave her some comfort, as much as she was loath to admit it.
A few hours later, Julio stood up from beside the Queen and adjusted his clothing before standing respectfully to the side of the room where he could address everyone in a solemn tone.
"I've done everything I can. The damage is extensive and not even my best efforts can repair it all. I'm very sorry… The magic they use, it seems to be designed to thwart healing efforts, even my own. It's just a matter of time now, please make use of it… She has a strong will to live that's keeping her..." Julio started but couldn't' finish. He took a deep breath and rubbed his right eye which started to water. "Forgive me. There's nothing more I can do here. Please excuse me."
Julio took another deep breath to maintain his composure before walking out of the room as politely as he possibly could, paying far more attention to his posture and mannerisms than he normally had to.
As he exited the inn he found Calista waiting for him with her arms folded over her armored chest. Without the robe covering her, the Sith's small stature made her seem harmless, but Julio knew she was anything but...
"I sense great conflict in you Jedi."
"Your senses, as always, seem to serve you well my Lady," said Julio with a voice devoid of any energy. Not at all his usual polite gentleman's tone.
"I assume this is because you've simply exhausted yourself to the point where it's difficult to maintain the barrier against your emotions. I know you wouldn't possibly show your face before me if the Queen wasn't making a full recovery. Especially since I vouched for your healing abilities. You wouldn't be looking to undermine me by letting the Queen die… Surely that would violate the Jedi code."
"I'm not certain I appreciate the accusation that I wouldn't do everything in my power to save someone's life… Anyone's life."
"If that were true, why are you here, instead of devoting every ounce of your power towards the Queen's recovery?"
"Because I've done everything that can be done. At some point, we must accept the will of the Force. However difficult it is… It doesn't mean I like it. But it can't be changed..." Julio rubbed his right eye again as water threatened to spill from it once again.
Julio took a deep breath and spoke softly to himself, "There is no emotion. There is peace."
"No emotion? It looks to me like you have a lot of emotion. It's alright to let it out. I think you'd call it being human. You can only repress so much before it starts to consume you."
"Jedi have emotions my Lady. It's a common misconception that we entirely repress them. We simply train ourselves not to act on them. It's an important difference," said Julio with a tired voice. Calista got the impression he's had to explain this too many times in life and the monotony in his voice suggested he would have expected her to know better.
"I don't see the difference. When I'm sad, I want a hug. When I'm happy, I want to share that joy. There's nothing wrong with that. It's natural."
"You say those words. Yet I detect hesitation behind them. Like you're saying it, but not believing it."
"Just because I want those things, doesn't mean I get them. That's also an important difference."
"That's a relief. For a moment there I thought you were going to offer me a hug."
"I'll fling dung at your face long before I offer you a hug."
"How very diplomatic."
"Diplomacy was never my strong point. But I know my way around it. I just find it to be a waste of time. If you want something, take it. Nobody ever gave me anything just because I asked nicely."
"I've seen you around these people. You're either being deceptive, or you're simply better at it than you give yourself credit for. You remind me of the man I most looked up to when I was still a Padawan."
"If you're suggesting I'm manly, I take offense. I do take care of myself enough to at least pass for a woman."
Julio chuckled softly and looked at Calista with a more critical eye, particularly the red bow tied up in her hair. "I can see that. However that's not what I meant."
"I know what you meant. But I can't stand having a serious discussion with you. It's nauseating. So I use humor to make it tolerable."
"Very kind of you... "
"I'm perfectly capable of kindness…"
"But you don't think it pays to be nice."
"Correct."
Julio sat himself down beside the inn, on a small tree stump coming out of the foundation while Calista sat down on her knees with her back straight. The Jedi started speaking after a long moment of awkward silence. She couldn't tell if he was addressing her, or himself. She decided she didn't give a damn either way but was curious what he wanted to say. Moreover, she was especially curious about why he was even having this conversation at all.
"I think it does. And I'm sure he would have agreed with me… Before… Well… Just before. He was one of our best. Someone we looked up to. All my life, all I ever wanted to be... Was him. He solved problems. Negotiated peace between the most bitter enemies. He was savvy with politics like no other. He could walk through the entire Senate and convince everyone to get along and talk through their disputes…"
"Oh… This should be good. It's all I wanted to wrap up my day. To hear the tale of another boring Jedi master on his quest to keep the peace in the Republic senate…"
"Do you want to hear the story of the rise to power of your Sith master or not?"
"My master? Oh please. You don't want to hear about my master. But humor me for now. Tell your story."
"I probably shouldn't have to tell you this story. You probably know it just as well as I do by now. But I'll give you my perspective, and then you can give me yours."
Calista blinked at the man in confusion before giving him a short nod.
"He was a political idealist. A man who turned down the mantle of a Jedi Knight, took up his family title. Some say it was arrogance, but I say he used it as a leverage in politics.. He instigated the war by convincing many star systems to secede from the Republic over a series of… What I'd say in retrospect were petty disputes that could have easily been resolved in time. But, he wanted war. And he got it. The greatest swordsman of the Jedi Order… Using nothing but politics... Split the Republic in two. That's when your Master revealed himself as a Dark Lord of the Sith."
"My master?! A Jedi?! That's quite impossible. My Master was a pure blooded Sith from Dromund Kaas."
It was Julio's turn to blink in confusion at Calista.
"Pure blooded Sith? What… Wait… Lady Zarkot. What's the last thing you remember about the war?"
"Well… The last operation in the war which I participated in was the invasion of Denon. The Republic was still very much united against the Sith Empire. I think news of the Republic splitting in two would have reached me, especially if a man I killed with my own hands, was the instigator."
"Next question. What were you doing when you were summoned? If I may ask?"
"Why do you even care?"
"Because I'm a Jedi. I want to understand what's happened to us."
"Does it even matter? We're here now. And we're stuck here! Why do you care?"
"Is it something personal? I very much doubt you were sucked down the 'fresher into this world."
"Maybe I was? What's it to you?"
"I'm sure you have your reason for being reluctant to tell me. Perhaps if I told you what happened to me, you could simply tell me if anything sounds familiar to you?"
Balmorra
Galactic Inner-rim
"Vox, I got the turrets up and running again. Perimeter secured."
"Good work. Now, we need to figure out a way to get in there and shut down the droid factory or else we're gonna be epicly outnumbered."
"Isn't that the norm for this battalion?"
"Can't argue with that. I'll go inform the general that we're operational again."
The trooper donned his helmet and started a brisk walk to the center of the makeshift Republic base, where he found his Jedi General consulting a holo map of the area and discussing strategy with the officers.
"General. Defense turrets are all operational again. We shouldn't have any more problems with enemy tanks getting too close."
"Good work soldier. Now, I need you to get a recon team together, there's a blind spot in our data on the east side of the factory. We need to know if there's a vulnerability in their defenses we can somehow exploit."
"As you command General. Oh, speaking of blind spots. How's your eye?"
"It's the wrong color, but it works. Thank you for the concern. I appreciate it."
"It was all we could come up with at the remains of the hospital in town. Don't think it was designed for Humans sir."
"It doesn't matter. What's important is that I can see properly and fight at my best. Are the men still sorting through the remains of the Hospital for useful supplies?"
"Yes General. They're distributing what they can to the people who need them as we speak."
"I'm relived. Then we can focus on the task at hand. Let's get it done."
"The troops will be ready within the hour. I'll have your recon data well before then. I assume you'll coordinate the attack from the command bunker?"
"Have I ever?"
"No sir. But considering your wounds, you should probably make an exception."
"It's just an eye. Our brothers have paid much higher prices in this war. You could say that, now I'm seeing through one of your eyes. I'm also sort of seeing half as they do, which means I'm now exactly one half better than I was before and a whole lot better than any droid. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes sir!"
"Alright, I want the walkers positioned to cut off the Destroyers this time. They're far too mobile for comfort, we won't be able to breach the factory if they're rolling all over the battlefield again… I want to try some deception this time. We'll attack the North side, and if my theory is correct, we can have the commandos sneak in through the east side with my Padawan. Once inside the factory they'll send the shutdown command to all the droids. Any questions?"
"No sir!"
"Then let's get it done. For the Republic!"
"For the Republic!"
As the soldiers prepared to move out, a young teenage human boy in brown robes walked up to his master who was looking out across the battlefield he would soon be fighting upon.
"Master? I want to thank you for giving me this assignment. I won't let you down."
"You're ready for it. You've demonstrated time after time that you're more than capable of taking on greater responsibilities. Just remember to always be mindful of the moment. Don't let yourself be distracted by other variables. Trust the men under your command and lead them the best you can. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from them if you need it. They're dependable."
"Yes Master. I understand."
"You'll be a great Jedi Knight one day. Sooner than you might think if you keep going as you have been."
"Thank you, Master."
"No. It's I who owes you thanks. I couldn't have wished for a better student."
An hour later
"Men! Gather around Vox! Air support Is inbound! ETA is TWO minutes! Don't get caught in the crossfire!"
Yelled the white robed Jedi both on the comm lines and to everyone around him. The troopers relayed his orders to each other in shouting distance on instinct. Battlefield communication was something these troopers and their General had down to a fine art after all their time together.
He took off his robe so he could more effectively deflect incoming blaster fire and redirect it back at the droids shooting at him. Under his robes, he wore patchworks of armor made up from bits of the same armor worn by the troopers under his command, it served to reinforce his place as one of them, and he was deeply respected for it.
His lightsaber orbits were so quick that to the observers he was surrounded by a thin weave of light that no blaster bolts could penetrate. So practiced was the Jedi that he could simultaneously deflect incoming fire and use the Force to throw enemy droids into each other. Size didn't matter, not even tank droids were safe from his telekinetic pushes and throws.
The comm unit in his ear went off and the Jedi focused on nothing but his blaster deflection while listening carefully to the information he was getting.
"Master, we've breached their defenses. We've run into a small problem with some reinforced blast doors. The troops are working on it now. We expect to be through shortly."
"Keep at it! We're keeping the droid army busy here, but we can`t hold the line for long! Air support is inbound but that's not a permanent solution. You need to hurry."
"I`ll try master. Oh sorry… I mean I will… There is no try."
"Cut the chatter! Arnie is heading to your position as we speak. I`ll relay your coordinates to him."
The Jedi then brought his focus entirely back to the battle around him. He lifted the remains of a large battle droid and hurled it into a group of smaller ones to give himself time to issue new orders to his troops. He used his free hand to tap his comm.
"Arnie, Tucius need your support, proceed according to…"
"The time has come."
"Who is this? Get of this channel!" declared the Jedi General in the most no nonsense tone he could muster.
"Execute...Order Sixty-six."
"There is no such…" his response was cut short when a blaster bolt crossed the air a few inches from his face with the shattering sound of air burning in its path. There was a small explosion of rock behind him. Red hot debris debris impacted his body and burned him. The pain was immense and only his Jedi reflexes, pushed to the limit by years of constant battle allowed him to withstand the opening barrage.
"Master! Please! Help me!" The sound of his Padawan screaming in agony was the last thing he heard before the blasters being fired at him from the front and back overcame his defence and shot after shot knocked him to the ground. But he didn't feel an impact. Instead, he inexplicably kept falling through some sort of abyss until his vision faded along with his consciousness...
"Then… I died. Or I should have died. The next thing I knew I awoke in a bedroom in Romalia surrounded by healers."
"Clone armies? Droid armies? Did you hit your head when you arrived on this world? I know I did."
"Pardon?"
Calista took a long moment to recall what Colbert explained to her about the summoning spell and it hit her like the blow to the head she was just talking about...
"Of course….The summoning spell. One of the Professors at the Academy told me it ignores time. One, or both of us, could be from the future, or the past. Or one of us is in the present… This is going to give me a kriffing headache…"
"I thought so. Quite fascinating. The Force truly works in mysterious ways."
"I'm glad you're so interested," said Calista as she stood up and started walking away.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from you. What business is it of yours?"
"Forgive me my lady. I seem to have misinterpreted our conversation."
"What? You tell a sad story and you think I'll suddenly care about you? I have enough of my own accumulated where I can comfortably tell you to suck it up and kriff yourself."
"How colorful."
"I'm a rainbow. Can't you tell?"
"Personally, I'd describe you as a Black Hole. You take the light of the people around you, but offer none of your own…"
Calista turned from the Jedi and walked away. She said nothing in response and focused with all her power to block his telepathy. But his words were hurting her to her very core, and he could sense it no matter how hard she tried to keep him out. Though he was loath to apply Dun Moch in any situation the Sith was beginning to irk him, and in his vulnerable state of mental exhaustion he just wasn't up to dealing with her coarse attitude towards him. Julio sighed to himself. This Sith only raised more questions than she answered. She conformed to none of his preconceptions of what a Sith should be, except in her dealings with him. He'd have to ponder her duality after taking the time to meditate and recompose himself.
Lutece
Underground Bar
"Article Ten. No one may be disturbed for his opinions, even religious ones, provided that their man...i..fis...ta… Whatever... Does not trouble the public order... Established by the law... What the bloody hell does that mean exactly? Felix, could you explain that?"
Felix took a sip of his beer before looking at the man so intensely it was as if he could see through him. Making the man in question feel significantly shorter.
"It means that if you continue to disturb me for my opinions, which, like your wand, are only useful to you for prostate stimulation... I will hurt you."
"That ain't what it means…"
"That's what it should mean," answered Felix as he took a spoonful of soup into his mouth.
"What does this Brinvilliers guy think he's doing? I mean, this stuff doesn't even make any sense. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights? Social distinctions can be founded only on the common good? How the hell does that even work?"
"What about this one? Article Fifteen. The society has the right to request account from any public agent of its administration. If I understand that, it means a street sweeper can go up to a Minister and demand to know what he's doing. How will he get any work done if he has to answer to every lowly person he meets?"
"Hey boys. Get this... The law is the expression of the general will. All the citizens have the right of contributing personally or through their representatives to its formation. So now everyone gets to decide what the laws are. Welcome to anarchy!"
"That's not what it means you imbecile," said Felix instantly getting the room's attention.
"Well what does it mean then?"
"It means we're all in serious trouble if no one of you lot can even understand this document. You should apply your minds to much simpler things and leave this alone."
"Like what Felix?"
"Like the fact that your pants are so tight I can count the coins in your pocket. So you'd better go use 'em to hire a tailor."
Moissac
Marianne still lay unconscious on the bed. Karin did everything she could to make her friend comfortable and sat by Henrietta's side as they kept vigil over her. Watching each of her shallow breaths and nervously awaiting the next. Each breath Marianne drew was torture for the pair as they watched and waited. Agnes and Duke Valliere excused themselves from the room after silently deciding that it would be best for everyone's dignity if the three of them were alone now.
"I can't believe it's going to end like this. I'm not ready. I can't rule this country. Without my mother, I'll be alone…"
"You'll never be alone Henrietta. I swear to you. I will be here for you just as I've always been."
"Then would you take the throne Aunt Karin?"
"No. I wouldn't. That's your birthright, your burden. It was never what I wanted. But you are ready for it. Just look at what you accomplished here on your own?"
"I got thousands of men killed in a battle we couldn't win because I got overconfident against Brinvilliers," explained a tearful Henrietta.
"That's war. You can't win all your battles. Against Brinvilliers, all you can do is just be thankful you lived to learn from it. Even as a young man, he was almost infallible when it came to tactics. He never fights fair, he has no regard for the rules of war or chivalry. He's so goal oriented that even human decency is beneath him. The ends always justify his means. That's what made him dangerous."
"I can't lead an army. You could. My mother could. I can't."
"That. Is. Something I can do for you. I can lead your army. But I can't rule in your place. I can protect you, I can advise you, I can help you pick the right dress. But I can't do more than that. I'm just your Godmother."
"If I couldn't even protect my mother, how could I protect this nation?"
"Henrietta. Don't do that to yourself. That isn't fair. There was absolutely nothing you could have done. Sometimes in life, you can do everything right, and still not get the outcome you wanted. You're her daughter. No matter what happened, she never gave up. She never stopped striving. She never let go of her dreams and her ideals. She had enough power that should could have done anything she wanted… But all she wanted was to be your mother."
Julio looked up at the sky from where he was meditating beside his dragon in the military camp with a solemn gaze.
"There is no death. Only the Force."
Sometime later, Julio was wandering the camp. He looked around and his attention fell upon a small girl with pink hair. She dressed in black, a sword almost as big as she was strapped to her back. She was on her hands and knees, visibly trembling. It wasn't a great feat of telepathy to sense what she was feeling, and her words confirmed it to him.
"No… I failed. Aunty…"
Julio cautiously approached the young girl where he knelt down a respectful distance from her. "She isn't dead young one. She is very much alive," he said to her in his most compassionate tone of voice and the kindest smile he could muster.
Louise looked up at the man kneeling before her. She had no idea what to make of him or what he was saying. At first, she felt a wave of heat through her young body, the man was especially good looking and she cursed herself for having such a thought at a time like this. In search for a distraction her eyes settled upon his Lightsaber. It wasn't at all like Calista's. Her's was as much a work of art as it was a weapon. His on the other hand was clearly designed by someone who didn't give any thought to aesthetics, but only to function. Those thoughts however, were quickly drowned out by the wave of grief that simply refused to yield to any other emotion or thought.
"She died. I felt. I felt it... So strongly... It was as if I was the one who had died."
"I felt it too. That's what happens when someone transcendes the living plane and becomes one with the Force."
"What do you mean?"
"Death, is a natural part of life. But it isn't the end of life. The Force, is in everything. Its energy surrounds us, and binds us. Life creates it. Makes it grow. Death isn't an ending, merely a transcendence. She is now a part of the living Force... Flowing through all things. Including you."
"Is that what the Force is? Dead things?"
Julio chuckled for a moment, "Yes and no. The Force is the energy from which all life emanates. If you look at the candle light against a wall, you understand that wall isn't the source of the light, that it actually comes from the candle. It's the same thing with all of us. The candle is the Force, and we are the light on the wall."
"So you're saying that we are the Force?"
"That's one way to understand it. We have a symbiotic relationship with the Force. Without life, the Force would not exist. Without the Force, life as we know it can not exist."
"Sounds like the question of the Gryphon and the egg. Which came first? But what about everything the Church teaches? About the afterlife? Heaven, hell?"
"I think you already know the answer to that question. If you don't, you will. As your connection to the Force deepens, you'll find that understanding."
"It's all a lie?"
"To call it a lie is unfair. Instead you should try to think of it as a different level of understanding."
"That doesn't make any sense at all..."
"Understanding is something all beings strive for. As a Jedi, achieving higher levels of understanding is my ultimate goal. That doesn't mean that I dismiss the understanding of others and believe there's no truth or merit to alternative points of view."
"How can that be? Either something is true, or it isn't. How can something be true and untrue?"
"Only the Sith deal in absolutes. A Jedi is open to all possibilities. All understandings."
"If that's true…" started Louise with her eyes narrowed. "Then why did you try to kill Calista? And me by extension? Why do the Jedi persecute the Sith?"
Julio could feel her anger growing and knew to take a moment to choose his words carefully.
"The Sith, strive to dominate and rule. The Jedi seek to serve and protect. Such opposing points of view inevitably lead to conflict. It is unfortunate, but it is also unavoidable. However, I did not try to kill your Master. Far from it."
"If all of that is true. Why fight her in the first place? I thought only Sith deal in absolutes? But you just stated that conflict between Jedi and Sith is inevitable and absolute."
"Believe me. I do appreciate that particular paradox. Not even the greatest minds in the galaxy can reconcile the two opposing doctrines of the Jedi and the Sith to allow for coexistence. It's made all the more difficult by virtue of how the Sith operate. The Sith strive to bend the Force to their will, while the Jedi strive to bend ourselves to the will of the Force. They manipulate events from the shadows. Turning brother against brother, son against father. The Jedi seek to maintain peace and justice for all. We're content to serve everyone. A beggar in the street, or the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Rarely do Jedi and Sith confront each other in the open. So rarely in fact that we know next to nothing about them except from history,
Which brings us to the state of things now. From my point of view, a Sith left to her own devices can cause great harm to this world. From her point of view, I'm certain it is the same for me. The question you now face, is which path will you choose?"
"I wasn't aware I had such a choice," said Louise with a skeptical eye.
"The Force, like all things, has a dual nature. Light and Dark. Kindness, compassion, charity, mercy. These things are the Light Side. Anger, fear, aggression, hate. These are the Dark Side of the Force. I'm sure you can guess where each of those paths could potentially end."
"All I know. All I need to know. Is that what Calista teaches me, isn't evil. What she's taught me, has made me a better, and stronger person. How can there be evil in that?"
"Your people have a saying. The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
"That can be true of both paths. Any road can lead to self destruction. I refuse to believe that the power one wields can determine their destiny more than the choices they make. Just because someone is a fire mage capable of nothing but destruction doesn't make them a bad person, or their powers evil. It's how they use them. It has to be."
"It has to be… I only hope that you come to see the flaw in that logic before it's too late to turn around. The difference between magic, and the Force, is that magic doesn't directly influence your destiny. But the Force, does. Now that I sense this conversation is about to end, I'd like to leave you with just one warning, young Sith, beware of the quick and easy path. Immediate rewards seldom lead to long term gains."
"My experience, however limited, tells me otherwise."
"My experience tells me that power as a means to an end... In your case as a means to self confidence, is a dark twisted labyrinth from which there could be no escape. You're more likely to end up where you began, or worse still, get caught in the thorns, rather than find a way through to whatever it is you're searching for. In time, seek guidance from the Force and you will find your answers. But now is not the time for this… You should be with your family, they need you now. Go to them."
Louise gave the man a puzzled look before nodding. She headed back in the direction of the inn where she knew her mother would be with Henrietta.
The next evening
A funeral pyre had been prepared in the center of the military encampment. The soldiers were paraded. Henrietta was surrounded by the people she counted as her friends, Louise, Calista, Kirche, and Tabitha. Beside them in a neat line were Karin, General Gramont, and Jean Colbert who had fixed their gazes upon Marianne's body lying atop a mound of neatly arranged logs.
Calista couldn't help but be intrigued by the similarities between their funeral rituals and those used widely in her own galaxy. Though the Dark Lords of the Sith were once buried in elaborate tombs on Korriban which later became death traps for those foolish enough to wander into them and later still the Acolytes of the resurgent Sith Empire who would send their acolytes in to be tested, as if having to prove their worth to the ancient Sith Lords themselves.
To simply burn the bodies of the dead seemed to be something most societies agreed on. Why put someone in a box in the ground where loved ones can go visit and have the wounds reopened? It was a simple farewell to the departed, and it seemed particularly fitting for a renowned Fire Mage.
Karin took a step forward to deliver a brief eulogy for her friend.
"I knew Marianne from the first day she arrived in Tristain. Never before, or since, had I met someone so full of life. Someone who could always see the best in any situation, no matter how grim things got for us. She was our guiding light… Even at the very end, her only thought was to fight with all she had to protect us all. She always accused me of being 'selfishly selfless' but the truth was that she was just as guilty of that as I was. The only difference is that she was a lot smarter than I am and always had a plan to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat,
She came to love this nation. This was where she made her life. This was where she raised a daughter, and at the same time became a mother to all of Tristain. The things she did, the sacrifices she made, for all of us. I won't let it all be for nothing. As we say goodbye to our beloved Queen, I also make this vow. Those who seek to harm what she stood for, will be punished. I swear it."
Karin then took a step back while Colbert took a step forward. He had nothing to say, he only had a duty to perform. He lifted his staff and said only one word. "Ignite."
Meanwhile General Gramont balled a fist and held it over his heart in a Knightly salute as the flames began to spread, his eyes found their way to the ground while his head bowed in reverence.
Tears streamed down Henrietta's face as she watched the flames grow. Louise put a hand on her shoulder and Henrietta in turn put a hand on her's. But Calista saw her other hand and her entire posture. Yes, she was devastated, but another emotion was slowly rising to replace the grief. Her fist was clenched so tightly that blood started to flow from between her fingers. She was seething. Karin may have sworn revenge, but she could tell the Princess… No, the Queen, wanted very much to be the one to carry it out. And Calista fully intended to help her do it.
Across from Henrietta, Julio stood in line with the military officers. He closed his eyes and shook his head very slightly. He'd seen the consequences of the actions taken by people with power seeking revenge enough to know that no good could come of this. He didn't need the Force to show him the myriad of possibilities he already knew would be inevitable. He needed information, and a plan before he would decide his next move.
Lutece
The next morning
"My Duke-"
"I'm not a Duke anymore."
"Your majesty?"
"I'm not a King either. You should all know better by now."
"Your Excellency?"
"I'll accept it. What is it?"
"It's about the Constitution. We've distributed copies all over the city as you requested. But, people have many questions about it. I don't think the masses fully comprehend just what it means for them."
"I expected as much. It's because they have yet to see the fruits of it. For now, I'd like you to appoint people familiar with the details who can meet with community leaders and answer their questions. In the mean time, I'll be working to set the foundations for a new Interim Government. Once that is in place, and the last organized resistance has been dealt with, we'll suspend Martial Law. Any questions?"
"Yes your Excellency. Just one. Shall we call for the armies in La Rochelle and Marseille to gather?"
"That won't be necessary. Marianne and Karin will be coming here. No doubt by now they've learned of Gramont's utter defeat. Even if they get Colbert back in with them, it won't matter. As long as we remain here, we will have the advantage and crush them,
"For now, open recruitment for the army in the city and the surrounding villages. It can't hurt to bolster our forces while we wait. Just keep it as if we're doing business as usual. No need to alarm the people unessesarily, Marianne already handed me the court of public opinion in her escape. The rest will only need a few minor nudges to fall into place."
"Yes your excellency."
"One more thing… I'd like you to pass the word to the Dragon Knights. Have them send scouts to find and keep tabs on our enemies. I'd like to know what they're up to. If possible, I'd like to eliminate or perhaps convert a few of their pawns before the Queen reaches our doorstep."
Moissac
Meanwhile, the smoke from the funeral pyre was finally gone and a few men were cleaning up the mound of ash that had been left behind. It didn't seem very dignified, but it was just ash at this point and there was no way around that. Louise turned her attention to Calista after she finally found a moment to address the issue that had been burning in her mind since she was alone in the capital.
"So you've come to a decision Louise?"
"Yes. I want to become a Sith."
"You're ready to make that commitment?"
"I already have. I want you to keep teaching me. I promise I won't run away from this. I'll give it my all."
"Changing your outfit to emulate me doesn't demonstrate a commitment to the path of a Sith."
"No. But I understand why you dress the way you do. It made sense for me as well."
"Explain," said Calista with a critical eye and tone.
"The nobility, dress up in nothing but the finest. To them, that's representative of their power. But for you, your power speaks for you. It's about abandoning material power, and becoming power itself."
"That's, actually not a bad line of reasoning and it shows me you are indeed beginning to form an understanding of the path you're walking. But there's more to it than that Louise. Much more. Perhaps that's where we'll begin our lesson for today."
"So you'll teach me?"
"Yes."
Calista stood up and adjusted her robe while silently being thankful that she had it back. "There are a few schools of thought regarding this particular subject. Sith who devote themselves to combat through martial prowess wear heavy armor from head to toe. They seek to become the embodiment of their passion for battle."
Louise nodded her understanding while looking up at Calista who was pacing about as she gathered her thoughts.
"Then, there were others who chose to wear these… Well, personally I found it absurd, but it worked for them. They wear outfits designed to create a horrific visage with the intention of inspiring fear. The reason I find that concept ridiculous is because, as you said before, I prefer to let my power speak for me. So you could consider me a minimalist,
"The ultimate point I'm trying to make is that, you need to find your own way. I can teach you to use the Force, I can teach you to wield your weapon. But I can't teach you how to live your life. I'll just give you the tools and the materials. What you build from it, will be up to you."
"I understand that. The Sith code, it's about a personal path. It teaches you how to make yourself into something. So I have to figure a lot out on my own."
"Very good Louise. I'm impressed."
"I had a lot of time to think about things."
"I can see that. Tell me what you've come to understand about the code then..."