Chapter 17

'Festive Time of the Year'

'Pills to Make the Bad Man Go Away'

'Loyal Servants'

After a good nights' sleep, Dantius wakes up to a bustling house. The house looks festive as servants and groundskeepers prepare for the big Befana Eve event.

Dantius slowly descends the stairs trying not to become entangled in the imported Endor Pine garland. The workers gingerly thread the garland of long pine needles between the spindles of the banister. The fragrant pine sap immediately fills the house. Several more workers are moving furniture and unrolling a new runner in the foyer. Several florists pass by him carrying large arrangements of white Befana lilies with bright red stems. The fresh flowers have just arrived via warp speed, this morning from Felucia. The staff gingerly tries to avoid a collision with Dantius. It is clear that he is in the way. He slowly makes his way to the breakfast room overlooking the lake.

The room is set up buffet-style. He pours himself a cup of hot cocoa and two poached eggs with toast. He sees his father sitting at the table reading the newspaper. The room is quiet compared to the activity going on in the rest of the house. Dantius sees no need to start a conversation. The old man seems content shielding himself from his son. Dantius quietly takes a seat at the table and butters his toast. The silence is finally broken when his father lowers the newspaper.

"Oh, good, there you are. I thought you were going to waste the morning sleeping in."

"Good morning, Father. No, I rather enjoy the morning."

"So what are you planning to do today?"

"I'm going to help the staff decorate."

"I don't think they need you around making their jobs harder than necessary."

"I'll try not to make a nuisance of myself."

"Your therapist says you're making progress." He resumes reading his paper.

"Yes. I suppose long talks about my life and mind-altering drugs do pack a punch."

Mr. Palpatine lowers the paper again. He does not like what his son is saying.

"Don't be flip. The medicine is either working or it isn't."

"It is. I'm much happier now."

His father raises the paper again. He does not see Dantius roll his eyes. Dantius listens to the voice behind the paper.

"Good. A change in attitude will go far in making your way through life."

"I am keenly aware of that, Father."

Mr. Palpatine stops reading and quietly sets the paper on the table. He appears exasperated as he rubs his furrowed forehead. He speaks in a calm, fatherly tone.

"Son, I just want the best for you. Everyone does. We want to see you do well." He waves his hand in a cavalier way before turning the page to the Finance and Trade section then continues reading.

Dantius wonders how sincere his father truly is. He does, however, take some measure of joy in getting a reaction out of the old man.

"Fine; I'll try not to embarrass anyone."

Mr. Palpatine loses his fatherly tone once more. He lowers the newspaper again. There is a hint of anger in his voice.

"See? That's what I'm talking about. You've got this irrational persecution complex. Everyone's not out to get you. No one is embarrassed by you."

Mrs. Palpatine enters the breakfast room. She has been giving instruction to the decorating staff. She is aware that her son and husband have been bumping heads. She chooses to ignore it. She lovingly stokes her son's hair as she passes the table.

"It's so good to have you home. Prepare to be spoiled."

Ederlinn enters the breakfast room. She has just returned from a morning of horseback riding. She is hoping to have Dantius ride with her during the holiday.

"Good morning, everyone. Why is it so quiet?"

Mr. Palpatine speaks.

"Good morning, my dear. Well, your mother is hoping for family harmony this morning."

"Rightly so. But it doesn't mean complete silence, Father." Ederlinn pours a glass of Felucia blood orange juice then surveys the breakfast buffet for something non-fattening. She selects blue milk yogurt and a generous helping of fresh-cut fruit. She sits at the table. Her father wants to say something but he knows it will cause discord so early in the morning. He snaps the newspaper and continues to read. Ederlinn turns her attention to her brother.

"Come riding with me later."

"I haven't ridden a horse since we were children. I've never been very good."

"Come on. You haven't seen the gift Lyall gave me."

"I'll think about it. I was planning to help mother with the decorations."

Mrs. Palpatine sets her teacup on its saucer.

"There is no need for you to stay cooped up in the house. Spend some time with your sister. Get some fresh air."

Ederlinn smiles at her brother between spoonfuls of yogurt.

"Great. Then it's settled. It'll give me a chance to give you part of your Befana Eve gift when we meet at the stables."

Dantius has no recourse but to comply. He is eager to maintain family harmony and all that sort of nonsense.

"Oh."

In a way this is a good idea because Dantius would not have to spend the entire day under the critical eye of his father. He tends to believe his father would prefer this arrangement as well.

Dantius spends the remainder of the morning assisting the house staff to decorate the house. He is actually enjoying this. It is the actual festivities that will follow which cause him great angst.

Dantius goes upstairs to his room, changes his clothes. He searches for his riding boots. He cannot find them after a thorough check in the closet. He gives up and takes a box from his dresser before leaving his room.

He ventures out to the stables. He can smell the equines down the path leading to the paddock. He can hear their rumbling snorts and whinnying. Dantius had not ridden for a while but he knows this is not a happy sound. He has a tenuous relationship with horses but managed to become a skilled rider in his youth, however, not as good a rider as his sister.

It is a windy day and a frost is in the air. Why had his sister insisted on him riding with her? He walks over to a bench and finds his boots lying in a bin. Dantius takes one of the boots and scowls. There is a disappointed look on his face as he sits to examine the boot.

"Blasted!" There is a tear in the heel of the boot.

A stable manager greets him. He is a thin man with sandy-short brown close-cropped hair tinged with gray. He appears too tall to have been a jockey and is about the same height as Dantius. He is actually a professional plasma polo player from Tatooine.

The king and queen of Naboo took notice of him during an intergalactic polo exhibition in Mos Espa and felt his talents should be fully utilized as a member the Royal team. He was captain of the royal polo team for many years and played regularly until a leg injury put him on the sidelines. He was subsequently promoted to the chief protocol officer for sporting events thereafter. Although his love for plasma polo never waned, he longed for a less demanding job. He grew tired of dealing with the often rude visiting dignitaries other star systems.

Mr. Palpatine was looking for a riding instructor for his young children. Copley T. Faytonni put in his application and was released from the service of the palace. He was not keen on children and he immediately saw young Dantius as a challenge. His work with Ederlinn was worth the headache. He found her to be a willing and talented riding student. He surprisingly was able to turn that 'miserable little creature' into a decent rider. Ederlinn confided in him more recently on her troubled brother. Copley decided to show some compassion.

The soft-spoken man greets Dantius with a smile.

"Good afternoon, Master Dantius. What is it, sir?"

Dantius barely looks up at the man.

"The heel is damaged."

"Oh, I see, sir."

"I can't go riding today." He tosses the boot back into the bin and prepares to walk out. "Could you please tell my sister…?"

"Tell me what, Dantius?"

"Oh!...uhm…" He is surprised to see her standing in the doorway. Her hair glistens in the midday sunlight. "My boots are not suitable for riding today."

"I know. That's why I got you these." Copley hands her a large box. She presents it to her brother. The box is tan with a stitched leather handle. Dantius is quiet for a moment. He slowly lifts the lid. Copley looks on as Dantius checks out the contents of the box. Ederlinn was expecting a different reaction than she got.

"Why were you in my closet?"

"Danti, I'm your sister. We have no secrets. I know everything about you."

Dantius realizes that he is being silly and a bit paranoid. Suddenly a smile forms across his face. He knows there was no rational reason for his outburst. He looks inside the box at a pair of custom-made riding boots.

"They're extraordinary. Thank you."

"So, you like them and you're not going to scream at me?"

"No. I apologize."

"And you're going riding with me?"

"I suppose I must."

Copley looks at Ederlinn.

"Shall I help him with his new boots, milady?"

"Yes, thank you, Copley."

Copley takes the boots out of the tan box.

"It would be my pleasure. Anything for you, ma'm." He nods then turns to Dantius. So, shall I help you with your new riding boots, sir?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Well, Master, Dantius, let's get you suited up properly for your afternoon jaunt."

Copley helps Dantius with his new boots. After he puts on the boots, his sister is eager to get him started. Dantius paces back and forth to test out his new riding boots. The chestnut brown leather is shiny and has that freshly tanned leather smell. His sister waits impatiently. He seems to be taking too long for her liking.

"Well? Are you going to look down at your feet all day or are you ready?"

"I'm ready. Let's go. Oh! Before we go, I have something for you. Since we're in the gift-giving mode…" Dantius walks over to the bench and returns with a small gift box. He hands it to Ederlinn.

"Danti, How sweet. You shouldn't have."

"It's not as grand as a pair of riding boots but I think you might like it."

"If it's from you, I'm sure to like it." She pulls the red grosgrain ribbon and opens the box. "Oh, how lovely…"

Dantius waits for the worst; instead he is surprised by her reaction.

"You like them?"

"Of course; anything you give me is great. It makes me think of you when you're away."

"I thought perhaps you could use them for all the wedding holographs you'll accumulate."

"Such unique figurine bookends. Thank you." She reaches over and gives her brother a warm embrace."

"You're welcome."

Copley leans over to get a look inside the gift box. He sounds like a snobbish appraiser from one of those expensive auction houses in downtown Theed.

"Hummm… Very old form of folk art carvings of that region. I didn't know they made them anymore. Unusual gift, indeed. Like your father says, one never knows what you'll come up with next. No one can dispute your talent for originality. Are they of Cophrigin origin?"

Dantius is not sure whether to take this comment as an insult or a compliment. He decides to keep his temper in check.

"I'm not sure."

"Well, we'll never know then, will we?

He gives the stable manager a dirty look.

"I can't wait to show you the two beauties I have waiting for us in the stalls."

Her fiancé had given her a gift of two Dathomiri stallions for her birthday.

Dantius follows Ederlinn like a loyal puppy. All seems quiet at first. As they get closer to the stalls, the sound of hooves pounding within the enclosure gives the indication of animals in distress. Ederlinn hurries ahead and comforts the massive animals. She whispers to each of them, calming them down.

"What's all the fuss, pretty boy? There, there." She turns to Dantius who intuitively keeps his distance at the entrance of the barn. "Dantius, why are you all the way back there?"

"I think they're not used to me. I'll stay over here."

"Don't be silly. They are very gentle and playful." She waits for him to walk over. "Come see my two darlings. Aren't they magnificent gifts?"

"I'm thinking that my gifts to you are totally inadequate."

"Your being home is the greatest gift I could ever ask for this holiday."

"You're just saying that."

"No…it's true. I missed you. Come; let's take these beautiful stallions for a ride. You take Bogo and I'll take Pye."

Dantius waits as Copley prepares his mount. The horse whinnies and starts to buck. Dantius watches cautiously as Copley manages to calm the animal down. Dantius mounts the irritable horse. He and his sister leave the paddock and head down a trail in the woods. She turns to her brother.

"See? What did I tell you? He's an easy ride."

"I don't think he likes me." He struggles with the reins

Ederlinn laughs.

"He likes everyone. So, tell me what you've been up to lately. We never finished out conversation yesterday."

"Nothing."

"Seriously."

"Seriously? I've been breaking my ass this semester."

"Oh, I know how hard you work. I'm interested in your social life."

"You would be disappointed."

"Try me." She dips her head as they approach a low branch on a tree.

"I've made a few friends."

"Would I like them?"

"Maybe. I think I may have a stalker."

"No!" She feigns shock.

"This girl taking the same course as I am. She follows me from class…she's terribly annoying."

"I like her already."

"You would."

"How else are you ever going to get married? A stalker is probably just what you need about now."

"You must be joking."

"No."

"She's a pain in the ass…we have nothing in common."

"So there's another one?"

"What?"

"Another girl that you are actually interested in but…she's out of your league."

"I never said anything about a girl…you're reading too much into this."

"No, no, no, my dear brother. You've been home for twenty-four hours and you haven't had one fight with father. Even after the way he treated you at dinner. I notice things."

"I don't think she notices that I like her." He did not intend to say this. He has to follow up his comment now.

"Is she gorgeous?" She notices that Dantius turns his head.

He does not want his sister to see the expression on his face. He blushes.

"She is that."

"Now you've really peaked my curiosity. I have to meet her."

Dantius is struggling with his horse while his sister calmly rides alongside him chatting away. She does not notice that he is having difficulty. The wind is picking up as they chat. Their thick riding coats protect them from the cold. Dantius looks up at the sky. The clouds become thick and gray as they roll across the sky covering the sun. Dantius and Ede stop at the bottom of an incline that leads to a brook. The water is still fast-moving under the thin sheet of ice. Dantius is still having difficulty with his mount. The stallion stubbornly jerks at the reins. Dantius appears clumsy as he attempts to gain control.

Dantius lifts the hood of his riding cloak over his head. Ede looks up at the sky.

"That's weird. I've never seen the sky get so dark like this in the middle of the day."

"Why don't we head back?" He is ready to turn his horse around but his sister reassesses the situation.

"No…It could be just a passing rain cloud."

Dantius looks up at the sky again then stares down at the horse. He can see what looks like his reflection in the water. The dark reflection appears foreboding. He leans foreword in his saddle. Suddenly he hears his sister scream. He is looking up at the sky but he is no longer in the saddle. Dantius has been unceremoniously thrown from his horse. He curls up into a ball as the horse rears up and almost tramples him. The hooves come down hard on the cold forest floor. The repeated sound of the horse stomping around Dantius is terrifying. Ederlinn tries to position her horse between her brother and Bogo She is able to grab hold of the reins. She then calls to her brother.

"Dantius! Are you alright?"

Dantius slowly relaxes his body and lowers his hands from his head. He looks like a frightened voorpak. Ederlinn dismounts to tend to him. Dantius jumps to his feet before she can touch him.

"I'm fine, Ede."

"Get on my horse. I'll take you back to the house."

"No! I don't want to get on that horse or any horse!" He brushes himself off then begins to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

"Away from this place."

"It's too far to walk. Come on…please?"

"Leave me alone!" He walks into a thicket where she cannot follow. She can no longer see him but she can still hear his footsteps over the dead leaves and twigs. She tries to wait for him but he never emerges from the thicket. She thinks he is hiding and will eventually come home after his humiliating tumble.

Some time passes. She arrives back at the stables. The horses are calm as if the incident at the brook never happened. Ederlinn does not understand what could have spooked Bogo so much that he would throw someone to the ground. He is usually so even-tempered and playful; whether he is knocking off Ederlinn's riding hat after a dressage event at the Theed Royal Equestrian Competition or at the Mid-Rim Regional Championships, he could be counted on to participate in some equine shenanigans. He is a great source of entertainment in front of the stodgy judges. So his behaviour today is quite out of the norm. Ederlinn could not understand it.

Copley pampers the horses and feeds them fresh imported sweet grass from Corellia. He is amazing with the animals. He seems to be able to understand them He can now boast fluency in sixty forms of communication. Ederlinn trusts him unconditionally, which is why he has the confidence to advise her not to invite Dantius to ride either of the horses again. She sadly agrees.

It is almost dusk. Dantius has not returned to the house. It is still early but it is winter and the daylight hours are short. Ederlinn is worried.

After walking off into the thicket, Dantius suddenly realizes he is lost. He does not recall walking so far off the trail. Each time he tries to trace his steps back to the brook or the trail he discovers that he is farther away.

A cold wind blows in his direction throwing him backwards down an embankment. He can see the trail quite clearly now. It is directly in front of him. He climbs up the embankment towards the trail leading back on the path home. He hurries down the other side but discovers that he is no closer. His eyes are playing tricks on him or someone else is. A dark cloaked figure stands in front of what he took for a trail. It is actually the thicket. A red glow surrounds the figure like a blanket of flames. The figure stands with arms outstretched; beckoning him.

"Come, Dantius. They don't appreciate you. Come join me and all of this will go away."

"No! No! No!" He stumbles backwards over a mound of dead leaves and rotted twigs that have been soaking in melted ice. A Gungan lizard scampers away from its now destroyed home. It finds refuge under another mound of rotting twigs. Dantius hears all sorts of natural ands unnatural sounds in the thicket. He is terrified. Someone calls to him again.

"Master, Dantius."

"No! Stay away from me!"

"Master Dantius, why are you screaming? Who are you talking to?"

Dantius stands shivering like a lost child. Copley looks into his eyes. Finally Dantius blinks. He sees Copley, the very proper stable master. Accompanying him is a stout fellow with a round friendly face. Arthos Ditullo is the house technician, repairman and groundskeeper. He holds a flashlight in his right hand. He feels relieved that there will not be a need for a search party. He shakes his head in disbelief and whistles.

"Mi pensato qualcuno a problema con questo ragazzo."

Copley whispers.

"Shhhh! He might hear you."

"Non capisce. È nella scossa.."

"It doesn't matter if he's in shock. He'll know you're talking about him. It's unfortunate. That poor child." Copley gives Arthos a looking-over. There is something different about him today. The diminutive groundskeeper is wearing a silvery down vest with a cobalt blue stripe across the chest. It is quite flashy for someone of his profession. "What sort of fashion statement are you making with that get-up?"

"È modo nuovo. No ti piace?"

"No, I don't like it at all. It's absolutely ghastly. You, you should ask for your money back."

The little man looks up at the snobbish stable manager. Copley interrupts the groundskeeper before he can retaliate.

"And don't you dare say anything about my clothing. I've been voted best dressed polo player on Theed. Arthos mutters something. Copley reacts. "What did you say? Best-dressed for a masquerade party? I'll have you know this gold and white jacket has generated lots of chatter in the fashion world. You're just jealous is all. Stop dallying and let's go get this poor miserable child. I swear he is going to cause this family a world of grief with his antics."

They look back to see Dantius trailing behind them. The boy appears exhausted. Copley stops for a moment.

"Come now, Master, Dantius before you catch the gripe."

When they arrive at the house, Mr. and Mrs. Palpatine wait inside the back door with Ederlinn. They look worried. Mr. Palpatine seems to be more disappointed than worried. It is obvious that the three have been talking amongst themselves as they watch him coming up the walkway. His mother prepares a wash basin with warm water and a sponge.

"Dear, where have you been?"

"I got lost."

Ederlinn interrupts.

"Lost? Where did you go?"

"There was another path and I couldn't find my way back."

His father looks at the state he is in.

"Look at yourself. The new boots your sister gave you are all scuffed up."

Ederlinn looks worried.

"I'm not bothered about the boots, Father. Dantius, how did you get lost?" There was only one trail. It leads directly back to the stables. It's quite a walk back but not enough to get you lost."

"All I know is that once I passed the thicket, I was in a different place."

"The thicket? The thicket will lead you back onto the trail. I never walk through there, let alone try to navigate through it on horseback. It's narrow and thorny. It can scratch up their legs. What were you thinking?"

"I guest I wasn't."

His mother's response is that of motherly concern.

"We were all worried, dear; that's all."

"Well, I'm back and I'm fine."

"You were gone for hours."

"Let's go inside. We're having an early supper and then we'll all get a good rest before Befana Eve."

"I'm sorry, Mother."

Mr. Palpatine mocks him.

"You hear that, Hilde? He's sorry. That makes everything better. Well! There it is!"

Mr. Palpatine looks at the minor scratches on his son's hands and face. He throws up his hands in disgust and walks ahead inside the main part of the house and goes directly to his study. Hildegaard squeezes the sponge and dabs his cheek and hands. The water and soap solution stings the cut skin.

"I'm sorry, Darling. I just want to clean you up a bit. The scratches are minor but then that's how infections start." She drops the sponge in the basin. "There. That should do it. You'll be good as new by tomorrow morning.

"I'm not crazy, Mother."

"Of course you're not, Dear. Look at me. Do I act like a mother who thinks her child is crazy? I would never think that way about you."

Ederlinn breathes a sigh of relief but still worries about her brother. She blames herself for forcing him to ride with her. She thought that a ride along the wooded trail would be therapeutic. Tears well up in her eyes as she leaves them. Her mother hands Dantius a glass of water and his medication.

"You can't forget to take these, Dantius. They can only help to make you better."

He swallows the tablet. The effects are immediate. A sudden gust of wind rattles the windows overlooking the garden. The sound of footsteps hit the stone walkway and then fades into the distance. The final moments of dusk suddenly turn into daylight before turning into evening. It is a cold but peaceful night outside.

Mrs. Palpatine makes sure that the medication is followed by a hot meal. She sits in the kitchen and watches him eat. The love for her son has made whatever darkness goes away. Befana Eve is just hours away.