Chapter 30: Trial

The old man was waiting when she arrived.

Taya yawned as she stepped into the corridor. The palace was mostly silent, it was way after midnight, and only the guards and a few servants were awake.

The Perfect time for this, or so Adaz claimed.

She frowned.

A trial of blood.

The blond shook her head.

She wasn't so sure of that.

The blade master was dressed simply this evening, a simple black vest and breeches, showing off his scarred arms.

He gave her a cool look.

"You are late, Councilor Taya."

"I was putting my daughter back to bed, Councilor Adaz," she replied, and statement, not an excuse.

He gave her an arched look.

"She was still awake…so late?"

"She had a nightmare. I think she sensed what was going on in Sanctuary Base."

That made the old man smile.

"She sensed it? Good. If she was able to pick up something so far away at such a young age…she will be most useful to Avaryss as she grows older."

Taya didn't reply to that.

Anj would be what she would be. If she chose the Sith path, so be it.

Taya had given her word to Fenn.

It would be the girl's choice.

She intended to keep it.

They made their way down the dark halls, approaching the wing of the palace reserved for the Prime Minister and her family.

Taya shook her head.

"I can't believe you talked her into this."

"I didn't need to," Adaz replied, "It was Avaryss herself, that wished this trial. She needs to know what the girl can do."

He gave her a cold look.

"Something she might have known, had you been a better mentor to the girl."

Taya frowned.

"Be careful," she warned.

He smiled slyly.

That smile said so many things.

Why?

What would you try to do to me?

I have Avaryss' favor.

Try it girl.

She almost cursed under her breath. Avy had great respect for the old pureblood, and he knew it gave him a level of protection.

She could do nothing to him, or stop what was about to happen.

The blade master continued.

"The girl was studying in secret, hiding her powers from you, and you didn't sense it. You had no idea what was going on."

She didn't reply to that, how could she?

She had been surprised when Avy had told her that Blyss had been sneaking into her private library, that she had gained access to knowledge that she should not have had…not yet anyway.

Avy had not been angry with her, but she had been…disappointed.

She had trusted her with Blyss' training, at least until a formal master could be selected. That the girl had managed to slip something by her…it was for that reason that Avy had looked upon her so coldly.

That had hurt just as much.

Adaz continued on.

"The girl must be tested, as Avaryss herself was tested. I conducted her trial myself, during her hopeful days, and now…her child will know that experience, as she must."

"And where is Avy," Taya demanded, "If this…trial is to take place, should she not be here?"

"She is on her way. She was finishing up with the interrogations back at Sanctuary, but she is coming now."

A shiver ran down her spine.

She had felt Avy's rage after the assassination attempt, that their enemies had gotten so close…it had been a wake-up call, and a warning.

For almost eight hours every interrogation suite in Sanctuary base was in use, even as the damage was being assessed. Three imperials had lost their lives when the tower had collapsed, it might not have seemed like much, but…

…they had gotten close; whoever it was they were.

Any Sith would have been disturbed, but in doing so, in nearly getting Avy, they had shown their hand, and that had brought up so many new questions.

Why now, Taya had to wonder. They had been here for years, and only now, when they stood on the edge of absolute victory was the enemy rising now…

One last chance to stop us, she realized, to stop her, and then…claim what she had built.

The blond shook her head.

If that didn't suggest that another Sith was involved, nothing else would.

Their Bann allies continued to cry Paladina, and Princess Bayla, but it was a song that Avaryss wasn't listening to anymore.

General Glasc had suggested the Underlord's people. Go had more than enough reason to do her harm, and he had many resources on the moons.

Again, Avy had rejected that theory.

We have vermin in our house, she had exclaimed to Taya over the holo, her eyes flaring with yellow light, even as a hologram, her rage blazing like an inferno.

Their dark lord had not returned to planet after the attack, despite being injured, she remained, and had seen to the interrogations herself. Dozens of guards, cleaning staff, and droid wranglers had been brought in, as the Sith sifted through the wreckage, tried to determine what kind of device had been used.

It was a slow process, but a necessary one. Taya's mother had even been called up, her history as an expert in interrogation proving most useful.

As the lady confessor, that was her job, meanwhile Lord Ghull's intelligence people were swarming the city that surrounded Sanctuary Base, seeking any leads.

Avy had shown doubt that they would find anything, whoever had done this had been well prepared. They likely would not have left any outside traces. The interrogations were their best bet, someone had to have known something, and any lead might be what was needed to discover what truly happened.

After existing in secret for years, and then being known as untouchable by the locals, someone had struck at Sanctuary Base directly.

Someone needed to answer for that, quickly, and violently.

Taya didn't doubt that would come to pass; Avy's best people were looking into it.

No, her focus was on the next few minutes, and what was about to happen to Blyss.

What if the girl doesn't survive, she wondered…

Would Avy blame her?

They finally arrived at the hall that led to Blyss' room. Adaz volunteered to go in, and collect the girl.

Taya nodded; she had never gone through a trial of blood herself.

She trusted the old man knew what he was doing.

She shook her head again after he left. Avy had not given her all the details of what was about to happen, but it would be a challenge for the girl.

She is only thirteen, Taya thought.

Was it right to do this?

"I was not much older than she when I took MY trial."

Taya nearly jumped as Avy stepped out of the shadows, or rather, melted out of the shadows like a wraith.

The dark lord gave her a cruel smile.

"I survived. I think my daughter is more than capable of doing so as well."

Taya nodded, trying to hide her surprise.

Avy…well…

…Avy didn't look well.

Though clad in a fine gown of deep purple, the cost of her survival was clear for the eye to see. The gown was backless, showing off her red and blistered skin. The markings that had been branded into her back stood out sharply despite the damage. Her old friend must have been in terrible pain, but didn't show it.

Her smile was wide and hungry, both her eyes and cheeks were sunken in. Her usually bone white skin and taken on a slightly yellowish tinge…

Like a corpse, Taya thought with a sense of fear.

Avy's yellow eyes glowed brightly, and were red rimmed, either from the smoke from the attack, or lack of sleep. She looked like she had aged ten years since going to Sanctuary.

Avaryss giggled.

"What a lovely night for a test, do you not agree, Taya? A perfect evening to spill some blood."

Taya nodded, but said nothing, there was something in Avy's glassy, hungry eyes.

She is high, she realized, either from pain killers, or from life energy drained from many victims.

The former was expected, the latter…probably equally so.

Taya had seen that look on her friend's face before, during their student days, after a vicious hunt back on Butcher's Clearing. Avy had drained the lives of both their prey and their fellow hunters to save herself after a bad injury.

At the time, she had been impressed by the other girl's show of strength. Neither she nor Nass had realized just how talented Avy had been, they had thought her an up-jumped Marauder when they first met, all blade and rage. Realizing that she knew the older mysteries, and was a sorceress, had impressed them, despite their friend being only a first level acolyte.

Avy had found her way into their circle, and the duo had become a trio, and they had all risen very far since, or at least Taya and Avy had. Nass had been killed, and her genetics used later to create Abominus, who at times, still fooled Taya into thinking it was their third member, she had many of Nass' memories, and a greater animalistic savagery.

Thus, the trio had been reborn.

The two Sith Lords waited the return of Adaz. Blyss knew of him, of course, and had trained with him on occasion, when Taya's schedule had taken her away from her student.

Now the three of them would see exactly what the girl was capable of, what secrets she was likely hiding.

Avy paced, murmuring to herself and giggling.

Such behavior disturbed her old friend.

"Did you find anything out? About the bombing, I mean."

"It is still under investigation," Avaryss hissed, "Ghull and your mom will find something."

She stopped pacing and turned to her friend.

"We will need to send word to Rain. I intend to leave aboard the Reckoning as soon as this test is concluded. I can't afford to wait any longer. We need to test the weapon."

Taya nodded.

"And you need Rain for that, at least for this small test?"

"Yes, we need to send word to Rink, he will get her to the rendezvous on time, and then…and then…"

Avaryss grinned brightly. Her lips pulled back, showing white teeth.

"We all known, my friend, that a Darth is death incarnate. It is now a lesson we will teach the galaxy. There are many that call me the lady of greed, well…what is more greedy than death? It takes everything, and leaves nothing in return."

In the dim light Avy's face seemed to change, that wide smile, the sunk cheeks and eyes…

Taya shivered.

She wasn't sure if it was lighting, or if Avy was conjuring a glamour, but…

…her face had become a skull, and her burning eyes, the promise of the end of everything.

"I…um…I thought the point of the weapon was not to kill everyone?"

"It is the death of free will, but…actual death is needed too. Sacrifice is a part of everything, Taya. Once it is done, once the galaxy sees…we will change everything…everything. We…"

It was at that moment that Adaz rejoined them, with Blyss at his side.

"Mother," the girl said yawning, "Master Taya."

Taya looked at the girl, her dark hair was mussed from sleep, and she was clad in a black silken tank top, and sleeping pants. Her lightsaber was in hand.

She remembered, Taya thought proudly.

She had stressed that the girl never go anywhere unarmed, despite the power they wielded here, they were still in a very dangerous place, so many enemies.

And if Sanctuary base was an inside job, then their own not excluded from that list.

"Welcome daughter," Avy said brightly, turning without another word.

"Follow."

Blyss blinked.

"Mother! Your back!"

Avy turned back to her, still grinning.

She giggled, gesturing to the scars, and blisters.

"It is nothing, we are more than the crude matter of the flesh, and remember…there is no pain where the power lies."

The girl nodded, but she still seemed distracted by the ugly red burns that marred her mother's back and shoulders.

Taya followed in Avy's wake, with Blyss in the middle, while Adaz took up the rear.

Avy said nothing to her, having prepared this trial herself, with a bit of help from Adaz.

She should have included me, Taya thought, I'm still Blyss' teacher.

The three made their way down the halls, going deeper into the palace. Even Taya was not quite sure where it was, they were going, where the trap had been set.

Finally after many turns and twists, they stopped, they found themselves in a small solar in the palace's lower levels, all the furniture had been removed.

Taya took note of the fact that there were only two exits, the one that they had just entered through, and the one behind them.

Adaz signaled the room's security door, the one used to keep out intruders, it sealed off the way they had come even as he passed Blyss and took his place at Darth Avaryss' side.

Blyss stood before the three, her eyes curious.

"Mother? What is this?"

"It is a test, my dear. "You have learned much, most of that in secret."

Her smiled turned cruel.

"I want to see exactly what you have learned."

Taya remained silent, unsure of what to say.

When Avy had first told her about this, what she wanted to do, she had disagreed.

Why only Blyss, surely Jeer must be tested as well?

I do not need to test Jeer. Abominus has kept detailed reports on his training, and besides…

…he has already shown he can kill in so many ways. I see no reason to test him any further on that.

Blyss looked at her.

"Master?"

"Trust in your training, young one. You are skilled, we both know that."

It was at that moment, that Blyss realized that they were not alone in the chamber. She heard the groans and hisses.

She looked over, seeing what Taya had known would be there, even as her own eyes adjusted to the shadows

There were four of them, still dirty from the dungeons of Sanctuary Base, criminals who should have been executed for their crimes both against the Sith and the people of the moons.

Desperate creatures, desperate and violent.

The moons of Bantoon were not a civilized place, not in the dark corners of the mines and cities that sprang up around them, these four were some of the worst predators taken from that hell.

The perfect test for a trial of blood.

They had been brought down, drugged and chained. Before coming here, Adaz had injected them all with aggressors, to take away their fears and doubts and ensure their savagery was at its peak.

They were awakening now, still bound, but not for long.

The three older Sith back up, the girl was distracted, it gave them time to get clear.

"Your test begins now, child," Adaz said, "Fight well!"

Avy leaned in close to her old friend, whispered in her ear.

"Take her saber."

Taya blinked.

"Avy! You said…"

"TAKE IT!"

Taya complied, she used the Force and plucked the weapon from the girl's hand.

Blyss whirled.

"Master! My weapon! I…"

A reenforced portcullis slid down over the doorway, blocking the exit, and allowing the three Sith to watch the trial.

The four predators rose to their feet, Avy used the Force to remove the last of their restraints., they saw the weapons at their feet, long knives favored by the ancient Bantoon ,when they were still Crusaders raging across the galaxy killing all that wasn't human.

The largest of them, howled like an animal and threw himself at Blyss.

Taya winced.

The trial had begun.

The girl whirled, dodging as he flew past. Another hissed and lashed out with his knife, Blyss caught his arm, and called on the Force.

The man fell away screaming, scratching at his arm.

Mother," Blyss shouted, "LET ME OUT!"

"KILL OR BE KILLED, GIRL!" Avaryss snarled.

Blyss reached out with her hand, trying to retrieve her lightsaber.

Adaz snarled and pushed her back, causing her to fall into the arms of one of the criminals.

He stabbed her in the side, causing the girl cry out.

Taya almost used the Force to kill the man, to snap his neck.

"Don't," Avaryss hissed.

Taya cowed, and remained where she was.

The trial continued.

Blyss may have only been thirteen, but she had studied how to fight, she didn't panic. Even when the third and fourth criminal grabbed her legs.

She fought, fought like her life depended on it.

Because it did.

She threw her head back, smashing the man holding her in the teeth. He stumbled back sputtering. Blyss fell to the ground, and grabbed the dagger he had dropped.

She plunged it into the eye of the third attacker, even as she used the Force to hurl the fourth back.

Hissing she threw the dead man back, as the one whose teeth she had broken lunged in again.

Blyss twirled around him and seized his arm, again calling on the Force.

The man wailed as she attacked his mind, his emotions. Taya had seen her use this power before, only then it was to stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain.

Apparently, she had learned to do so much more since then.

Avaryss grinned, grinned and cackled.

"Yes, child," she cried, "Make them suffer! Use your hate!"

Blyss didn't need to be told. Even injured, she responded.

Taya looked at her friend, shocked.

Avy's eyes were alight with sadistic glee! Her cackling laugh echoed off the walls.

Taya almost didn't recognize her.

She had not seen this side of Avy before. She had known it was there, but…

Seeing it was a whole different thing.

Blyss still had two enemies up, but she was hurt, bleeding.

She dropped to her knees and spun out with her foot, catching one of her attackers in the knee, shattering it with a Force enhanced kick.

Taya nodded.

She had taught the girl that move.

The man wasn't out though, he hissed and snarled like an animal, swinging wildly with his weapon.

The first criminal had not regained his feet, he was still scratching at his arms, tearing them bloody, lost in his pain. The other staggered grasping his head, not really aware of where he was.

Taya used the Force, and flung him into the first, the two men grappled, tearing at each other.

Blyss finally lost her footing, holding her side. Her black pants were soaked with blood.

She fell and tried to crawl away from the man with the broken knee. Who still pulled himself closer to her…and closer still.

She thrust out her hand. Taya thought shew as trying another Force push, but no…

Something was happening.

The air rippled around the child's outstretched hand. A shimmering heat wave surrounded the injured man.

He hissed as he burst into flame. The fire didn't spread up his arm, it broke out everywhere at once. He rolled over and over trying to douse the flames….

…to no avail.

Avaryss sneered.

"She stole that spell from me," she hissed, it was in one of the treatises in my library."

Taya nodded, wrinkling her nose at the smell of burned flesh.

One of many powers that Avy possessed.

The man's pain seemed to have a rejuvenating power on the girl. She struggled to her feet and seized another knife, now with one in each hand, she advanced.

She wiped the blood from her mouth, and growled.

She leapt on the two fighting criminals, she buried one blade in the back of the one on top, and flung him away with the Force. She then fell on the last of them, the one who had been on the bottom. She screamed as she brought the blade down again and again.

Taya winced, the savagery she was seeing was not what she came to expect from Blyss.

Blyss smashed the man's head to mush. Avaryss nodded, pleased with the brutality.

She looked at Adaz.

"As you can see, she will be most useful in the coming years."

The old pure blood nodded.

"Why take her weapon, my old student? Had you brought your saber during your trial you would have been allowed to use it."

Avaryss shrugged.

"This is not just about power, it is about betrayal, she had to learn about the latter, as well as the former."

Taya winced.

Yes, she understood the value of betrayal, it was like the only adage: Beware your master. Beware your apprentice.

It was what defined the Sith master apprentice relationship.

She had destroyed her own master after all, but that had been a matter of taking what was hers. She had not hated her teacher.

Not like Avy, Avy had despised Feer.

She looked at Blyss gasping on the ground crawling off of the dead enemy.

Taya raised the portcullis and went to her.

"Blyss? Are you…?"

The girl took a swipe at her with the dagger.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

The child lunged at her.

Only to be stopped, held in a Force grip by her mother."

The child raged; angry tears ran down her cheeks. She spat and cursed the three older Sith.

"It is over, child," Avaryss said, "drop your blade."

She still hissed, almost incoherent.

Avy tightened her grip. Finally the girl stopped struggling.

Avaryss gave her a sick smile.

"You are hurt, let us help you."

The girl gasped.

"I…I could have died!" she sobbed.

"You live. You proved your strength."

The dark lord smiled.

"I am proud of you."

Blyss shuddered.

She looked at her master, at Taya.

The hate in the girl's eyes shocked her.

"You took my weapon."

Before she could answer. Avy spoke up.

"She knew what she was doing. It may seem extreme, but you showed you didn't need it."

Taya looked at her friend, and at her student.

She…she couldn't believe it.

Avy was letting her take the fall for pulling the weapon away from Blyss.

She was about to say something, but Adaz touched her arm, and shook his head.

He knew what she was about to do.

And she understood why he did it.

It is about power, and loyalty.

Avy was to be empress, until Rain or Andur…retired her. That was the way of things.

She would rather Blyss see Taya as her enemy, rather than add another enemy to her long list.

Taya understood, and accepted, but still…still…

She looked at Avy.

You could have told me, she thought, warned me.

Then a new thought occurred to her.

The second time.

She found herself thinking back to her duel with Fenn, of ending up on her knees before him.

Avy had told me she would not let me die. She told me she would stop him.

She looked back and forth between Blyss and Avy.

She used me.

She frowned.

She used me, again.

Blyss with tears in her eyes, fell into her mother's arms.

"Mom," the girl whimpered, "Mommy."

"I'm here, child," she crooned, "I have you."

She helped the girl out of the chamber, on their way to medical. The murderous look that the child gave Taya was enough to stop her from following.

Adaz remained at her side, watching coldly, evaluating.

He leaned over, so that only Taya could hear her.

"Accept this version of events," he said, "Your empress requires this of you. It is for your own good, and that of your child."

Taya did her best to keep her face neutral, but inside…

…she was seething.

Was that a threat?

Had Adaz threatened her…

…or…

…was it Avy?

Had Avy put him up to this?!

Her head spun, so many thoughts, so many possibilities.

She watched as he went, as Adaz followed a respectful distance behind Blyss and Avy.

We are Sith, she thought, we betray each other. That lesson had been taught to her so many years ago, but still…Avy?

Her eyes narrowed.

I kept her safe during training, she would have died on Korriban if not for me.

She elevated me for that, true, but…she sent me to Ziost, my family to Ziost…she…

Aya.

Taya took a deep breath, and tried to think of Anj, of the future.

Let Avy have this victory, it was okay. There were still so many rewards left to claim, all she had to do was remain loyal.

She was loyal.

She took a shuddering breath, and let it out.

She followed in Avy's wake, in the empress' wake.

The final victory was about to begin.

She would not jeopardize that over some…misunderstanding.

Avy knew the truth, and Taya would profit from it when the time came.

She would have Bantoon, and her daughter a future.

She simply had to stay the course.

Once Rain returned, it would be time for the endgame.

Everyone would get what they deserved.

She would get what she deserved.

Taya nodded, happy in that thought.

She would get everything she wanted, she was Avy's ally, love, and partner.

She would be rewarded.

She…was Avy's.

She smiled reassured.

Loyal.