Revenge of the Jedi/Part 17

Gaebrean spun on the ball of one foot, then dropped his other leg back down to stop his momentum in a fencing stance even as he continued to swing his blade and parry Raven's cut at his knee. He tossed off a casual feint at Raven's cheek as he said, "'Course I'll come. Wouldn't miss it for all the spacia wood on Achillea."

Raven dodged the feint rather than meet it with his blade, parried Gaeb's true lunge, and riposted fast enough to send his cousin on the retreat. "Unless Lord Brascel says otherwise."

"Well, yes," Gaeb admitted, skipping sideways to change the line of combat and beating to draw Raven's blade before using one of his one-handed slashes at Raven's neck. "I'm afraid that's worth rather more than spacia wood."

They fenced half a dozen exchanges, but so casually they were little more than velocities. "Do you think he will refuse, Raven?"

"I suppose that depends on how well Tirien and I articulate our points."

"Ah yes, Tirien Kal-Di," Gaeb mused, swatting aside a lunge and arcing a slash at Raven's chest. "I can see why you like him, I suppose. Grim sort, though, isn't he?"

Raven lifted the slash away from his body, quickstepped in, and stabbed at his cousin's wrist; Gaeb caught it with the cortosis basket hilt and smiled.

"It's a grim matter," Raven answered, though he could not deny the truth of Gaeb's observation. "Better to let him talk than Yan, anyway."

Now that there was potential of doing something, Yan had mastered her temper and kept herself from further outbursts, but it was clear the wait on the Tapani Jedi was fraying her nerves. Tirien had yet to raise his voice, but Gaebrean was not wrong; he did go from one place to the next with fixed intensity, answering most direct questions with cool courtesy but saying little and volunteering less. Most of his interactions were limited to training Narasi, as well as whatever he and Zaella were meditating about, and even that was only the smaller part of each day, most of which Tirien spent alone, either in meditation or shut up aboard the Second Chance. Raven thought he had spoken more with Tirien than the rest of his family put together, and most of their conversations had been about the various Pelagia Jedi who might bear on Lord Brascel's decision.

"Agreed," said Gaeb as he overleapt a cut at his knee. "Lord Brascel…well, he's not really the sort for passionate intensity, is it? Of course, Tirien's still got the intensity, but I'm not sure I've ever met a less passionate person—and that's including you."

Raven rolled his eyes at his cousin's boisterous laugh and stepped up his attacks, lunging and retracting more quickly. Gaeb grinned, falling into a tighter defense, his blade on perfect guard so no portion of his arm below the elbow was visible past searing plasma and cortosis-woven gold.

"But enough about what we can't control!" he said as he pressed an attack of his own. "These young ladies Tirien's brought with him—"

"Don't even think it, Gaeb," Raven cautioned. "Narasi's still underage for a Zygerrian."

"Well damn," Gaeb complained, timing it along with a downward slash so he spoke as their blades met. Raven might have parried, but he indulged his cousin with the saber lock, holding the snarling plasma blades in a cross overhead as Gaeb asked, "And Zaella?"

"Is of age, for a Twi'lek," Raven conceded. "But I wouldn't, Gaeb."

"Why not?" Gaeb disengaged and cut at Raven's wrist. "Because she's a Sith?"

Instinct made Raven parry, but he was too surprised to riposte. "What?"

"Raina told us. You should've seen old Dad's reaction…"

"I can just imagine." If there was any way to sour Vinton on Tirien further…Raven felt a surge of annoyance that he forced himself to expel. Perhaps Raina had only told them to explain why Renata and Zaella did not interact. And even if she had told them to bias them against the mission, Raven would not have wanted to bring anyone along under false pretenses, and certainly not his own family.

It was uncomfortable being on opposite sides of something so critical from Raina, and all the more because he could not pretend she did not have valid points…

Trying not to think of his uncle's points, Raven said, "Former Sith."

"Is she? Well, all right then!  Clears up the whole mess quite neatly, doesn't it?"

"Does it?" Raven asked across another casual exchange of blows.

"Well, you know I prefer blondes—"

"You have a preference? I thought the proper anatomy and a heartbeat was sufficient."

Gaeb chortled. "You sound like Mum now. Anyway, she's not a blonde—she has the…the, em…"

He waved his free hand around his head. Raven said, "Lekku."

"Yes, thank you, exactly! But I suppose they have a sort of grace all their own, don't they?"

"You're a great Jedi, Gaebrean, do you know that?"

"Why thank you, Raven; my father had led me to believe quite the opposite. What makes you say so?"

Raven actually slashed once, knowing his cousin would catch the blow in another lock. "Your ability to see the beauty in any female truly is a testament to your appreciation for the Force in all living creatures."

"Cleanse my House, Raven, I'm going to use that one!" Gaeb beamed through the blades. "Cheers!"

Raven rolled his eyes and shoved Gaeb back a pace. They fenced a few more volleys before Raven twisted his cousin's blade and flicked the tip of his own in, bringing it to a halt under Gaeb's chin. Gaeb grinned as he froze in place. "Well, that would be an unpleasant end, wouldn't it?"

"I thought I'd spare your shirt."

Gaeb tugged at the silk he had worn to fence. "That would've been a tragedy, but fortunately, there are always more."

Raven shook his head as he saluted and deactivated his lightsaber. "You need to fence more people better than you."

"Well, you're always welcome around our place, but you're usually off saving the galaxy, aren't you?"

Raven did not answer at once, but as they toweled off their faces and sipped water, he asked, "Am I?"

"Well, this latest bit of gallantry at Milagro—"

"I don't mean saving the galaxy," Raven said. "I meant, am I welcome at your home?"

"'Course," Gaeb said stoutly. "You're family, why wouldn't you be?"

"What your father said…about my oath to the Order…"

An unwonted grimace passed over Gaeb's face. "My father says a lot of things. I've learned to ignore most of them."

Raven clapped Gaeb's shoulder, and Gaeb recovered his smile. Touched as he was by his cousin's support, Raven was not sure how much Gaeb could speak for the others, given his own reputation in the family. Cesylee, he thought, would stand by him regardless. Kae, though, and his aunt and uncle…

They set off around the manor together rather than taking the stairs up, but Raven regretted the choice when they crested the hill to the flat lawn abutting the forest, where Narasi and Zaella were sparring hand to hand. Raven thought their padded leather gloves took some of the force out of their blows, but he still winced when Zaella smashed Narasi across the face with a brutal cross; Narasi staggered, but she ducked under Zaella's follow-up and responded with a shovel hook that doubled Zaella over. Narasi recovered her balance and launched a knee strike, but she had given Zaella just enough time to gasp a breath, and Zaella tackled her.

Wearing nothing more than compression tops, shorts, and their gloves, they wrestled for position on the ground, and Gaeb raised an eyebrow. "My, my. I trust you can see yourself back inside, Raven; I fear my talents are needed elsewhere."

Unbuttoning another button on his shirt, he headed off toward the brawl. Raven rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to trip him with the Force.

Once he had showered, he headed to his father's study, but slowed as he approached the closed door; Bernius stood sentry there, and he sensed his father was not alone within.

"Good morning, Master Raven."

"And to you, Bernius."

He nodded toward the door, and Bernius said, "Your father is having another of his conversations with Sir Vinton."

"A productive conversation?"

Bernius regarded him with his glowing blue photoreceptors. "My master once told me that honesty is prized as a Jedi virtue. Is this not so?"

"It is…"

Bernius nodded. "Then no; I might apply many descriptions to these conversations, but 'productive' would not be any of them."

That gave Raven a smile, but it did not linger. "Tell me something, Bernius: would my great-grandfather have—"

"Agreed with you or your sister?" Bernius finished. "Approved of your uncle's loyalty to House Pelagia and his critiques of your choices? Disavowed the customs of the Tapani sector in service to the Order and the greater galaxy?"

"…any of the above?"

Bernius shook his head. "Never have so many beings asked my what my master would have done in so short a time—and that includes your grandfather. I knew my master quite well—better than most organic beings, I don't hesitate to say—and I observed sufficient data that I might produce an algorithm to predict his responses to various stimuli…but I will not."

Raven frowned. "Why not?"

"Master Raven, I dare say I'm an extraordinary droid—because he and others made me so, it's true, but also because of the many adventures he and I shared. But I have seen enough of the Force to appreciate the limits of even an intelligence as advanced as mine.  Your great-grandfather was not a mechanical construct whose programming could be downloaded, or a series of equations to be calculated and solved.  He was a man, with all the frailties and foibles attendant to your condition, but with a cunning mind, a brave heart, and the power and guidance of the Force.  Quite apart from the very real risk of predicting him incorrectly, to reduce him to an algorithm would lessen him, and that I shall never do."

After a long moment of reflection, Raven smiled and bowed. "Some days, I think you're the wisest of us all, Bernius."

"Ample evidence supports that thesis, sir."

Raven chuckled until the door appeared. Vinton Kaivalt stepped through, and Raven adopted the familiar mask of emotionless, noble courtesy as he inclined his head. "Uncle."

"Nephew." Vinton seemed on the border of speech, but at the last moment he compressed his lips until they disappeared beneath his mustache and beard and walked away.

"Come in, Raven," Miklato called.

It was only midmorning, yet Raven heard weariness in his father's voice, and as he entered the office, he saw the shadows under Miklato's eyes. Taking a seat across his father's desk, Raven tried to suppress his concerns; his father was a great Jedi Knight, with a profound understanding of the Force. Yet, for all that endowed Miklato with superhuman resilience, that he showed his exhaustion at all spoke volumes.

Raven waited, and after a moment Miklato rubbed his bearded chin with one hand and asked, "Have Gaebrean's lightsaber skills improved?"

"He's a competent duelist," Raven said. "He uses that hilt well."

"'Competent'," Miklato repeated, blowing out a breath through his nose. "Yes, that's about what Vinton led me to expect."

"He's at least as good as Cesylee, if not better."

"Kaelora's better than either of them."

"A pity she seems dead-set on not joining us, then."

"You'll need more than even Kaelora's talents if you're to fight Gasald's entire army."

You'll, Raven thought, not we'll. He had expected the blow since Raina took her stand, but it hurt regardless. "You won't help us, then?"

For a moment Miklato looked more vulnerable than Raven could remember seeing him since his mother's death. "What would you have me do, Raven? My daughter and heir refuses to go, and has made it a matter of principle tied to her word.  My son insists upon going, and risks dishonor for breaching that same oath, but calls it the very will of the Force.  No matter how I concentrate, how much I beseech the Force's guidance, I see only fractured futures and conflicting possibilities.  Have you seen more clearly?"

Raven wished more than anything that he had. "No—not either way. I've sought confirmation that Tirien's right and not found it; I've opened myself to the possibility that Raina's right and not seen it.  Maybe it's just the dark side polluting the Force, but…maybe the Force allows for different, equally defensible decisions?"

Miklato sighed, lacing his fingers together. "I wish I knew, my son. Truly, I do."

The silence stretched until it became unbearable, and Raven said, "Perhaps Lord Brascel will see more clearly than we can."

"We'll soon find out."

Miklato glanced at the chronometer on his desk, and Raven frowned. "Are you expecting to hear from him?"

"He's coming here."

"Here to Pelagon?"

"Here to Inimă Eserzennae."

Raven's eyes widened. "But…with the Hall of the Jedi in Pelagar…"

"Why come here instead?" Miklato finished. "Why come at the convenience of a lesser noble rather than summoning all his nobles to himself? I could call it honoring our house, or even courtesy to our guests…but no.  Lord Brascel has been a great patron of our family, and he's on better terms with the Jedi Order on Coruscant than most, but were I to guess, I would say this matter is so contentious, and so potentially dangerous, he wishes as few beings to know of it as possible."

Raven, who knew full well the dogged crew of paparazzi waiting for Raina or himself the moment they left the shelter of Inimă Eserzennae for one of Pelagon's floating cities, could appreciate that logic. "Who else is coming?"

"Lord Wisté and his son, Lady Sarmaddi, Sir—"

"Lady Sarmaddi?" Raven interrupted. "She's not a Jedi, is she?"

"She is not, but she is one of Lord Brascel's closest counselors and the seniormost non-Jedi on the Privy Council. Lord Brascel values her counsel, so you'd do well to court her opinion as much as anyone else's."

Was that encouragement a softening of his father's view, or did he just want to hedge his bets—supporting Raina outwardly while giving Raven his best chance? Raven could not be sure, and it seemed unwise to ask.

"As I was saying, Sir Kobold Baliss, and Drake Paddox as well."

"That's every Pelagia Jedi."

"It is. And some members of House Cadriaan will attend as well."

"House Cadriaan? Why…oh." Raven grimaced. "Because of Baron Obveluus?"

"Yes, I suspect so."

Of course I'm not going, the baron had said when Raven and Raina went to collect him on Milagro after news of Eriadu reached them; he had looked scandalized at the very suggestion. Prime Minister Rufos and Administrator Khofin will need my help now more than ever.

All the Tapani provinces are in danger now, Raina had pointed out.

Unless and until she takes Milagro, Lady Gasald shall not turn her attention toward the sector, Obveluus had insisted. ''She will not leave my lightsaber ready for a lunge into her black heart from behind. Go if you must, and give your father my regards; I shall remain here, and see that House Cadriaan's commitments are not forgotten.''

Raven had been as impressed by the man's courage as he was incensed at his tone of lofty disapproval. Had it been only his stubborn insistence on seeing through a chance for the Gonzeds to increase their galactic profile, or had Baron Obveluus had the right of it? Raven spoke of the will of the Force to oppose Gasald, safe within Inimă Eserzennae, but had the baron shown the truest Jedi courage in remaining in the crosshairs? "Father, I swear—"

"Oh, I'm sure you and your sister took all reasonable steps to persuade him," Miklato said. "I've known Obveluus for many years; I don't need you to describe his peculiarities to me. But some of the Cadriaan Jedi are coming regardless."

Raven nodded. "When?"

"Soon." A display panel embedded in Miklato's desk beeped; he glanced down at it, then back up. "Now."

Word of the impending arrival spread through Inimă Eserzennae like fire, so that by the time a mirror-bright luxury yacht dropped down from the clouds, the eight Kaivalts and Renata were arrayed to meet it, along with Bernius, Tirien, Yan, Narasi, Zaella, and Jirdo. Raven saw Gaeb tip Zaella a wink, and the Twi'lek smirked back, pointing the tip of her longer lek at him.

Raven faced determinedly forward again. One quandary at a time.

Vinton's ship had claimed the last spot on the docking platform, so the yacht settled down right on the lawn. The ramp lowered, and Lord Brascel himself was the first down. The salt breeze ruffled his long hair, still dark even though his beard and mustache had gone white. He wore his heavy cloak, emblazoned with the sigil of House Pelagia in vibrant color, across his body, covering his left arm and his lightsaber in the style Raina preferred, though beneath Raven saw a neatly-cut suit with epaulettes and a Pelagia sash. He carried a walking stick, though Raven thought it more for style than anything else; in youth, Chiron Brascel had been the most adroit duelist in the entire sector, and even now Raven had never seen anyone defeat him.

Lord Brascel's face was impassive, but some indefinable softness around his cool blue eyes told Raven that Jedi tranquility would always overcome noble aloofness with this man. Here, Raven thought, was a man even the High Council and the most ardent purists of the Order could not fail to name a Jedi Master.

Miklato stepped forward to bow as everyone did likewise; Raven cast a sideways glance, praying, and was relieved to see even Zaella had bowed, though she stood between Tirien and Narasi, both of whom seemed to be whispering to her. Lord Brascel nodded and lifted two fingers off the head of his stick, and Miklato straightened. "You honor us with your presence, my lord. Welcome back to Inimă Eserzennae."

"I only rregrret that so many years have passed since I last visited, Miklato," Lord Brascel replied; as ever, he rolled most of the Rs as he spoke. Surveying the assembled beings, he smiled. "Your trrees and your childrren have both grrown much taller."

"And stronger."

Lord Brascel half-closed his eyes, and Raven felt a feather-light touch of gentle curiosity in the Force. "Yes, I can sense it."

"My lord, I have the honor to present Yan Razam and Tirien Kal-Di, Knights of the Republic."

"Jedi Razam, I understand you were present for the terrible events at Eriadu," Lord Brascel said. "Please accept my condolences, and those of all Tapani Jedi. We grieve with you your loss."

"Thank you," Yan said. "But I intend to honor my brothers and sisters with action, and—"

"—and we appreciate your willingness to entertain our petition for aid," Tirien slipped in. Yan twitched, and Raven was confident that was not how the sentence would have ended, but he had to admire his friend's timing.

"Jedi Kal-Di," Lord Brascel said, nodding. "Your reputation precedes you."

Trusting Tirien to negotiate the niceties of conversational diplomacy, Raven turned his attention to the other beings following Lord Brascel out of the yacht. First among them was a bald, clean-shaven man whose pot belly was the only exception to an otherwise fit physique, though at first glance one might have been forgiven for believing the hair that had disappeared from his scalp had reappeared in his ears. Lord Lezascan Wisté wore sumptuous robes rather than a suit, but his lightsaber hung from his sash belt—though Raven could not help but notice he kept it on the side of his sword hand rather than across his belly.

"Ah, a fine Pelagon breeze," he said, inhaling deeply. "One does miss the smell of the ocean on Procopia. You're right to get away from it all when you can, Miklato."

"It's a blessing," Miklato agreed with a bow. "And to be here with my family."

Lord Wisté looked the Kaivalts over and smiled. "Ah, the fair flowers and fine gentlemen of House Kaivalt. Oh, and Gaebrean, you're here as well!"

Raven sensed his uncle Vinton's annoyance, but Gaebrean laughed aloud. "Merely to have your lordly voice caress my ears with the music of my name is all the honor I could wish, my lord."

Lord Wisté rolled his eyes, but before he could speak another man bounded down the ramp. Sir Amaani Wisté, the Shield of the Freeworlds, had his father's bright eyes, and his hairline was already in retreat while his forehead pressed its attack, but he was fit and tall, muscled like a Form V master but lightfooted as a daux-cat. Like Tirien and Cesylee, he dressed in Jedi garb with atypical colors—in his case, blue and orange lifted from the House sigil. He clapped his father on the shoulder as he passed, but he had eyes only for Kaelora, and when she offered him her hand with a smile she could not suppress, he pressed it to his lips, but then tugged her into his arms for a real kiss.

Both Vinton and Lord Wisté cleared their throats, though Raven's Aunt Cyndobel fanned her face with a look of shock so badly feigned it could have killed an actress's career in one go, and Lord Brascel smiled fondly.

When they broke apart, Amaani grinned at Vinton, though he kept Kaelora in his arms. "Apologies, Sir Vinton. As always, the honor is mine."

"Hmph," Vinton said. "Well, I suppose if you paid more attention to me than your fiancée, I'd worry."

Amaani broke from Kaelora's grasp to kiss Cyndobel's cheek and Cesylee's hand, then shake hands with Gaeb. Raven watched the nobles flowing down the ramp, chief among them wizened Lady Eulace Sarmaddi. Though she did seem to need her cane, and leaned on the arm of Drake Paddox, Raven sensed her sharp eyes missed nothing and her sharper mind was hard at work. Drake, the youngest Jedi Knight in House Pelagia, just seemed happy—if pleasantly surprised—to be included in such august company.

Sir Kobold Baliss followed them down, wearing the same colors as Lord Wisté, his former master, but in a light suit that lent itself to dueling at need. Where his best friend, Sir Amaani, had been the Shield, Sir Kobold was the Sword; they had been neither the only nor the most senior Jedi Knights in the Tapani coalition that had routed the Kard'ung Pirates at Tallaan, but no Jedi had emerged from that conflict more acclaimed or beloved of the Freeworlds' people.

Raven knew the Cadriaan nobles by name, though he had only spoken to Lord Vaek Natascha. Before he could divine where he might best begin his introductions, Raina touched his mind, and he turned to find Lord Brascel approaching them. The twins and Renata bowed.

"I hope you're finding satisfaction and fulfillment in your Padawan apprenticeship, Renata?" Lord Brascel inquired.

Renata straightened, her big eyes round. "I…yes, my lord. Raina's a great master."

"I expected nothing less," Lord Brascel agreed with a nod, before studying the twins. "Obveluus of House Cadriaan has sent reports from Milagro since the landing some…five months ago, now? You've both brought great honor to your House and your father."

"Thank you, my lord," said Raina.

"I hope we continue to," Raven added.

He felt Raina's reaction in his mind. When Lord Brascel moved on to Vinton, Raven looked at his sister instead; she was too disciplined for much of an outward tell, but something flinched in her eyes when they met his.

Raven had shaken hands with Sir Kobold and extricated himself from Lady Sarmaddi ("Ah, yes, the Republic Jedi."), and was just moving to touch base with Tirien when Miklato said, "Would you all like to join us for lunch?"

"Certainly!" Lady Sarmaddi said. "I'm ninety-seven years old, and we've had a long flight!"

Lord Brascel nodded too, but his face was thoughtful. "That would be welcome, Miklato, but once we've finished, I'd like to convene at once. Time is precious during war, and all the more for a matter such as this."

Miklato nodded. "My children will see you all inside."

As the nobles turned toward Inimă Eserzennae, Lord Brascel slipped to Gaeb's side and, passing by, Raven heard him say quietly, "Gaebrean, I'm given to understand there was a recent incident involving the maiden daughter of Baroness To-Sek, after which that description no longer wholly applies."

To his credit, Gaeb did not laugh, but Raven heard the smile in his voice as he said, "Merely a youthful indiscretion, my lord—and a mutual and wholly reciprocated one, I might add."

"Be that as it may, I…"

They walked out of earshot, following Raina, who headed toward the back of the crowd to draw them to the manor. As he moved to follow, Raven felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to find Tirien there.

"Sit with me at lunch," the Pantoran breathed. "The better-prepared I can be for this meeting…"

"I'll be there too," Raven reminded him, but when Tirien's eyes tightened, Raven nodded in acquiescence. Tirien nodded back before turning to Narasi, and Raven hurried to join his sister and lead the nobles inside.