Sins of the Father/Part 26

"Darth Kra'all will instruct you all on your responsibilities when the time for battle comes," Vedya told her assembled collection of toys, Forceful and otherwise. "Lord Nirrakin, are we adequately provisioned for the campaign?"

The Chev's hesitation helped Vedya brace herself for news she would not want to hear. "Adequately but not amply, I would say. But given the difficulty of bringing supplies through Lord Osydro's territory, to say nothing of risking transit on minor lanes or in open space, I believe we've reached the point at which waiting for more will hurt us more than it helps us."

They were not the ideal words to bless a voyage, but Vedya had chosen him for reasons beyond his ambitious desire for prestige, power, and her body, in some variation of that order. Moreover, Darth Kra'all added, "The longer we stay here, the greater chance the Republic will be emboldened to strike us here, thinking us weak."

"And that is not acceptable," Vedya said. "Make sure you have whatever you need for your personal missions and comforts before we depart. Go."

She had learned not to ask for additional comments at the end of these meetings; she had her playthings wrapped around her fingers, which made them loyal and creative in executing her will, but also rather prone to finding ways to ingratiate themselves, which stretched council meetings interminably. When she had caught herself planning ways to execute them all and replace them with their own seconds-in-command, she had understood it was time to take these meetings in hand.

As the assembled Sith Lords and other agents made their way down the stairs from the center circle of her throne room's upper tier, Vedya saw a single figure moving upstream—Celop Faro. She stopped, a White Guard on either side, waiting for her spymaster to present himself and kneel before her. "Lord Faro. You're late."

Like all the best poisons, her voice was soft and gentle, with no hint of bitterness, but she was still surprised to see him smiling when he raised his eyes to hers. "I beg your pardon, Master, but I received a communication at the last moment, and I knew it would be of interest to you."

Vedya raised an eyebrow. "Speak."

"My agent on Circumtore contacted me—"

She raised a hand; Faro blinked, but stopped anyway. Stretching out to the minds of her White Guards, she thought, Leave us, and allow no one to enter for any reason.

When the door had sealed behind the last scarlet cape, Vedya beckoned. "Rise, Lord Faro, and continue."

As they circled the council table, Faro said, "My agent carried out your instructions exactly as ordered."

"And Kal-Di and Rican?"

"Unknown—evidently there was some issue with Runganna's fabulous battle to the death, and every intelligent being abandoned the Hutt's palace before the conclusion of affairs. That said, my people have begun to piece together reports, and it's almost certain the Jedi left Circumtore with the weapon."

"A pity, but acceptable—better, perhaps, than having the Mandalorians or false Sith possess such a weapon. But was your agent successful?"

"It's impossible to be sure," Faro admitted, but then he smiled. "But he thinks so."

Vedya nodded. "Good. Then with Kal-Di and Rican disposed of, we're all the freer to act."

He smiled, and she sensed his optimism—his belief that his accomplishment merited reward. It was less than the coup for which she'd hoped, but then again, intelligence and wetworks seldom allowed for perfect victories. Faro should not receive a perfect reward, of course, but perhaps a taste of the fruits of victory would inspire him to greater successes in the future. Besides, she had already sent away the White Guards…

Turning to face Faro, Vedya caught him by the lapels of his robes and kissed him for a long moment. When she pulled away, she gave him her sultriest smile and breathed, "You've pleased me, Lord Faro. Not for the last time today, I hope."

And as she lay back on the council table she smiled, looking up at the mosaic of her triumphs on the ceiling and envisioning what she would add there—with Kal-Di and Rican doomed, perhaps already dead, she was that much closer to vengeance.