The Liberator/Part 24

24 Days Before the Occupation of Milagro

Raina found Raven in the parlor, lounging on a sofa, one hand out with fingers splayed; an antique coin from their grandfather's collection slipped around his fingers. A casual observer might have thought him the embodiment of the idle rich, but Raina sensed her brother deep in thought and realized he was levitating the coin as a sort of meditative stress relief—it demanded just enough of his concentration to siphon off some errant thoughts and leave him free only for whatever he was contemplating. Based on their last conversation, Raina had a shrewd guess what that might be.

"Nothing further from Darakhan?" she asked.

Raven pointed without looking and the coin hurtled across the room like a fired slug. Raina followed its flight; her brother missed the coin's notch in the display case by a few centimeters, but Raina caught it with her mind as it bounced off and she nestled it into place. Raven waved a few fingers and the case's cover closed with a click.

"Thanks." Raven laid his head on the couch's armrest with a sigh. "And no, nothing."

Raina sat on an ottoman. "And Kal-Di?"

"Nothing since he first called. I didn't expect that, either; he gave me to understand he and his Padawan will be on assignment for quite a while."

"What do you think?"

"Darakhan's not wrong." Raven frowned. "If Gasald bolsters her fleet at Allanteen, she could come straight down the Shipwrights' Trace and raid Fondor for half our ships. The strongest thing in her way is Foless; she could abandon the Corellian sector push entirely—"

"—and strike through the Expanse to hit the southern Core instead," Raina finished. She had viewed the tactical maps and come to the same conclusion. "Would she really risk the Seventy-Second cutting her off?"

"From what Tirien said, the Seventy-Second couldn't stop her if it tried. And if she steals some of the fleet at Fondor, she'd have even more to take back to Allanteen if she did retreat."

Raina grimaced. "I know you think highly of Kal-Di, brother—"

Raven sat up. "Do you not?"

"I met Tirien once, and only for a few minutes. He seemed courteous, but distant."

"Nothing we're unfamiliar with, then."

A smirk threatened at the edges of Raven's mouth, and Raina had to respond in kind.

"I trust Tirien's judgment, and he vouches for Darakhan," Raven said. "Moreover, I've never heard anything about Mali Darakhan but that he's a hero and a brilliant commander."

"I've heard the same," Raina admitted. "But even if we both take his word for it—even if he's right, and this is the ideal strategy—that means nothing if we can't sell it on Procopia."

Raven swung his legs off the couch, resting his forearms on his thighs. "Speaking of Procopia, how was your trip?"

Raina shook her head. "The same as every time. Half the nobles act like they're part of some secret society—"

"—and the other half cling to you like mynocks trying to form one?"

"Aren't you sorry you didn't come?"

Raven chuckled. "What about Lord Brascel?"

"Calm but in command, as ever. I have no sense how he'd respond to a proposal like this, though."

"I thought you were planning to speak with him?"

"I was—I did."

Raven narrowed his eyes; each had always been able to sense when the other was holding something back. "And?"

"Lady Gasald's incursion didn't come up."

"Because…?"

"I spoke to Lord Brascel, and I've decided to take on a Padawan learner."

Raven rocked back. "Wow. I mean, you've been talking about that for years, but I thought they said we'd need to receive our knighthoods before they'd allow us to take Padawans."

"It's the norm, but Lord Brascel said exceptions could be made in worthy cases."

"And he considers us worthy?"

Raina took no offense, knowing at once what he meant. Lord Brascel concealed his thoughts well, but many nobles, even noble Jedi, made no secret of their feeling that the Kaivalt twins had forsaken their heritage by pledging their blades to the broader Republic, and because Raven and Raina were away from the Tapani sector as often as they were present, they had that many fewer opportunities to persuade elder nobles of the error of their beliefs. That they were Jedi Knights but—not having reached the Tapani age of majority at thirty—not yet knights of the sector's noble hierarchy did not help either.

"So it seems."

"Huh. Well, congratulations; I'm proud of you, Ray." Raven's smile became curious. "Tell me about this Padawan."

"Her name is Renata Cul'Caritas," Raina told him. "She's twelve years old, but turning thirteen next week."

"Cul'Caritas…from what family is she?"

Here was the part that would be sticky; Raina appreciated the opportunity to cut her teeth on her brother first. "She's not—she's a commoner."

"Oh." Raven looked surprised for only a moment, then shrugged. "Following in our ancestor's tradition, then. Have you run it by Upstairs yet?"

"Given that we need to present Darakhan's request anyway…"

Raina grinned as her brother groaned. "What convenient timing. Yes, all right, let's go."

Inimă Eserzennae, the home of the Kaivalts on Pelagon, was a compact stone and oak affair in the shadow of a forest, some trees of which had been felled for the manor. It was less grandiose than many estates owned by the noble families of House Pelagia, but the Kaivalts were less than traditional in other ways as well. The wide foyer's rough flagstones and mirrored wooden stairs to the second level were grand in their simplicity, and the few tapestries on the wall were of muted colors, but the center of the curving room was a circular depression cut to the base of a statue. Life-sized on a waist-high base, carved from one of the estate's oldest trees harvested for this one purpose, the statue was Donarius Kaivalt at the height of his Jedi mastery. He held his wooden lightsaber before his face in the same posture as the Warrior Masters once memorialized in stone before the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Custom dictated that a Kaivalt returning home pay homage to her forefather, and Raina had not neglected the tradition, but following in our ancestor's tradition echoed in her mind, and she touched the base of the statue, laying her other hand over her heart and bowing her head again.

Guide me, great-grandfather, she thought. Let me be half the master you were.

As they ascended the stairs, Raven asked, "Where is she?"

"I asked Bernius to show her around."

Raina and Raven found their father in his study, reviewing a spreadsheet on his datapad, though the depression in the circular leather tuffet with its own corner of the room told Raina her father had been meditating recently. At first glance, a being could be forgiven for thinking Baron Miklato Kaivalt unrelated to his son and daughter; his light brown hair had gone gray, his eyes were slate blue, he wore a full beard and mustache unlike Raven's goatee, and, of course, his fair skin was a far cry from the mahogany tone the twins owed to their mother. But Miklato had the same thin, straight nose and smaller mouth, and Raina liked to think that she and her brother sometimes managed to look as insightful as their father.

He rose as they entered; he and Raven were of a height, a few centimeters taller than Raina. Miklato kissed Raina's cheek. "Welcome home, Raina."

"Thank you, Father."

"May we join you, Father?" Raven asked.

Miklato gestured them into the familiar chairs on one side of his U-shaped desk, lacing his fingers together and resting his chin on them. Raina recounted her trip to Procopia with no interruption, but when she came to the matter of her apprentice, Miklato recoiled in surprise.

"A Padawan? Before you come of age?"

"Lord Brascel seemed confident in my abilities," Raina said.

Raina often found her father gentle, but unreadable; he embodied the lack of emotion and spiritual self-discipline so essential to a Jedi's life, and Raina believed nothing but Tapani politics stood between her father and formal acknowledgment as a Jedi Master. But once in a while he allowed a bit of emotion to touch his face, and the pride in his smile warmed her, heat spreading from her heart through her whole body.

"Where is she?"

"Bernius is taking her around the grounds."

Also like a good Jedi, when his chosen course was clear, Miklato did not prevaricate. He touched a comm board on the side of his desk. "Bernius."

"Yes, Your Honor?"

"Bring Raina's Padawan to my study."

"Of course, Your Honor."

He sat back in his desk chair to wait; Raina saw her father's lips form the words Raina's Padawan again, and another smile stole across his lips. She considered how to broach the subject, and she felt Raven nudging her in the Force, but her brother did not try to speak for her now, and before she could find the perfect words, she heard Bernius's voice in the hall.

"…this way, Miss Cul'Caritas. Mind the vase, please, it's been in the family longer than I have."

"Right. Do I look okay?  I mean—"

"You look entirely presentable. In here, please."

Bernius led the way into the study. A keen observer might have discerned the spindly protocol droid frame at his core, but most would never have guessed it given the layers of armor plating that bulked Bernius up to a more powerful build than Raven's. Even his digitized voice, programmed to sound pleasant and compliant to Human ears, had just a little twist of personality that belied the additional programming which made Bernius far more than a butler.

Bernius said, "Your Honor, this is Renata Cul'Caritas. Mistress Raina informs me she's to be her Padawan."

"So I'm told. Come in, child."

Renata stepped forward and gave something between a bow and a curtsy. She had worn simple traveling garb rather than Jedi attire for the trip from Procopia, though her lightsaber was on her belt. "Good morning, Your Honor. I'm very pleased to meet you."

"And I you, Renata."

Renata looked at Raven, then Raina, obviously seeking guidance. Raina stood, and Renata bowed again. Not sure what to make of that, Raina skipped it entirely. "Renata, this is my twin brother, Raven."

Raven stood where Miklato had not, and Renata thrust out a hand. "Hello Sir Raven. Er…"  She half-drew her hand back, and Raven, who had stepped forward to shake, paused. "Um…am I allowed to do that?"

She looked both lost and embarrassed. Raven moved past his sister and took Renata's hand firmly. "The pleasure's mine, Renata. Welcome to Inimă Eserzennae."

"Thanks, Sir Raven," she said in relief.

"Just Raven," he corrected. "Neither of us has reached majority yet."

"Oh. Right.  Twins." Renata blushed again, and Raina frowned. They would need to work on her Jedi reserve.

"I'm not familiar with your family, Renata," Miklato said. "Where are you from?"

"Pavia, sir," Renata answered.

"The Cadriaan Province?"

"Yes sir."

Miklato frowned. "I'm so sorry, I thought I knew all the families of House Cadriaan."

Renata's big brown eyes found Raina again. Clearing her throat, Raina said, "Renata is a commoner, Father."

Miklato's frown cleared into an introspective expression that was difficult to read. "Oh. Of course.  My apologies, it was my misunderstanding."

An awkward silence followed, broken by Bernius, who said, "Master Donarius Kaivalt took a Tapani commoner as his Padawan as well, Miss Cul'Caritas. Jeyvril was an incredible young man, a hero of extraordinary renown even before his gallant end at Mizra.  I'm certain Mistress Raina will do my master proud in training you."

Renata looked surprised but touched, and a smile broke through her nerves; a dimple popped out in her cheek. "Thanks Bernius."

The droid's words had cleared Raina's moment of hesitation. "I'll endeavor to live up to his memory."

Miklato, too, moved on. "Bernius, we'll put Renata in the guest wing for now and consider extended arrangements later."

"As you say, Your Honor. Follow me, Miss Cul'Caritas."

"Okay." She bowed to the room as a group, turned, then turned right back around, looking at Raina. "Um…is that okay, ma'am? Er…Raina?"

"Master," Miklato corrected. "Raina may not yet be titled nobility, but she is a Jedi Knight and your master, Padawan."

"Yes sir. Your Honor." Clearly overwhelmed, Renata looked back at Raina. "Is that okay, Master?"

"Go with Bernius," Raina confirmed. "We'll speak later."

Renata nodded and left, and the twins sat back before their father's desk. Miklato was silent for several minutes, and in the end it was Raina who spoke. "She's young, but I'm told she's proven herself quite capable in training thus far."

"Lord Brascel told you this?"

"He did."

"Well, that's something."

Miklato added nothing else, and Raven frowned. "Father, Bernius is right. Jeyvril—"

"I'm fully aware of Jeyvril Kodd's achievements," Miklato said. "The Force does not discriminate between noble and commoner. But sentient beings do, Raven."

"All the more reason for us to welcome her and show that Jedi—"

"You're missing the point, son," Miklato sighed, but Raina grimaced, realizing at last where he was going.

"You think they only let a Jedi below the age of majority have a Padawan because she's a commoner," she said, and the tightness around her father's eyes told her she had guessed right.

"Your achievements speak for themselves, Raina, and our name speaks for you in your frequent absences." Raina braced herself to refight that battle, and Raven tensed at her side, but Miklato spared them. "But if a Jedi Knight of your heritage was to be trusted with a Padawan before coming of age, I would have expected her to be given a Padawan whose own standing complements that heritage."

"She could be a great Jedi," Raina insisted. "We barely know her, her future is boundless yet."

"I understand that, but I can not believe this assignment was accident. I suspect the Jedi Lords respect your skills and our family, but they would be less inclined to miss a commoner who swore her blade to the Chancellor on Coruscant than a noble."

"Perhaps it was a way to bring Raina closer," Raven suggested. "Give her a Tapani Padawan before she took a foreigner."

"Possible," Miklato allowed, though his tone made clear he did not believe it likely. "The Tapani sector may be part of the Republic, but opinions on the association of our Jedi with the mainstream Order…vary."

Raina sighed, but looked at Raven, thinking, You'll never get a better segue.

It wasn't much, but Raven took it anyway. "Speaking of Coruscant and the Republic, Father, I spoke with Tirien Kal-Di and Mali Darakhan two days ago."

Miklato frowned. "Darakhan I know—the Corellian, yes? And you met Kal-Di on Anaxes, if I'm not mistaken?"

"I did. Tirien called…well, Darakhan has a plan, and Tirien supports it…"

Miklato folded on hand over the other fist in his listening posture again. "Oh yes?"

Raven described Mali Darakhan's proposed assault on Milagro; Raina contributed when she felt Raven had missed a detail or a tactical insight. Once again their father absorbed it without comment, but when they were done he shook his head.

"House Pelagia doesn't have the resources to support such a campaign and leave the House fleet intact."

"No, Father," Raven agreed. "We believed it would have to go to the Great Council too."

Miklato narrowed his eyes. "Lord Brascel and the other High Lords would need to be brought into this plan as well. Did you address this matter to him, Raina?"

"No, Father. We wanted your guidance first."

"That was wise," Miklato said; Raina sensed her brother's silent thanks for the cover. "A hundred ships or more…"

"The sector fleet could spare it," Raina said.

"It could, but whether it will is another matter. Even with Fondor potentially exposed, every indication is that Gasald intends to target Corellia."

"And if she takes it?" Raven asked. "How secure will our sector be if the Five Brothers fall?"

"Be that as it may, the High Lords and the other Jedi won't be persuaded by your request, and certainly not if Darakhan himself comes here. And I'm of little more use," he said, cutting off whatever Raven was going to argue. "My voice would be seen as no more than a mouthpiece for yours."

"So we'd need allies, then," Raina suggested. "Allies we have?"

Miklato rocked his chair back and forth for a moment. "House Pelagia has allies among the other Houses, and I have contacts across the sector. But this would expend considerable political capital.  Why do this?"

Raina looked at her brother, and he rose to the occasion. "Because we can snap a spear of the dark side thrusting toward the Colonies and the Core, and all the while serve our sector, our House, and our family."

Miklato frowned. "You've outlined the tactical benefits to the sector, and of course House Pelagia would gain further profile in the broader galaxy by contributing to a successful campaign. But our family?  The Republic has already taken my children, what more does it want of me?"

His voice tightened at the end, and the twins both shifted in their seats. But Raina had intuited her brother's plan of attack now, and she closed the pincer. "For that very reason, Father. Your father was given the barony meant for his father, and you've inherited it in your turn.  But it's been eighty years since Mizra, and our forebear has passed out of living memory."

"A family built on money or power can expend the resources of their ancestors for generations," Raven complemented her, "but ours is built on valor. Gold and durasteel shine a bit longer, but valor needs to be exercised so it's free of rust."

"Our grandfather was a good Jedi, Father," Raina said. "You are a great Jedi—you've modeled the Force for us since we were children. But since Donarius died, the valor of the Kaivalts has stayed within the sector."

"You have one barony and two children," Raven reminded him.

"Have you taken an interest in Tapani politics at last?" Miklato asked dryly. "Or do you think I'm so addled with age that I don't sense you playing on my own desires?"

"Fighting Gasald and freeing Milagro are the right things to do," Raven insisted. "And I will answer Mali's call regardless of what the Lords decide. I merely point out there's no reason for you to consider it an act of charity."

Miklato sighed, looking at Raina. "And you? Will your thrust find my heart as well, dear?"

Raina rolled her eyes. "Speaking of transparent manipulation, Father…" He half-smiled, and Raina answered it with her smile, but she nodded. "Gasald and her people are lethal, and this is a chance to serve the galaxy and protect the sector at once. I'm going with Raven."

"And taking your young Padawan, I expect."

Raina hadn't really thought about it. Renata was untested in battle, and given Darakhan and Kal-Di's reports on the last time they had been to Milagro, the rematch seemed the wrong place to start. Raina could ask her father to begin Renata's Padawan training here while the twins went to war…but that, she reflected, would serve her own desires better than Renata's education. Jedi did not exist for mild challenges and the slow path of comfort. And it would tell every being in the sector—including Renata—that Raina Kaivalt looked at her Padawan the same way those smug nobles did, Jedi and otherwise.

"Of course I'll take her. She's my Padawan."

Miklato closed his eyes. "So the Republic draws my children away again, into what sounds like impressively mortal peril even by your standards, and I'm left to decide whether to pace the widow's walk, wondering whether this will be the time one or both of my twins doesn't come home, or play upon the Jedi ideals and political desires of my colleagues to send my children on their errand with a worthy enough contribution that the Tapani and the Kaivalts are more than a footnote in the analogues of Corellia's conquests and Mali Darakhan's glory."

The twins let him muse in silence for several minutes until his eyes opened. "Your Padawan…Renata, is it? She said she was from Pavia, yes?"

"Yes."

"House Cadriaan's territory…" Miklato's face turned thoughtful. "Some of our friends in House Cadriaan have expressed an interest in expanding their profile beyond the confines of the sector of late. The Gonzeds in particular have tried to broaden their commercial options; I think Obveluus is positioning himself for a lordship.  If they could be persuaded to sponsor this campaign as well…"

"Houses Pelagia and Cadriaan have always been allies," Raven pointed out. "One may back the other."

"And Lord Brascel clearly has faith in you," Miklato told Raina. "Republic Jedi or not, you're still twenty-six, and commoner or not, Renata is still a Padawan. I could speak to him."

"Darakhan said if outside support would help, Senator Rose could speak to the High Lords," Raven offered. "If we're talking about raising galactic profiles…"

"It's an option," Miklato allowed. He strategized in his head a moment more before Raina sensed his thoughts solidify. "Yes, all right, I agree. When does Darakhan plan to launch this campaign?"

"Within the month, he said."

"Little time, but perhaps enough, if Gonzed wants it badly enough and Lord Brascel…well, I have calls to make. If you'll both excuse me."

They rose, bowed, and stepped from the room, sealing the door behind them. Raina looked at her brother. "Care to spar? We can't arrive to Darakhan in less than ideal form."

Raven nodded past her. "I'd love to, but I think it may have to wait."

Raina turned and saw Bernius coming back their way from the guest wing. "Is Renata settled in?"

"She is. A nervous thing, but Jeyvril was too at first."

"We're going to Milagro, Bernius," Raven announced. "Mali Darakhan is taking the fight to Gasald, and we'll be at his side."

Bernius studied Raven a moment before nodding. "I wish you good fortune."

"You could come with us, Bernius," Raina offered.

"Another adventure in the war against the Sith," Raven added.

"I do miss adventures sometimes," Bernius allowed. "But no, my duty is here. But when the day comes that your father rests with his father, and my master, if you still wish me to join you in war, I would be proud to serve at your sides."

The twins looked at each other, then bowed. Raven said, "We'll do our best to honor Donarius's legacy."

"You always do, sir."

It reminded Raina of her own pledge, and she said, "If we're going to war, then every moment before that is precious. If you'll both excuse me, I'd best begin training my Padawan."