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Post by tress on Jun 17, 2011 16:34:51 GMT -5
A chuckle low and deep came through the line to her, "See still the same woman from so long ago. Tell me something..." he asks a touch of humor in his voice that could be heard clearly over the transmission. "Does the superior acting bit work on all the guys or do you pluck them all innocent like the one your with now?" She wasn't fooling him one bit, she was the same as back then, just more tough around the edges. Wonder what had happened to make her views all askew as they were. She had always been high class, elegant, graceful and beautiful and all the trappings those things brought with them, but it was worse now.
As he was reminiscing she went on.
"I did ask you what you wanted to do most....i just granted you that wish. It was fun, my first time doing that, too." His feet were on the ground, hers wasn't, it was anti gravity at its best. Never meant to be used that way, but her wish had been his at his command back then.
"Never was married, never anyone that had struck me as the one. Though many fell into my bed, so i am almost like you aren't i? I did my duty and sired an heir, set him on the right path and now enjoy all the pleasures in life have to offer me. Even old flames that remind me of what could have been...." he was teasing of course seeing where it would go, but she would know that she was no fool. He was already making things ready for what he had planned for next. Made a call via Tress's comm channel for Rhy, he would hopeful bow out his need to restore his families prestige up most on his mind besides Anara. The left him alone with her pulling up in a speeder, sitting in the front with the driver and had the partition closed until he knew she would be alone or not.
***
Rhy was in a bad situation, one he wished he hadn't been in, Tress calling him and him wanting to finish things with Anara. He had no choice right now, he had to stick with the plan Tress had set for him. Later there would be time for things with the older Vestra.
What was that? Already had what exactly he thought as he looked at her speaking. The voice saying he wished he could have her instead and she says that. Just who was the other person really?
Looking at his comlink again he sighed, "It pains me to say this, but i cant I have been summoned to a meeting in preparation for tomorrows council meeting. There will be a speeder downstairs to take you, but i wish you would wait for me to go with you..."
Another message and his fist clenched tight around the comlink, "I have to go, I will send a Speeder for you..." he rushes out the door after stealing a kiss. "Its not over, yet."
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 17, 2011 18:30:36 GMT -5
Same old Zann, each little quip was perfectly tailored to suit the purpose. And oh how that would have worked had she been as young and naive as the first time they had met. Not now, not ever again.
"Who? Rhy? He's not innocent, are you dear?" Anara smiled, biting down slightly on her lower lip as if to keep that grin from widening, "Not in the slightest. But to answer your question, well...why the sudden interest? I didn't know green was your colour, you almost sound jealous." They could have gone back and forth with the quips all night, but it would end shortly, this she knew to be fact as the night wore on, and she would never make it back in time for the meeting if she didn't leave soon.
If she could have blushed at this point, she would have, but it was far beyond that now. What did did give him was an admonishing glare, she knew what he was referring to and she was just daring him to say more and suffer the consequences for it too. When he moved on, she afforded him a judicious nod - good choice on his part there.
"I imagine had 'what could have been' actually been a reality we would be having a far more awkward conversation right now...by the way do you know what your grandson has been up to lately?" If he did or didn't the senator wasn't entirely sure but it wasn't like her to miss an opportunity to stick the proverbial blade in a bit more, and this was ample an opportunity.
Smiling sweetly, she continued, "Fortunately he identified himself before I was able to...oh what was the term you used earlier...'pluck' him? Yes, plucking him was the furthest thing from my mind when he emerged from behind my daughter, who just happened to be situated in the bath tub at the time, wearing little more than that signature smile you used to be so proud of." Pretending to think it over, she was just stalling while he listened to that and let the potential surprise sink in - he could, of course, have known about it all along, but a reminder never hurt anyone.
"I'll see you soon, take care." Anara finished falsely, she would be seeing him soon but the saccharine tone to her voice was intended to be sarcastic. She would go with an open mind, there was going to be some reason he wanted to see her, he might claim it was for the reasons he'd mentioned but she knew him better than that, before he'd needed a way in, a way on world, now though?
She would find out soon enough, now though Rhy was holding her attention, preoccupied with whoever was calling him - he seemed agitated, torn almost, as if he was wavering between staying right where he was and rushing off elsewhere. Any normal person wouldn't have been offended by him chosing to go elsewhere, but Anara wasn't normal, at least not to her mind.
Disgruntled, but not discouraged, she watched him turn and leave with little more than a small non committal noise of disagreement as a reply, she wouldn't be staying here to wait for him, but that wasn't any of his business anyway.
When he was out of sight and she could no longer hear the sound of his footfalls in the halls beyond her door, she, too, gathered her things and prepared for the off.
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Post by tress on Jun 20, 2011 16:20:49 GMT -5
He could see her, envision her speaking to Rhy as she said that. Innocent or not, he was in his way and would be dealt with in its own time. Tress might need him, but he always got what he wanted in the end, too. "Green? Maybe alittle, but then i remember who your with and it just makes me grin...you know the one?" he asks.
"The one that shows when i win, the one i had that night when you came to meet me when you said it was impossible." he was sure, she wouldn't have come that time. It was soon after a battle with kuat, he had snuck into the Array posing as an employee to a freight company. She had known who he really was then, and still came to meet him. The grin he gave her when she pulled her blaster on him, and much later before he snuck away was the same...one of winning.
"Which part?" he wonders what she means by that. She couldn't know anything unless her daughter told her, but he didn't see Anara not trying to jockey for more power in there some place.
Fortunately she answered before he had to blunder in a lame response. "Ah, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree does it? Must have been a sight, for him to walk into the hotels main promenade and for some older Kuati to pinch his backside too." he chuckled at that one. "Do you have no shame, woman?" he was going to turn it back on her, defending his grandson.
Everything set up and ready for him, he and his driver circled around the front and waited for passagers to board. He was well hidden and the dividing partition was up. Rhy would have his own means of transportation. So he was planning on Anara getting into their waiting speeder. The door was open and ready, alls he would need to do is enter and he would have her. After all why would some random speeder just show up at her estate if it wasn't one of hers or Rhy's?
When she stepped in and the door closed and locked, the partition lowered and he looked back at her. "Alone at last."
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 20, 2011 18:51:33 GMT -5
When biting your tongue wasn't an option, the next best thing was to exercise a little restraint, Anara was used to doing that, but he did have a way of wearing you down on that front. That and he'd always been good at matching her salvo, she suspected that was the reason she'd kept talking to him all this time - now and in the past.
His dismissal of Rhy as a threat was to be expected, he was older and therefore had a lot more common sense and experience under his belt to know precisely what she was up to, just as she did, but it didn't rattle her any. Rhy was what he was to her and if the young Knylenn failed to see that then he was fooling himself and few others.
"That amuses you does it? I might have to hang around here a little longer with him then. You'll be in hysterics that way." But Anara already knew she wasn't going to do that, she had suspected he knew it too. What really had her interested, was how he seemed to know anything at all about Rhy.
With a sigh and a flourish obscured from view, she shook her head disinterestedly, she didn't wish to get into the symantics of how he was only a couple of months off of potentially having been Khari's father, it didn't bear thinking about. Her secret really would have been a secret that would have been one then! Allowing herself a small shudder of reproach she was relieved when that conversation had ended and she was well on her way to going to meet this speeder.
No one was about at this time of night, save for the household staff and security, so therefore she would not be bothered. Her only concern was that no one knew where she was going. But she could hardly have told someone - though as she passed the door to the right wing of the house, she debated enlightening her daughter. Now with no love for the Zann's she could well have held her peace until Anara had been able to return and explain everything was in hand or, if she was gone too long, raise the alarm. On the other hand, Khari would hold it against her, after all, Anara herself would have were the roles reversed. Just a chance she wasn't willing to take over the one she was embarking on now.
Outside, the speeder was waiting as she had requested, though she saw no sign of Rhy or the one he had supposedly taken. She would catch up with him the following morning before they headed to the gathering, there were a few things she needed to ask him - such as just how did he know her contact, if at all, or was it just the Zann way of unsettling her enough to ask in the first place.
Opening the door, herself, then slipping inside the closed top speeder, she frowned when they didn't immediately make for the gates. Instead, the partition in front of her slowly slid away to reveal the very person she had been speaking to on the comm moments before.
The Senator's expression was rather morose, she stared back at him unflinchingly for several moments, eyes taking in the sight she hadn't seen in quite some time. No doubt he was doing the same, perhaps with a similar critical eye, the years had been surprisingly kind to him, scars and all. Hands clasped together she let them settle in her lap rather elegantly and sighed.
"I trust you realize this is false imprisonment and the second you leave these grounds, kidnapping?" She wasn't outwardly rattled by any of this, she had a superior calm about her that had been honed and hardened over the years. So if he was expecting the girl he had known, he had another thing coming to him.
Anara's gaze wandered around the interior of the speeder questioningly, unphased by the situation. When it eventually returned to his visage, she made a non commital gesture with one hand and continued on. "Of course you do, what was I thinking, so...what is it this time, extortion? Because I am telling you now, they won't pay a credcoin, you know that."
A small semblance of a smile flickered across her features then, and she shook her head just a tad, "Don't tell me you actually meant that you missed me? You're going soft in your old age."
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Post by tress on Jun 21, 2011 3:04:27 GMT -5
That he was happy to see her was evident in the way he looked at her, his Smokey grey eyes almost caressing her in one slow appraisal. He did it on purpose to, letting her know that it didn't bother him in the least. "Still a fine figure of a woman, I am sure the rest of you has only gotten better with age....?" not really a question, but he wanted to see how she took it. She was really still as breath taking as she was all those years ago, older and wiser, but still the same.
"I am hurt that you would think such bad things from me, Anara." he tells her trying to add some hurt in there. it was the furtherest thing on his mind. Here she was accusing him or charging him with such things and what did they mean to him? Nothing really. "You do know i am the most wanted man in some parts still? I'd imagine Kuati being the worst of those.....you really think adding a few more charges to the list is going to stop this from happening? I have evaded every source seeking to capture me, I shall continue to do so ....but as it so happens." he signals the driver to pull over.
"As I was saying...."
When he did, he got out and went around back and entered to sit beside her calmly as he did this everyday of his life. "Keep us moving, Driver."
"As a matter of fact, I did miss you. I am here to finish what was started all those many years ago...." he said turning toward her and grinning. "Old age has only improved certain aspects of my life, you shall soon see one of them, later another, and still if you are awake by morning....I shall show you the last of them."
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 21, 2011 11:09:32 GMT -5
The Kuati's expression was unchanging, unphased by what was going on around her as if she had really expected it. But truly, she could never have known. His faux hurt feelings were of no consequence to her, she was never adverse to treading on people's toes to get where she wanted to be or simply get what she required. He obviously wanted something and she was willing to bet she knew what too. But as with all of his associates, what you saw wasn't always what you got, if he was going to try and get her in a compremising position, so to speak, then use that against her, he might well have another thing coming. Right now, though, she was content just to see what he had up his sleeve.
"Oh yes I watch the news, view the history holos, there are people out there who would give their right arm to get ahold of you. This really would be the least of your worries, which is why I am sitting here wondering one small thing." She waited momentarily for him to slip out of the speeder and back in through the passenger door. As yet Anara hadn't made a bolt for it, there was no reason for her to panic so far as she could see. What had she done to warrent anything that would endanger her life? She had kept his secret all these years what more would a few more do?
"Why? I'm next to worthless to you."
She watched him carefully, dark eyes issuing him a measure of scrutiny. Perhaps he really was being truthful for once? She had seen stranger things in her time, what was to say he hadn't gone soft in his old age, just as she had quipped he had. That thought was rescinded as quickly as she had cast it out there, and brought on a chuckle she would not explain to her onlooker. No, he wasn't the type to change that much, family or not, he was still irrifutably him. And that was appealing enough on it's own.
"Are you going to explain to me how you appered to know anything at all about the man that I was with this evening? And don't even think that I will believe you if you tell me it was a bluff - remember, just as you know me, I know you." That really was the quandry, wasn't it? How he'd let that slip, probably on purpose, it didn't really matter, her understanding would come in knowing the full story and that was all she cared about in that regard.
The speeder had begun moving again and before long they had passed through the gates to the estate unhindered. Anara made a mental note to catch sight of the gateman's face and commit it to memory - when morning came, he would no longer have a job. That thought and every other one like it were soon eclipsed by what else he had to tell her, and his admission was a curious one, somehow she had always supposed that he had used her much like she had others, Rhy was just a pebble in the ocean compared to the list she could have reeled off.
"I'm touched," Anara replied mock meekly, "And what memories do you have? The moment you used my knowledge to gain access to the security files that would have delayed the alarm being raised aboard the array, or the look on those Imperial officers faces when you made off with their pride and joy?" Pausing for effect, a wry grin played across her lips delicately. That, at least, was genuine "The latter one is mildly amusing, I have to say."
His reply had not been so much of a reply as it was an interruption to her train of thought, and then all kinds of images she recalled very acutely flooded through the dark recesses of her mind. Accompanying those were the imaginings he'd evoked by his last few words - cryptic though they might be. If she was awake? She certainly planned on being. But even she couldn't help reacting to the afformentioned.
"You were right...that is interesting. You sound like you have been planning this for a while, but the rest remains to be seen, you know me, actions speak louder than words. But words are a good start." This time she reached out and patted him on the knee, upholding that superiority complex of her's the entire time. Anara knew it would either force him to act or not at all, but she still wasn't buying this was all there was to it. If there wasn't, fantastic, but if there was...
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Post by tress on Jun 21, 2011 17:39:25 GMT -5
"Oh, I wouldnt say worthless. There is more than worth in a person than what they own or the size of their bank accounts." he makes himself comfortable in the back. It was really a nice speader, a holodisplay for local and galactic news and business channels and a small bar. "I find you to be priceless." he tells her suddenly as he looks around. "Unfinished business like i said. One of equal pleasure and profit....I just want to reminece and see if your willing."
Though there seemed to be other matters on her mind first, one if he was honest was one he would be asking himself.
"Dont know how much i can tell you really, but I can tell you that i met Rhy earlier this night in a meeting. Then he brought me and a guest down to the surface bypassing all the security...." he was now pouring himself a drink, one he offered her now. "Want to share?"
"I imagine my grandson, Tress is busy with your daughter as we speak...." he added as an after thought.
"I did offer to take you with me, you declined after all..." he had wanted her to come with him, using their feelings to swey her. It wasnt enough in the end, and he still did what he had to do. The attack was swift and damaging, with the stealing of an SSD which later he abandoned. "But i am happy i offered you some enjoyment against the Imps."
"What if had always been in my thoughts. I played out this scenerio for years, never knowing if i would have the nerve to face you again, but a opening presented itself and here I am...much changed, but still the same person inside. The one you met long ago."
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 21, 2011 19:21:05 GMT -5
She would have liked to have said that flattery would get him nowhere, but that wasn't the case with her. She listened, weighed up what was being said with a measured nod and a half smile every now and then, keeping her attention firmly fixed on him and everything he did - the scenery she'd seen before - just for peace of mind. When he was done, she steepled her fingers, bring the two index ones to her lips for a moment, then lowering her hands back to rest neatly in her lap a second after.
"Reminisce?" Anara repeated as a question, "And that is all? I didn't have you down as the nostalgic type, but I am game - game that is, so long as this has nothing to do with stealing a superweapon?" There were some things, no matter how swayed she could be, she simply wouldn't do, and he'd left her in a very bad place when he'd done what he had. But as he had aptly noted, that was a long while ago.
What was Rhy doing having meetings that concerned the Zann Consortium? This was a revelation that shouldn't have surprised her, he was young and frankly, easily lead, but treason? She had never thought Rhy had it in him. Clearly the Knylenn knack for treacherous acts hadn't ended with Khoss alone. When had the young Knylenn planned on revealing that little fact? At the gathering - how apt - or were any other member of the Ten never supposed to discover this until it was too late. Too late for what, though?
"A meeting? You call me out of the blue, arrange to have me picked up only to abscond with me, the least you can do is explain what kind of meeting this was and, if you will pardon the expression, if I should be as far away from this rock as possible when whatever it is comes to fruition?" She wouldn't, regardless of the answer, but it was a good way of trying to get him to speak up - if he thought she was just trying to save her own skin with little more than paying lip service to the care for others, then maybe he would be less than hesitant.
It was a partial truth anyway.
Absent mindedly, she accepted the drink, raising the tumbler to her lips only to pause and sniff the contents suspiciously. He really hadn't changed...
With a derisive roll of her eyes she handed the glass back to him and nodded at it,
"Ice, please, and plenty of it. You know I never truly enjoyed drinking that completely straight."
Had she had a mouth full of that drink right now, she would have almost certainly spat it out all over the driver's partition screen. Not only was he abhorrently wrong, he was speaking about her daughter in a way that made her sound like some sort of telbun! She quickly shot the man a disbelieving glare.
"Excuse me? No, not the last time I heard anything of it, what were the words Khari used?...ah yes ' we won't be seeing him again any time soon.' Now, in case you wondered, is too soon. In fact, next millenia would be too soon judging by the manner in which she uttered those words."
Yes he had offered, hadn't he. But there was more waiting for her here and she had discovered something rather importantly detrimental at the time. It had been tempting for those reasons, but ultimately the option she had chosen was the best one. It was doubtful she would be where she was today if she had gone.
"And what would I have done then? Spent the rest of my existance hunted like you have been? Forced to fake my own death or live in some hovel somewhere in the outer rim simply because i'd been taken in by an idealistic dream of how things could be? Can you really see me doing all that?" Shaking her head, she laughed a little, she had made the right choice at the end of it all. "Two months later I fell pregnant with Khari and via one means or another everything began to fall into place. I did quite well out of it all in the end, as you have seen." She would never have told him about just how Khari had come about being, that was one tidbit of information she would have taken to her grave if her daughter hadn't forced her to admit it. Having one person hang that over your head was one thing, someone like him? Detrimental to one's health. He could speculate all he wanted.
That had her curiously raising a slender brow - had he now? When she looked him in the eyes, she saw no hint of deception either. Even ones as mired in the ways of corruption didn't completely hide their wiles. And he was good at it, she'd seen that in action.
Having the nerve to face her though? She supposed the outcome had been rather explosive - literally and figuratively.
"You left me in a bit of a tangle, I would have been fearful were I you." Wasn't that the truth! She thought thereafter, "When you played out that scenario in your head, I trust you didn't repeat that aspect of the plan? Rather you followed through with the rest than did that. Hmm? I will be honest, I also considered this many a time. And what would happen if I ever caught up to you, but when news broke of your supposed death...there went that plan."
She leaned a little closer to him, watching him keenly as if she would strike at him at any given moment.
"And since, I am guessing, you have overcome your 'fear' as it were, that is why you decided to do all of this, or was Rhy the reason? He seemed very interested in who I was coming out to meet, almost brought him along for the ride. How awkward that would have been...and then again how interesting that could have become."
Yes it would wind him up, or so she thought, but that was with purpose. Settling back in the seat, a little more relaxed than she had been before, Anara waited for the return. She wasn't disappointed.
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Post by tress on Jun 22, 2011 23:57:26 GMT -5
He nodded smiling for some reason, something he had little chance to do in his life when it wasn't condescending. This was enjoyment, very few people did he see as worthy in his eyes, but Anara had always been. "That is all I want." he raised his hands in the innocence gesture, that she bought it was another matter.
"If i steal any superweapon, its you that i am here for." he lowers his hands and relaxes onces more. That he had just paid her a compliment of sorts was only a baited trap, now he had to see if she struck or not. "I should have Kuats, true superweapon and treasure..." he his were on her now, sparkling in mischief.
"Just a simple meeting and i wasnt even the one in charge of it. I was left in the dark...almost." that was all he was going to tell her really. Later he would of course but right now he had other ideas on where he wanted the conversation going.
He was about to answer her tell her whatever happened in the pas was the past, and that he had no intention of counting Tress out when her comlink beeped. His eyebrow lifting in a silent question as she reached and flipped it on.
Listening his laughter rang out as he heard the rest of the conversation. The look in Anara's eye as the shock wore in. The little devil, he thought of his Tress. This was unexpected to say the least. The shouted remarks geared toward him over the line had him wondering how he knew he would even be with Anara. The kid was to good at reading people.
When she was looking at him again, something burning in her eyes he again had the decency to look innocent. "Well you asked what the meeting was about earlier, you can imagine the three people there. Tress, Rhy and me. The rest I shall tell you when we get to where we are going." he was glaring at her knowing she would try to force it out of him. "And not a moment before then" getting closer he whispers. "Unless you want to trade a kiss for a hint?"
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 23, 2011 14:27:02 GMT -5
The woman across from him leaned back in her seat to gain better perspective over the situation. That had been undeniably bad enough to warrent a rolling of the eyes and then a tad more, she suspected he knew it too, judging by the look in his eyes. Still, she did laugh softly, a superior air about her entire demeanour all over again, if such could be done.
"My dear, if that were true I would have the galaxy eating out of my hand, and I have no desire to garner that much attention, whatever you might hear in the news. You obviously came all this way for something more than a trip down memory lane, and by the way you have been avoiding the subject I might be forgiven for believing that I will find out soon enough anyway." Tilting her head just a notch, she glanced out of the tinted window into the night, the land flying past them in a blur. They were headed out of the city, that much she could tell, and in knowing the area very well she had a fair idea of where they would be going too.
"Tell me or do not, if that is what you wish, but don't play games with me, Zann. I am not the naive slip of a girl you knew then. I will find out though, be it now or later." Calmly she shrugged, her interest seeming to have faded with the curious expression that had beset her features for some time now. Her sudden change wasn't all that odd, not for her anyway, she had always been fickle, todays interest was soon yesterdays left overs and she was quite content to set the pace.
The irksome little problem was, though, that Anara was still interested, all this time and not so much as a hint that he had been alive - it all made perfect sense of course, when you considered who would have loved to get ahold of his skin, but why now, why here? She didn't believe for a second it was because of her. There was nothing wrong with reminiscing though, nor enjoying his company.
Her comlink had rapidly bleeped for attention soon after that thought left a lingering temptation in her mind. Breaking her completely from her thoughts, she looked down at the device as she slipped it out of her pocket and frowned, perhap a little confused. What did Khari want at this hour?
Shifting a suspicious look in her companions direction, Anara's lips pressed themselves into a thin line, something he'd said pertaining to his grandson, earlier, had her pointing the finger of accusation firmly in his direction. The resulting conversation was what would clinch it though.
"Senator Vestra..." Came Anara's generic response, she seemed to be more than awake.
"Mum.....hi..." Khari replied awkwardly, shrugging at Tress.
"Khari? Are you feeling well dear, you just called me mum." There was a short pause, in which she couldn't make out what was being said, but there was the voice of another there, a deep voice, definitely male in origin. "What have you done this time?"
"Charming as always I see...I won't make this long, I understand you have company right now. Mu...Mother, I have some good news I wanted to share with you. Tress came to see me tonight and - "
"Tress that Zann boy? Yes, I know...though I fail to see how this is good news, unless of course you finally took my advice and shot him in the testicles?" Came the response. She had known exactly who he was, one couldn't forget an encounter like that too easily, he'd certainly made a lasting impression.
When everything was said and done, the Kuati Senator sat there simply agast. Everything that had transpired in their conversation after that question had confirmed her worst fears. And as the man across from her was about to find out, she wasn't about to be too gracious about it either.
"You knew about this, didn't you?!" She hissed, tone as dry as wind strewn dead leaves in the heat of the midday sun, "Was this your idea? Send in the boy because you were too old to have made an impact on her? I had my suspicions before but now! This is an outrage, I won't stand for this, I won't go along with it either, so you might as well forget that idea before it enters your head again."
The response she got was less than pleasing, but typically him.
Drawing herself up in her seat huffily, she crossed her arms, appearing more like a petulent child than ever, then looked the other way. No, she wasn't going to respond to that, even if she had considered it for a second there, her pride was bigger than them both. All in all, Anara was more irritated that this little development had rankled her enough to shake her from that air of superior calm. Typical, throw a Zann into the mix and everything fell to tatters. She would get them back for this, that she vowed.
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Post by tress on Jun 25, 2011 1:26:11 GMT -5
She had read him like a holobook, he was avoiding the question and had thought he had been doing a great job of it. The flattery, the distracting, and the possibility of romance and nothing. She was tenacious if nothing he'd give her that.
"You have it wrong, oh sweet Anara." he said thinking quickly again, a ploy one last try. "The trip down memory lane is the main reason, the other part was just an excuse to get me and you together. Though that part i will get to in due time. We are old friends, if not more than that." gave her a knowing smile and a wink to unsettle her.
"That will be the fun part.....the finding out and what you do when you know. A word of advice, just keep an open mind. You can either be with those that will prosper or be left behind..." That was more than she needed to know at this point. Afterwards he would tell her more, but for now he wanted to get to know her more. See the lay of the land, which way the wind blew before trusting her more.
The beep of her comlink had him raising his brow in question again, was it Rhy so soon? He hoped not or everything would be ruined, but he said nothing as she answered it. The shocking laughter bursting from him was all he needed to know his grandson had succeeded in his plans.
Laughing was something he hardly did, but this was to good not to find humorous. "No, I am not the mastermind behind this one....I am just along for the ride as it were." more laughter had him falling side ways one the back seat. "Wait until you hear the rest, its as shocking as that news was. Should have seen my face as he laid the plan out for me..." looking at her outraged expression only made his laughter continue.
Finally he calmed down and wiped his eyes, the pressure of command and the need for revenge had changed him. Growing old had changed him and among old friends he allowed himself a chance to let go. He sat up and reached for the comlink still in her hand and made a call of his own. he looked at her and told her what he had sent."They will be meeting us at our destination. I hope you don't mind, where we all can discuss this privately..."
"You might remember this place...." he said as he finished sending his message and looked out the window of the speeder. A wave of his hand he drew her attention from murder to where they had just arrived.
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 25, 2011 10:13:13 GMT -5
Open minds meant open defences and she wasn't too keen on that. There was always the option of the good old underling to be used as a shield, and she was adept at hiding her true actions behind thousands of other third parties. It was the Kuati way, subterfuge, confuse the issue and eventually people gave up looking, tired of going around in circles.
“I think you already know what my answer to that would be, dear.” She responded almost saccharine in the way that she acted, just listening would have given you tooth decay. “Adapt or wither and die with the inept, I don’t need to change but my Modus Operandi changes constantly.” The first bit of honesty from her in a long while, she thought somewhat titillated by that, maybe it would even surprise him, who really knew?
Anara didn't know what he found so funny, this was terrible news! Surely he saw the flaws in it? Well he might find her outrage humerous, but she was actually dead pan serious, no, she could not sanction this, would not. Not if she had anything to say about it. It was the last sentence that had her really up in arms though.
"Plan? What plan?" Extending an index finger to point, she poked it downwards, jabbing the cool leather of the seat beside her stiffly to punctuate her words. "Are you suggesting that what my daughter just told me is part of some bigger plan?! And, then, does this also imply that she knows nothing about it, I must be missing something here, because naught but twenty hours ago, Khari was telling me of how much she dispised the man who just paid her a visit, your grandson!"
His laughter continued, vexing her even more until she near quaked with repressed anger. It could only go one place and that was outwards.
"Stop Laughing at me, this isn't in the least bit humerous!" Anara ranted sharply, her entire body stiff with outrage. Thankfully for him, though, he had the insight enough to stop when she'd said it, at least for a little while.
There would be a discussion alright, Anara thought quietly to herself, but it wouldn't be one that would end in any of this coming to pass, not on her watch. The curious idea of prevention came to mind just as quick, and when she was certain she had all of her composure back in check, she made her move.
"That would be better for your grandson, because while my daughter might not wish to do the deed, I won't think twice about shooting that boy in the Tressticles!" Crossing her arms haughtily, she turned her head to look back out of the viewport, acting as though this were just another day, and none of the former had ever happened.
The speeder had picked up speed outside of Kuat City's limits, making for a neighbouring overspill, all up market, and mostly owned by wealthy Kuati who were reaching retirement age, or utilized by those who simply wanted to 'get away from it all' without the bustle of city life and fun too far away. It stood out to Anara in many ways, not least of all because she had looked into purchasing property out this way, one needed a retreat every so often and owning so few properties as she did, two on Coruscant in fact. The rest were here or in system. But that wasn't the initial memory it conjured up in her mind - it stood out because this was where it had all begun, she, the man sitting opposite, and if she remembered correctly, ended too.
They pulled up to a largely ornate building, the type owned by the wealthy, utilized and hired out for various functions, business or pleasure, and sometimes both. The Kuati Senator just sat there for a few moments, mind ticking over, recalling all that had gone on here before.
She glanced back at him then, the nostalgia heavy in his words, as it was in hers.
"Yes, how could I forget?" Smiling at him, she surprised herself in how genuine that really was, not everything that had come out of that endeavour had been tainted, she had some happy, carefree memories. "Is that why you picked it?"
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Post by tress on Jun 25, 2011 17:09:42 GMT -5
He stopped laughing and looked at her still humourous everything that had happened. "Well this is sort of a surprise to me, too. Thought it is between them is it not?" he asked pointedly. "The other plan is much more...whats the word? Bigger? Grander? Brilliant?" he was wondering what Tress was planning now that he thought of it. What he planned was indicated that he really did care for the woman.
"Ha, nice usage of his name in there, i applaud your creativity." he was being sarcastic and was using it to divert her attention to him again. "Seems like she is more than willing, and even alittle in love enough to call you and want you there. Makes it real does it not?"
They had arrived and he waved letting her see their location. She would no doubt know it from before and their meetings.
"Its why i bought it and have kept it restored." he says smiling back at her. "I had always planned on living here, with the one woman that...well, what if right?"
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 25, 2011 19:34:54 GMT -5
She really wouldn't be swayed on this one and he was just using sarcasm to rile her up, she wasn't trying to be creative, she was trying to strike a blow she knew would hit it's mark...both figuratively and literally if given the chance. And what a chance she'd had that day in the foyer. Kicking herself over that one, she was content to glare daggers back at him for that last bit, daggers that were soon wrethed in fire when he seemed to be getting all sentimental over the idea. Oh yes, this was wonderful! It only potentially meant the utter disgrace of her entire family, not to mention the uproar it would cause within the ten. If that had been the plan, she wouldn't have been surprised.
"Real? Zann, are you completely blindsided? He said she is PREGNANT! Do you know what they have done?! " And if he said anything about the fruit not falling far from the tree, she was going to throttle him where he lounged. "This isn't happening, I keep thinking i'll wake up and this will all be some horrible dream and then I hear things like...that and ohh not again. This can't happen again. Is it not enough that I had to cover up one mess without doing it for her too...stupid girl."
Fingertips pinching the bridge of her nose, Anara found that the pressure hadn't lessened any, in fact, she felt worse when she did that, it lent credence to her discomfort, so she stopped immediatly. Unable to look at the man beside her, she muttered something incomprehensible when she realized she'd all but implicated herself with her outburst too. Yet she had always suspected that he had known about her affair with Kholis, Khari's father. And likewise, the man had known about her, at least that was, he'd worked it out, even when Anara herself had claimed that the girl wasn't his but a child she had parented with her telbun. Khari was too much like him in a lot of ways, attitude, temprement, even her beliefs were startlingly open minded by kuati standards, just like his. It hadn't mattered how much Anara had tried to hide it, Kholis had always known, and made himself a nuisance because of it. The best thing that man had ever done for her, was to disappear.
Erratic outburst out the way, she had to take several deep breaths before a shred of composure returned to her, and even then her voice appeared to waver.
"You know what this will do, if this gets out...anyone who has placed a scrap of faith in my daughter will be caused to question her ability to do all that she does, and that is at best. At worst they will see this as treason and I need not tell you what happens then." Not to mention they could think she had somehow covered for the pair, implicate her somehow, she couldn't have that. Her reputation would be in tatters and she thrown out of office.
"We have to do something about this, even you must see sense." Now, she seemed to have calmed considerably, and that could mean only one thing, plans had begun to weave together in her mind, and with his help they could perhaps come to fuition.
Well, thought the Senator, if they were here, there was no harm in taking a look around, it might do her some good since her head was now a tangle and mass of thoughts and concerns. But when she replied to him, she seemed a tad forlorn, "Until the next big task comes along, let's face it, that's why you never really retired, but there's no harm in enjoying what's before you at the time." She waited for him to make a move, the door still locked her side, all would come out in the wash, she thought, this was fixable.
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Post by tress on Jun 29, 2011 2:57:50 GMT -5
He pinched her hard just then, just so she'd know she wasn't dreaming in the slightest. "See your not dreaming, your going to be changing your mind after they let you in on the plan." He dares run the sore spot apologetically and tried to sooth her temper. "Come now, Anara. See the whole picture before judging things, ok. That is all i ask."
"Trust me, anyone who is anyone will sit up and look at your daughter as a business genius...their faith is well placed in her, Tress only added to that equation. They came together and parted ways only for each to make a deal that will make or break the shipping industry and the business world as we know it. " He was telling her in no uncertain words something big was coming and her daughter was at the helm of things. If things went through, the Ten would let her have her way as they would be the first to reap the most of things.
He got comfortable again, his hands in his pockets and his legs stretched out under him crossed at the ankles as he leaned against the speeder they had taken. "Sense? We are together after how many years? Alone just the two of us and free to do as we want and you worry about something that is past the point of trying to stop it. They will be here soon enough, so for right now how about reliving old times?" he waved at the house, smiling. "This has to bring back memories?"
"Thats the spirit." he tells her as they start off.
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 29, 2011 13:02:17 GMT -5
The pinch was most unappreciated, and she turned on him incredulously for a second there, pulling her arm away and out of pinching distance with visible haste. Too caught up in her own ranting to have noticed him trying to show her the bigger picture, he would silence her with his next words.
Anara's mind, however, was far from quiet, this was news to her, and had Khari known anything of this plan - as he was suggesting - she had spoken none of it to her in person or otherwise. That was something of a double edged sword, she was both proud and irritated by her daughter's silence all at once. Proud because she had learned something after all, and irritated because she hadn't thought to let her in on whatever was going on here. But the two were relative.
"So you are suggesting this is a relationship of convenience, nothing more?" She wondered just how much of the wrong end of the stick she was getting here, her version of events sounded better to her ears, but it was rarely that simple. "Or that this entire split was for the benefit of those keeping tabs on her?" Anara knew which one she liked more.
Critically she watched him make himself comfortable on the side of the stationary speeder and she was instantly transported back in time to the first time they had come here, the rather nonchalant way he'd casually stood around waiting for her to turn up when she could. Almost as if he was simply part of the architecture, very little out of place and why should he be any different to those around here, he had the capital to put his money where his mouth was - she truly didn't know, he just wasn't in keeping with this place, that had been part of the allure.
"Memories? Plenty of them." The senator took a step closer, then settled beside him to look back at the building in front of them. "I would indulge you, but I wouldn't want to inflate your ego. It's no doubt grown to gargantuan proportions over the years. You really will have to tell me how you evaded detection all this time, I may have need of that knowledge myself one day." One never really knew when they might need to disappear, and with things going the way they were, she was on the edge of a precipice socially and politically, but that wouldn't matter to Khari. Just so long as her daughter kept everything in line, she was safe on that ledge for the time being.
"Let us hope not, though." Anara smiled at him in that thinly superior way she afforded most, though the mirth at least was genuine, if a little cold on the ground. The warmth came where she placed a hand on his forearm for a moment, then headed off towards the building ahead.
"Alright," She said, "you've piqued my interest, let's have a look inside."
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Post by tress on Jun 29, 2011 16:17:49 GMT -5
Rhy looked at both of them and what had started as a smug look over Khari seeing him standing there and seeing them both together, ended with a look of confusion. "Family Bussiness?" Anara had been speaking to some unknown person, how as that connected to family. "Last i heard she was speaking of meeting up with some old aquintance of hers, but i got a message from Tress..."
"Forget all that for now." Tress speaks up trying to get them all moving and not be late. "I assume you have some transport ready. Might as well come with us...lets go."
Rhy nodded and waved his hand towards the door. "Its outside. Where are we going, I had plans for tonight, Tress."
Holding Khari's hand he leads her to the door and outside. "Then come along with and you might see that your plans and ours might have someone in common."
"Someone?" Rhy asked which he got no answer.
Reaching the speeder he opens the door and helps Khari in. "I guess our private trip out there is out of the question." he mutters to her not in the best of moods now, but he did sit beside her and held her hand as Rhy got in and they started moving. Tress just taking it upon himself to give the directions.
******
He looked over at her from looking over the house, "Use your devious mind on that one, love." He smirked not only for what he said, but how he ended it.
"Stick with me, Anara. There is one last thing i always planned to come back to....then disappear for good." he barely hinted at things. Let her take from that what she wanted. Though he had come or would have just to vanish with her in tow. "Told you i had been thinking of what ifs and things i had lost or missed a chance on. How to make all the wrongs i did to be somehow forgiven or if not that lessened."
With a smile he did just that and led her off toward the house they both knew so well. Off in the distance a speeder was fast approaching, one which they both noticed. "Anara, remember when they arrive to listen with an open mind with what ever they have to say, ok?" he reached for her hand and squeesed
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Post by kharivestra on Jun 29, 2011 19:31:28 GMT -5
Now there was an interesting little exchange, Khari thought suspiciously, though she did little more than cock an eyebrow for the barest of seconds, the rest of her thoughts she kept to herself for the time being. There was definitely more going on here than she was aware of - or indeed than Rhy was aware too. Oh she trusted Tress enough to have told her of any unforseen developments, but that wasn't where she sensed the deception to begin with, merely improvisation on his part.
Rhy's questions would go unanswered for the majority though, it was none of the Knylenn's business what her mother did or did not do with her spare time, even if he was her latest in a shamefully long line of playthings. Khari had rather hoped that would have been over months ago, the man was only two years older than herself and drew abject attention to himself wherever he went. He was constantly schmoozing up to her whenever she had the displeasure to be around as if he were somehow a close friend and not, as his clan name would suggest, someone to be watched very closely.
"She is a fickle woman at the best of times, you know that. I can only repeat what she told me." She settled on, nodding all too happily when Tress urged them to make a move, taking his hand in her own when he reached for it and they all traversed the grounds to the waiting speeder.
Khari was ever content to ignore Rhy's constant questions, she found him akin to a small child in that stage of their life where every question began and ended with the word 'why?'
But when she slipped into the back of the speeder, Tress by her side she was quick to slide him a conspiratorial look, waiting for the opportune moment for Rhy to look the other way before she leaned across to whisper so that only Tress would hear.
"You didn't send that communique, did you?"
She didn't linger there long, leaning back in her seat for what she hoped would be a short journey, and Rhy withstanding, a quiet one...but she couldn't have echoed Tress' sentiment on there being so much for their time alone more if she'd worn a huge glow panel sign with it written all over it. She would have to personally 'thank' whoever duped Rhy into waiting for them, and she had a fair idea who, too. But it still didn't answer her question of who Tress mystery guest was.
*****
Anara could do little more than look across at him curiously, he was off in some reverie, trying to explain things to her when they needed no explaining. Aside from the obvious, she had suspected he'd had his own agenda when coming here. However, she was abhorrently wrong when it came to what, exactly, was eating away at his mind enough to send him back to this world.
"Did the Emperor's fortunes not suffice enough? You have an empire of your own, you could have picked anywhere..." She began, wondering if she should have checked the latest in a long line of commissioned warships just in case he was thinking of borrowing another. "...a little audacious of you to return here. And what, you came to visit only to do this and vanish from my life all over again as if you never were? So what was this little trip down memory lane in aid of, get me here for the sake of your grandson and my daughter?" It was like the blind trying to walk a wire with her sometimes, for all her labyrinthine conspiracies and plots over the years, sometimes she failed to see what was slap bang right under her own nose.
Following his gaze she could see in the distance a speeder approaching, no doubt things were about to get infinitely more interesting and her suspicions were confirmed when he added something about her lack of open mindedness. Agreeing with him or not, she didn't have to like the situation she was in here. She liked that Zann boy even less for putting her in this blasted bind in the first place - she had thought Khari had more sense than this.
"Oh yes dear, I won't say anything I wouldn't want to hear myself." Anara mused almost melodically, offering him up a smile as genuinely reassuring as she could make it look. She still wasn't convinced herself. If she could just steal a moment away from the others to speak to Khari, maybe she'd see things her way? No...the girl was too much like her father to do that, he'd always had a knack for doing the opposite of what Anara wanted. Reverse psychology then?
A gentle squeeze of her had had her near jumping at the warmth of his touch, a subtle hint, no doubt, that she should at least hold the pointed part of her tongue for a moment, hear these two out. Oh she could do that much at least, it might even relax Khari enough that she could have that little word with her after all.
"You were wrong you know." She added, keeping her gaze on the approaching transport, "You have gone soft in your old age."
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Post by tress on Jun 30, 2011 19:44:24 GMT -5
He gave her a quick shake of his head, there could have been only one person that could have done it here. It wasn't exactly illegal as they has an account within the holonet services. Just had to have know how to pull it off. Though it did get him to thinking of what was really going on other than what they had going on. What was so important that he had to talk to Khari's mother all of a sudden? He had thought it weird that he had jumped at the change to come along with him to Kuat. Somewhere it wasn't the best place for him at the moment or ever really.
He looked on as he held Khari's hand on his lap as Rhy got in with them and told the driver to move on. The speeder moving had him looking over at Khari and back to Rhy. "Keep yourself silent until we get to where we are going. I got to do some thinking, OK?" he was talking to Rhy, to Khari he only lifted her hand and kissed it.
"But, where are we going and who is there?" Rhy started easily enough not even hearing.
He never got answered, just ignored as the other two whispered to each other about other things. Each time he tried to speak he got a glare from both and finally kept quiet and looked out the window. "Are we nearly there yet? Can we stop, I need a wee! How long? I'm borrrred !"
"Would you shut up already, the grown ups are speaking.... But, as it so happens we are here." He told Rhy close to losing it with him.
Tress was already pointing showing Khari they had indeed arrived. "There is your mother, see her?" He wasn't going to tell her just yet about who she was with, and he wouldn't say in front of Rhy either...ever.
****
He didn't answer right away. More like stood there and look around remembering things and trying to word what he wanted and how he felt. It was his old age, made him softer in somethings, especially things like this.
"I came back for you, you were the one that...." That what? He lost and if things had been different been with? Would she even take him. Would she have gone with him back then? "I came back to be with you. To see where things should have gone....to do what they are doing if you wanted. " he pointed at the speeder stopping near theirs not far off from where they stood.
He didn't believe her for a second but went along with it only cause there was no other choice and knew she would be with them once they told her everything. "If you say so, love. Come lets go meet them together." He reached for his hand to surprise her, wondering if it would be to much and she berated him for it.
A deep sigh escaped him but he nodded to her, "Possibly, but only in family matters..." the look as he glanced her way was the same at it was and has always been. Dangerous and unforgiving to those that crossed him. He was and always would be the man who took on the Empire, underworld and Rebels and lived to tell the tale.
When they reach the speeder and those exiting, he spoke to her. "Anara, I think you remember my grandson Tress...."
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Post by kharivestra on Jul 1, 2011 13:57:03 GMT -5
While Tress confirmed Khari's suspicions about the origins of that call, Rhy seemed to have taken it upon himself to be...well, himself. This took on a few forms that Khari, herself, unfortunately knew very well. In times past, when Anara had taken more than just a casual interest in the man, she had often had to suffer long conversations with him in which he would do one of a few things. Either schmooze to beyond the ridiculous, attempt to get to know her a little better than Khari would have liked, or just made a purile nuisance of himself. Right now it seemed the latter was on the cards.
At this rate, both she and Tress would have a thumping headache before they reached the venue.
While Tress was busy getting irritated, Khari had done well to conceal her own irked tendancies, in favour of trying to quell Tress' temper. After all, she didn't want him lashing out at the man and getting blood spatter all over her nice white clothes, did she? Squeezing Tress' hand back, she placed her other gently against his cheek and turned his head in her direction placating him with a simple, yet soft kiss. Then she let him go, leaned across towards Rhy and backhanded his ridiculously tall hat off the top of his head at such an angle, it completely rusched up his long hair on one side.
"Do what he says and keep that racket down, you're giving me a headache. For your information you are here because I have need of you." Khari intoned matter of factly, her eyes widening just a little bit when she saw the expression on his face at what she'd said there, rolling her eyes and giving serious consideration to messing up the other side of his hair too. "Not like that! Eugh! Credit me with some taste. I mean I need you to witness this, Tress and I will be getting married, and since you will be presiding over one of KDY's more interesting operations in the near future, I considered you to be trustworthy enough to do so." That last part was a lie, but if you fed the man's ego enough, his sense of self importance often blinded him to when he would inevitably be ousted, it made her job a little easier.
When Khari peered forth past the driver, she could indeed see Anara standing there, arm in arm with a man of aproximately her age, perhaps a shade older, whom she didn't recognize. Dressed in what appeared to be an armoured flight suit of sorts, the kind a spacer had specifically designed and made for them, with sleeves rolled up to reveal a series of thick shaded tattoo's along his forearms, he didn't really strike Khari as the sort of person her mother would have associated with in such a close way as their stance suggested. Unless of course this was all for show. She really couldn't tell.
Questioningly, she glanced at Tress, who didn't seem to be readily offering the information yet, but it was clear from his expression at least, that this persons presence was not a surprise to him. His mystery guest then?
"This I can't wait to hear." She mused with a smile, ignoring Rhy completely.
*****
The Senator really didn't know what to say, it was rare that one such as she could be stunned into silence, but her mind was anything but silent. Outwardly, though, she just seemed to look at him a bit like a fright-frozen durney facing down a hunter's blaster rifle. Was he suggesting that he, that they, do what she thought he was suggesting? A lump forming in her throat, Anara swallowed it, hard and with visible effort. Now wasn't the time to be surprising her with things like that, it really wasn't!
"I....uhh...excuse me?" Well that just sounded pathetic, didn't it? Her mind was seeking out the right words, but for now all she did was flounder. Khari and Tress' speeder had drawn to a halt a few feet away from where they had left their own, any sort of scene she caused would be noticable by the speeder's occupants. And Anara didn't want that.
While the passengers disembarked from the transport, she managed to whisper across to him her answer, and it was the best that she could do at such short notice.
"We can discuss this at length, later."
Anara only nodded, still too dumbstruck to care if he believed her or not, she could oblige them however, if just to see where this was going in it's entirety. That was when she noticed Rhy Knylenn getting out of the same speeder, a little more disheavaled than he usually looked and visibly irritated, it was definitely him. In what could only be discribed as an act of pure tired amusement, she nudged the man beside her, sliding a glance sidelong at him narrowly. "What have you done now?"
This couldn't be coincidence, it was just too far fetched for that, unless Khari had invited him along...yet another cause for concern.
As they gingerly approached the group, Khari afforded her mother a warmish, if hesitant smile, one that was returned regardless of the proceedings. Anara still believed she could have talked the girl out of this, but neither Tress not his 'associate' seemed anywhere near as ready to let that happen.
Anara did, and judging by the look on Khari's face, she knew that Anara did too. That introduction was a little hard to forget on a number of levels, all of them just as embarrassing as the last.
"How could I forget? Tell me, will you be adding to that tattoo of yours? If so you may wish to postpone getting the odds changed, still time yet." She said cooly, it was obvious that she wasn't here of her own volition.
Khari, meanwhile, sighed, she had known this wouldn't be easy, but that didn't mean she appreciated it. Her attention was on the other man, however. He didn't look like anyone she would have known, but there was a familiar look about him, yet for reasons she couldn't place at all.
"And you must be the person responsible for getting her here? I don't envy your task, but I don't believe I have had the pleasure..." She queried, fishing for a name, a title.
The older woman's attention was now on the young Knylenn standing at their back's, and she gesticulated generally in his direction.
"Why is he here, what does he have to do with all of this?"
Khari spared Rhy a brief look over one shoulder, then straightened, smoothing down the creases of her skirts until they lay perfectly over the netting that held them in an interesting design. "That's a very good question, a witness, since I couldn't rely on your testimony completely, we brought a spare. But we can discuss this later, shall we go inside?"
She lead the way across the ornately landscaped path that lead up to the building Anara had been reminiscing over moments before, the whole group disappearing inside for the duration of what was to be a very interesting, very private ceremony.
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