OOM: A Prince In Hiding
May. 7th, 2023 12:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
last_kalligPrince Faal Panteer's thoughts are almost as bitter as his caf this morning. He wonders what his idolized older brother, Gaul, would think of what they're planning now if he was still alive.
His older sister, Katei Elinari Panteer, meets his gaze across the table. As the head of their House, the decision is ultimately hers. She sighs, looking pained. "If negotiations with the Republic hadn't fallen through...we'd have more options."
"Of course they're focusing all their efforts on House Organa," Aril interjects, tone bitter. Aril has been Faal's bodyguard since Faal was a child, more family member than retainer. "They'll do whatever the Republic tells them without pondering the cost to Alderaan."
"What could possibly be important enough for the Empire to send a Sith here to deliver it, in person?" Faal asks Katei.
"Mother's crown," she replies, voice ever so slightly shaky.
It's like a punch in the gut. "Ah, yes. That, that would do it." The last time he saw that damn crown it was on his mother's head.
"Did they ask for an exact location?" Aril asks, ever practical.
"No. Which means they already know exactly where we are." She takes a deep breath. "No threats were made, but if we refuse I imagine they'll just give our location to house Ulgo. House Thul and the Empire won't want an enemy at their back."
Faal is certain that she's right, call it a gut feeling. "Well then, what did the Empire deign to tell us about the guest I'll be entertaining?" He forces his tone to be cheerful, lighthearted.
"Faal," Aril growls, and Faal can hear the worry in it.
"It's risky, putting you that close to a Sith," his sister adds.
Faal shrugs. "It would have to be you or me," he tells her. "Anything less would be an enormous insult."
"I hope you remember ALL of your lessons," she replies after a moment of silence. "You'll need them."
"Of course, self control is always useful." House Panteer had held the throne for 10 generations, and that had meant dealing with Jedi. He'd learned to keep his emotions quiet, to protect his mind, as much as any non-Force sensitive could.
Katei sighs quietly. "Her name is Ibani. They sent some holos for identification purposes, but I haven't looked at them yet."
His older sister, Katei Elinari Panteer, meets his gaze across the table. As the head of their House, the decision is ultimately hers. She sighs, looking pained. "If negotiations with the Republic hadn't fallen through...we'd have more options."
"Of course they're focusing all their efforts on House Organa," Aril interjects, tone bitter. Aril has been Faal's bodyguard since Faal was a child, more family member than retainer. "They'll do whatever the Republic tells them without pondering the cost to Alderaan."
"What could possibly be important enough for the Empire to send a Sith here to deliver it, in person?" Faal asks Katei.
"Mother's crown," she replies, voice ever so slightly shaky.
It's like a punch in the gut. "Ah, yes. That, that would do it." The last time he saw that damn crown it was on his mother's head.
"Did they ask for an exact location?" Aril asks, ever practical.
"No. Which means they already know exactly where we are." She takes a deep breath. "No threats were made, but if we refuse I imagine they'll just give our location to house Ulgo. House Thul and the Empire won't want an enemy at their back."
Faal is certain that she's right, call it a gut feeling. "Well then, what did the Empire deign to tell us about the guest I'll be entertaining?" He forces his tone to be cheerful, lighthearted.
"Faal," Aril growls, and Faal can hear the worry in it.
"It's risky, putting you that close to a Sith," his sister adds.
Faal shrugs. "It would have to be you or me," he tells her. "Anything less would be an enormous insult."
"I hope you remember ALL of your lessons," she replies after a moment of silence. "You'll need them."
"Of course, self control is always useful." House Panteer had held the throne for 10 generations, and that had meant dealing with Jedi. He'd learned to keep his emotions quiet, to protect his mind, as much as any non-Force sensitive could.
Katei sighs quietly. "Her name is Ibani. They sent some holos for identification purposes, but I haven't looked at them yet."
