will be all,” Angral said.
As one, both men backed off another step. Adraas deactivated his lightsaber, then Malgus.
“You should have sent her to my ship for care,” Malgus said, aiming the comment at Adraas, but intending it for both of them.
Angral looked disappointed. “After all of this you still say such things? Very well, Malgus. The woman is in a Republic medical facility near here. I will have the information sent to your pilot.”
Malgus inclined his head in grudging thanks.
“As for you, Lord Adraas,” Angral said, “I accept your report of the battle.”
“Thank you, Darth Angral.”
Angral drew himself up to his full height. “You will, both of you, follow my commands without question or hesitation. I will deal harshly with any deviation from that order. Do you understand?”
Angral had directed the rebuke at both of them, but Malgus understood it to be intended for him.
“Yes, Darth Angral,” they said in unison.
“You are servants of the Empire.”
Malgus, stewing, said nothing.
“Both of you leave me, now,” Angral said.
Still seething, Malgus walked for the door. Adraas fell in a stride behind him.
“Darth Malgus,” Angral called.
Malgus stopped, turned. Adraas stopped as well, keeping some space between them.
“I know you believe that conflict perfects one’s understanding of the Force.” He made Malgus wait a beat before adding, “I will be curious to see if events validate your view.”
“What events?” Malgus asked, and then understood. Angral would let Adraas make his play for Malgus’s role in the hierarchy. He entended to see who would prevail in a conflict between Malgus and Adraas, a conflict conducted in the shadows, by proxy, according to all the ridiculous political rules of the Sith.
Subtle, backhanded conflict was not Malgus’s strength. He glared at Adraas, who glared back.
“That will be all, then,” Angral said, and Malgus walked toward the doors.
“Adraas, remain a moment,” Angral said, and Adraas lingered.
Malgus looked over his shoulder to see Adraas watching him.
Malgus walked out of the office alone, the same way he had walked in. He had been made a fool and was being played for Angral’s amusement.
Worse, the victory he had so dearly won would be for nothing, a mere lever for the Emperor to wield in peace negotiations. After negotiations were concluded, the Empire would leave Coruscant.
In the hall outside, he slammed a fist down on the secretary’s desk, putting a crack on the marble top.
AS VOLLEN AND KEEVO APPROACHED, Aryn realized what she was doing and let her hand fall to her side. She would not fight another Jedi, not ever. Besides, she sensed no hostility in them.
She tried to clear the emotion from her face as Vollen and Keevo avoided a train of cargo droids and approached her. Vollen’s brown hair hung loose over bloodshot eyes. He had not shaved, and the circles darkening the skin under his brown eyes pronounced his need for sleep. Aryn imagined she must look much the same. Her own emotional state made it hard to maintain her empathic shields. Both Vollen and his Padawan sweated apprehension. It came off them in waves.
“Hello, Vollen, Keevo.”
Both of them returned her greeting.
“What are you doing here at this hour, Aryn?” Vollen asked.
For a moment, she had no words. She thought it strange that she had known the question would be coming, yet she had not rehearsed an answer. Perhaps she had not wanted to lie. So she didn’t.
“I’m doing something … something Master Zallow wants me to do.”
Tension visibly flowed out of Vollen’s expression. Relief from both of them flooded Aryn.
“Then Master Zallow survived the Sith attack,” Vollen said, making a fist and grinning. “That is wonderful news. I know you have remained close with him.” He turned to his Padawan. “You see, Keevo. There is hope yet.”
The Rodian nodded. Nictitating membranes washed his large, dark eyes. The oil moisturizing his pebbly green skin glistened in the overhead lights.
“There is always hope,” Aryn said, and ignored how false the words sounded to her. She could not bring herself to break their hearts with the truth. Let them feel some relief, even if only for a time.
A pair of cargo droids wheeled past, beeping in droidspeak.
Vollen stepped closer to her and lowered his voice, as if discussing a conspiracy. “So what is happening in the hall of the High Council? We heard the negotiations would continue. How can Dar’nala justify that? We should be planning a counterattack. The entire Sith delegation should be taken into custody.”
Keevo put his hand on the hilt of his lightsaber and mouthed something in Rodian