Using a semi-stretchy material he had found in the wagon, Raezyr wrapped his knee tight. It wouldn't stand up any long-term strenuous activity, but it would do for walking, and at least keep the knee from giving out again. The pain was another matter altogether. The only thing he had for that was a small decanter filled with a potent alcohol some of the lower castes like to consume, of course it didn't affect the natives of Meisos nearly as much as it did a human. Raezyr knew he'd have to be very careful with the stuff as it went down smooth, then kicked like a tauntaun.
They started off early. So far they hadn't seen any signs of pursuit, but the sun wasn't up yet and that might change. They wanted to put as much distance between them and the city as possible. Hopefully they could get to the next village before news of what happened arrived. If they could do that, they might be able to secure a set of sauren mounts to make the trip a bit shorter, although they were a big apprehensive after their most recent experience with the reptiles.
Neither of the Sith Warriors talked for a while, walking along in silence, carrying their few meager supplies in a couple of make-shift bags.
Finally Raezyr spoke up. "What do you think happened back there?"
"Why, we were crowned 'King of the Mountain,' he said sarcastically. "How the hell should I know?"
"Well, we aren't stupid. Maybe if we talk this out a bit, we can figure out some answers," he suggested, ignoring his elder brother's foul mood. "We know we were framed for that murder, and my guess is that Gavrik was in on it. He and those two warriors traveling with us are the only ones who knew where those blasters were hidden."
"We don't know that, Raez," Trychon corrected, softening up just a bit. "Someone could have seen us hiding that stuff, or maybe those warriors went back, stole the blasters, then sold them.
"It's even possible, however unlikely, that someone on this planet may possess a working blaster," Trychon supposed. "We're not the only off-worlders to have visited this planet, if you recall, plus we know the noble caste on Meisos has access to better tech."
"So you don't think..."
"I'm just saying lets not jump to conclusions," Trychon interrupted. "For all we know, Gavrik was telling us to run to safety."
"In a wakian pig's eye, he was," Raezyr spat.
"Well, I don't necessarily believe it either, but it's possible," Trychon said.
The older sibling paused a moment before continuing with his non-sequitur. "How's that knee of yours going to hold up?"
"I'll make it. It won't be a problem."
"As I recall, that's what you said shortly before Reed and Schyrt were killed," Trychon jabbed.
They walked on in silence for a bit before Raezyr replied. "There's a chance they're not dead, Darth Don't-Jump-to-Conclusions."
"Didn't I sense your irritation yesterday when others were being unrealistically optimistic?" Trychon said, clearly still angry about yesterday's final outcome.
"If you're trying to make me feel guilty, it won't work," Raezyr snapped. "They made a stupid choice. They could have left me there to deal with my problem. I didn't ask them to come get me.
Trychon opened his mouth to interject, but Raezyr continued. "Am I thankful? You bet your Sith ass, I'm thankful, but I'm not going to feel guilty for a choice they made on their own.
"And for your information, it's entirely possible, 'however unlikely,'" he said, mocking Trychon's earlier tone, "that Schyrt and Reed were taken prisoner. I can't assume they're dead. They rescued me when they didn't have to, and I owe it to them to at least make sure they're not rotting away in a prison or slave camp somewhere."
"I guess what I'm saying is, 'Don't get your hopes up,'" Trychon said.
"I'm not. I just feel the need to double check, you know?"
Trychon didn't have much to say to that, basically agreeing with his brother's resolution. They walked on under the hot desert sun for the next several hours, taking breaks now and again to allow Raezyr to rest his knee.
Throughout the day, they kept watch on their back trail, fully expecting to see a dust cloud, indicating mounted pursuit from the city behind, but it never came. That worried them more than had they seen the tell-tale dust cloud. The natives had seemed much to angry for Raezyr and Trychon to believe they'd just let the Sith walk away. No, the lack of pursuit only meant they had something else in mind.
By late afternoon, they crested a hill to see the first village at the small oasis below. Cautiously, they approached. They masked their Force presence, unsure of what kind of reception they'd receive from the natives below.
No comments:
Post a Comment